Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Despite the cliche title, Jamie Ford’s novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, was surprisingly intriguing. It takes place in the 1980’s when a Chinese man, Henry Lee, sees a crowd outside of the Panama Hotel down the street from his home in Seattle. Revisiting the Panama Hotel took Henry back to the memories of his childhood in the 1940’s. It was the height of the war and Pearl Harbor was just bombed, so it was a difficult time to be Asian in America. Henry's father wanted Henry to live the American Dream and so to prevent him as being mistaken for a Japanese, he forced Henry to wear a pin saying "I am Chinese." Henry went to a private school on a scholarship and was the only non-white until a Japanese girl, Keiko Okabe, entered the school. Keiko and Henry instantly bonded over being bullied and just enjoyed each others’ presences in general. Soon after forming a relationship, they learn that all Japanese families including the Okabes were going to be shipped off to internment camps. Because each family was only able to bring one suitcase, Henry voluntarily hid the Okabes belongings in the Panama hotel. He then insisted that the Okabes take his pin and pose as Chinese so they could escape their forced departure. "She can stay with us, or my aunt. I'll find a place where she can stay. I'll get more (pins). I'll go back and get more for all of you," Henry rambled (134). This scene showing Henry's desperation proved his love for Keiko and was the most powerful scene in the book. The Okabes graciously declined knowing they had to leave. After they were taken away, Henry was crushed that he was never able to express his true feelings to Keiko, and so he traveled to various internment camps to visit the Okabes. The story explores the challenges of being discriminated against as a kid and losing a first love. Ford weaves historical content into the story while allowing the reader to fall in love with Henry and Keiko's relationship. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a highly recommended novel that is hard to put down.