Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

A Novel

By: Jamie Ford

Narrated by: Feodor Chin

New York Times best-seller.

“An impressive, bitter, and sweet debut that explores the age-old conflicts between father and son, the beauty and sadness of what happened to Japanese Americans in the Seattle era during World War II, and the depths and longing of deep-heart love.” (Lisa See)

In 1986, Henry Lee joins a crowd outside the Panama Hotel, once the gateway to Seattle's Japantown. It has been boarded up for decades, but now the new owner has discovered the belongings of Japanese families who were sent to internment camps during World War II. As the owner displays and unfurls a Japanese parasol, Henry, a Chinese American, remembers a young Japanese American girl from his childhood in the 1940s - Keiko Okabe, with whom he forged a bond of friendship and innocent love that transcended the prejudices of their Old World ancestors. After Keiko and her family were evacuated to the internment camps, she and Henry could only hope that their promise to each other would be kept.

Now, 40 years later, Henry explores the hotel’s basement for the Okabe family’s belongings and for a long-lost object whose value he cannot even begin to measure. His search will take him on a journey to revisit the sacrifices he has made for family, for love, for country.

Praise for Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet:

“A tender and satisfying novel set in a time and a place lost forever, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet gives us a glimpse of the damage that is caused by war - not the sweeping damage of the battlefield but the cold, cruel damage to the hearts and humanity of individual people. This is a beautifully written book that will make you think. And, more important, it will make you feel.” (Garth Stein, best-selling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain)

“Mesmerizing and evocative, a tale of conflicted loyalties and timeless devotion.” (Sara Gruen, best-selling author of Water for Elephants)

“A wartime-era Chinese-Japanese variation on Romeo and Juliet.... The period detail [is] so revealing and so well rendered.” (The Seattle Times)

“A poignant story that transports the reader back in time...a satisfying and heart-wrenching tale.” (Deseret Morning News)

“A lovely combination of romantic coincidence, historic detail and realism that is smooth and highly readable.... Ford does wonderful work in re-creating prewar Seattle.” (The Oregonian)

©2009 Jamie Ford (P)2009 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“An impressive, bitter, and sweet debut that explores the age-old conflicts between father and son, the beauty and sadness of what happened to Japanese Americans in the Seattle era during World War II, and the depths and longing of deep-heart love.” (Lisa See)

“A tender and satisfying novel set in a time and a place lost forever, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet gives us a glimpse of the damage that is caused by war - not the sweeping damage of the battlefield but the cold, cruel damage to the hearts and humanity of individual people. This is a beautifully written book that will make you think. And, more important, it will make you feel.” (Garth Stein, best-selling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain)

“Mesmerizing and evocative, a tale of conflicted loyalties and timeless devotion.” (Sara Gruen, best-selling author of Water for Elephants)

Captivating, Beautiful, Poignant

Wonderfully written by Jamie Ford and perfectly narrated by Feodor Chin, this was one of the best listens I've ever experienced. Mr. Chen's voice kept me interested and his voices were perfect. While the book's main characters were personally affected by the shameful and cruel treatment of the American Japanese during the World War II years, the book did not come across as accusatory, but more of a factual telling of how things were during those times.

There was a permanent "Relocation Center" near my home town and even though many young men from our area fought in WWII, the American Japanese earned the respect of the native residents for their quiet dignity as they endured their confinement. This book helped me to see things more clearly through the eyes of the American Japanese people.

I definitely recommend this book and will listen to it again.

Sweet and Bitter

Enjoyed listening to the story. Not quite as good as Snow Falling on Cedars, but still compelling.

well written

And well read. It is a safe book to play with children in the car if you are prepared to answer questions about the Japanese internment camps. But perhaps the earlier children learn that the playground is not always safe, the better. It is disheartening to hear how quickly friend can turn to foe, but this is history... and one more lesson in the classroom of life.

Young love during Japanese internment ow WWII

A young Chinese boy with a very strict Japanese-hating father is sent to a mostly white elementary school where he works in a cafeteria. There, he meets a young Japanese girl and they become very close. Then, their story is interrupted by the rounding up and moving of all Seattle's Japanese community to internment camps. The story moves between the 1940's and 1986. Excellent character development, great work at personalizing the Japanese internment era. The book also examines the father/son relationship, with both the Chinese boy's father and then with his own son. I really enjoyed this book and the narration added to the enjoyment.

Best book I've listened to in a long time.

What did you love best about Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet?

I loved the story line. It was very interesting to read about the different cultures and what was happening during the war. I had no idea there were "concentration camps" in the US.
This was a beautiful book and worth every minute!!!

First (audio)book to make me tear up

If you could sum up Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet in three words, what would they be?

Realistically touching book

Which scene was your favorite?

Without going into to much detail as to not ruin the story for new readers, I would have to say Henry's second non-sunday visit to Sheldon.

If you could take any character from Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Mr. Okabe. While he has a rather small role in the story he is still a fascinating character that implores understanding and unrivaled moral fiber. Hands down he is who I'd want to talk to as his life and his perspective must be truly captivating. (if the author wrote a book about Mr. Okabe I would read it in a heartbeat)

Any additional comments?

This book is captivating and memorable. Your heart will stir for many different reasons and while a work of fiction, it touches on real events and very real emotions. Everything about this book is organic in the characters evolution. It provides critical thinking in regards to human emotion and that some actions are not always what they seem or done for malicious reasons. I loved this book and glad my book club picked it out.

Very well written book

Ths is an excellent book. Entertaining and educational. Very moving story. The narrator is one of the best I've heard. I highly recommend this book.

Loved it! Just a wholesome, heartwarming story!

I had heard about this book when I visited Seattle a few years ago. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. I was especially interested because of my own mom being Japanese and growing up in the same period. Great thought provoking, heartfelt story!

Happy Ending to a Wartime story

This is a colorful journey of two young kids who fell in love and fell apart during and after WWII. The theme of music and a relationship with a black street musician hold this story together. Forty plus years and separate lives
bring them together again. Wonderful, poetic writing and great narration will keep you intrigued throughout the book. Barbara C

Once in awhile a story catches your heart.

It’s rare that a book can make me shed tears. This is a well written story with excellent narration. One of the very best I’ve listened to in the last few years. You really need to listen to this one.