Linda of Linda Letters recommended we read Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford.This tells you a bit about it:
“Jamie Ford's first novel explores the age-old conflicts between father and son, the beauty and sadness of what happened to Japanese Americans in the Seattle area during World War II, and the depths and longing of deep-heart love. An impressive, bitter, and sweet debut.”
-- Lisa See, bestselling author of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
I have to agree with Linda that this is a wonderful book, but I don't quite get what Lisa See meant about the "beauty" of what happened to Japanese Americans".
I've always known about the Internment Camps, of course. Art's aunt's book was published about the Japanese Americans in Hawaii who were sent to the camps. In Hawaii, the people who were taken away were generally those who were leaders or men of influence or learning. Since my grandfather was a Buddhist priest, he was on the list though he left Molokai's Kalaupapa before it all happened.
Still, although I knew all this, Jamie Ford's book made it even more real and gut wrenching. The prejudice and hatred directed against even a 2nd generation Japanese American was painful to read about. Art who is usually into Action or Science Fiction books says he'll read it before I return it to the library for the next person on the Hold list. Now, that's a surprise!
To be perfectly honest, when I saw that Mr. Ford was actually half Chinese and his story is about the hatred many Chinese felt for the Japanese, I expected a story slanted toward something he must be acutely familiar with. Instead, he writes objectively about this terrible time and lets you decide. I was really drawn into the story and did wipe bitter sweet tears away at the end. Still, like Linda, I wished there was another chapter. I wanted to know more about what happened to Henry's lifelong love, Keiko.
Hmmm... maybe that could be another book?
Here is Janice of My Reading Diary's review on this book.
I read the book last year. It left me with some unsettled feelings about the Internment camps and the way Japanese Americans were treated. Like you, I did not see any "beauty" in that part of the book. I enjoyed the book from the love story perspective, but reading the history of those camps and the the unfair treatment endured by Japanese Americans left me with feelings of sadness and perhaps a bit of bitterness too. I pray it is something we never see happen again.
ReplyDeleteI did not read the book but I was old enough to remember those times. Things were such an emotional ethnic mess. Roosevelt did so many things that brought destructive heartaches. I can remember my sadness when I read about the Japanese being sent to camps and losing their property and when FDR also refused to allow the last ship of Jews to land in the US and they had to return to Germany to their death. My heritige is German/ American Indian. My American/German father was in the Navy, fighting his own people. I too, hope we never have to see those times again.
ReplyDeleteLove and peace,
Manzi
sounds like my kind of book historical fiction...
ReplyDeleteBecause of Linda, I put this book on my list to read at some point in the future. Now I have six books and after your description, I'll be sure to read it. I had forgotten what it was about.
ReplyDeleteThe Japanese sound like the Jewish people, sometimes. So much hardship, but strong people who will persevere.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful book! Have to put it on my reading list! Thanks for the info! Enjoy your weekend, Kay!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
I was also very drawn into the story and disturbed by the historical realities it presented. I think it is very much a book worth reading.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was painful to read, but I especially loved the romance between the Japanese boy and the Chinese girl.
ReplyDeleteIt also saddened me to read about the misunderstandings between the generations. I was going to write more about this conflict, but realized it would ruin the suspense for readers.
I read this book a while back, and I remember having an unsettled feeling when I finished it. The subject matter really drew me in. Who will ever really understand why people treat other people this way? Perhaps, the fact that I still see so much prejudice in the world is what left me so disturbed.
ReplyDeleteKay --
ReplyDeleteYou mention "Art's aunt's book." THAT is a book I'd love to read, besides the "Hotel" book.
The movie "Snow Falling on Cedars" was my first understanding of the concentration camps on the mainland, which I think was based on a book.
Such treatment of the Japanese, and the mainland politicians stealing Hawaii away from their people, makes me sometimes feel personally guilty. I wish we could correct it easily.
It's good to keep the history alive! Aloha, DrumMajor
"Snow Falling on Cedars" was a best selling book for a very good reason.
ReplyDeleteIt was made into a movie, however the movie wasn't up to the standard of the book.
Most notable part of the movie: The battle scene, shot for a cost of roughly a thousand dollars,(instead of close to a hundred thousand as budgeted for by the studio) because the director (an Ozzi, *brag*boast*) felt he could not only do it much cheaper, but could better convey the violence, confusion & fear of a battlefield doing it his way.
It is worth watching just to compare the (very short) battle scene to some of the epic & costly attempts in other movies.
Sounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in LA last, we stopped at the Japanese American History Museum. Upstairs they have one cabin they took apart and brought to the museum. It makes the whole experience live. What a horrifying shock to see it and have the camps come alive like that. If you get a chance to see this, please do.
ReplyDeleteNever again.
ReplyDeleteI want to visit this museum Maggie tells about.
I'm glad you read the book, liked it, and are passing the recommendation on to others. It puts a personal touch on a dark period in our history.
ReplyDeleteI think the "beauty" in the book was the caring and eventualy love that these two kids had for each other in spite of the forces at work against them. It shows that as generations are removed from the original sins of hatred between people, they can live in harmony.
I agree with you about the book and about Lisa See's comment. The woman needs to check her grammar/usage! There was NOTHING beautiful about what happened to Japanese Americans in this country during the 40's.
ReplyDeleteHave you visited any of the internment camps? We had one here in Fresno, Camp Pinedale, and a memorial has been built on the grounds where it once stood. It is well done.
ReplyDeleteA number of years ago there was a traveling exhibit that came through Fresno showing much of the memorabilia and items from the camps. Powerful stuff.
Many of the Japanese farmers in this area were imprisoned and while they were gone, the other farmers took care of their property so that it would be there when they returned. I've heard many of these stories. Makes one believe in the goodness of people even in the worst of times.
I read this book a few months ago. It did bring tears to my eyes in several places.
ReplyDelete