Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Jamie Ford
Edition Published 2009

Growing up we always tend to misunderstand our parents. Even their best intentions are often met with derision.  In Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, the reader follows Henry Lee as he opens the Pandora box of his life when he searches through belongings left behind by Japanese families forced into internment camps during World War II.

Henry reminiscences of his adolescence growing up in a strict Chinese household and finding friendship with a young Japanese girl also trying to survive as the odd one out in a white world.  Henry's family forbids him to have any Japanese relations, which creates a "Romeo & Juliet" plot line.  Asians are often lumped together as the enemy following Pearl Harbor.   In addition a distrust of the Japanese after their invasion of China, Henry's family also fears any association with the Japanese may cast suspicion on them, ruining the life they have created for themselves in America.

I had heard too much positive feedback on this book, so of course it kind of fell flat.  All I could think as I read was, "Why didn't I think of this?"  It didn't help that the supporting characters weren't believable.  His budding romance serves as a vehicle for Henry to have many experiences that just didn't seem realistic.  And I just wasn't able to buy into the fantasy.

I suppose it is a good beach book, but so much more could have been done.  I like to think that I'm not just saying this because I did my Senior Thesis on Japanese Internment Camps, but maybe I am.  It is certainly an area of American History that was too quickly forgotten.

Booth's Sister

Booth's Sister
Jane Singer
Edition Published 2008

Asia Booth Clarke's brother killed Abraham Lincoln.  If you look at her picture, you can see the dark brooding eyes that her family was famous for.  In Booth's Sister, Singer writes about Asia and John's relationship, from illegitimate children romping through the woods to confidants living lives on separate sides of the Civil War divide.

Intrigued?  So was I.  Maybe I had too high of expectations, but I was disappointed.  I knew that it was historical fiction, but there was just something too unrealistic about the story.  Whereas Singer's characterization of Asia started out strong, it sort of petered out as the book went on (it was only 228 pages) and John's character is weak throughout the entire book.  I know that this is still a controversial aspect, but if you are going to tackle it, why not pile drive it into the ground?   I think I would have been better off just reading Asia Clarke's autobiographical account. 

The Scandal of the Season

The Scandal of the Season
Sophie Gee
Published 2007

It's 1711 and newly celebrated poet, Alexander Pope is invited into society life in for the "season" in London. His unique perspective, especially the scandalous love affair between Lord Petre and Arabella Fermor, inspires his satirical poem, The Rape of Lock.

In her debut novel, Sophie Gee gives the back story of The Rape of Lock.  Although the book is historical fiction, Gee did her research.  As a PhD in English, her mastery of Lock's poem is a given, but she crafts a face to the Jacobite Revolution and Catholics living at this time.

For all those positives, I found the book lacking.  If you have read my previous posts you know a book's worth is measured by my ability to connect with the characters.  Maybe it was the haughty nature of the characters, but I could not bring myself to empathize with Arabella's heart break or Lord Petre's dilemma to choose life over love.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Oskar is convinced this is the last photograph of his father

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Jonathon Safran Foer
Edition Published November 2011

Oskar Schnell is a nine year old boy struggling to come to terms with his father's death on September 11. A thing no one should have to come to terms with.  Oskar is an unusually intelligent boy (with some other unusual quirks) who finds a mysterious key in his father's closet and becomes obsessed with finding the lock the key goes to and perhaps a bit of his father he lost.

The destruction of the World Trade Center is a personal and sensitive area for most Americans, including myself.  I was instantly drawn to Oskar's pain, but his personality quirks and the far fetched nature of his quest made it hard for me to completely lose myself in the book.  It certainly had its poignant points, especially the final images, but it lacks something that I could relate to.  But I am happy that Foer tackled the subject.  He opened the door and allowed us to see the pain through an innocent child. I just wish that child had been more relate-able.

The Caribbean

The Caribbean
James A. Michener
Copyright 2005 (re-release)

Have I mentioned how much I love history and historical fictions?  Actually, I don't think I have.  So you are hereby put on notice, I LOVE HISTORY & HISTORICAL FICTIONS. That being emphasized, I have never read anything by acclaimed historical fictioneer (Yes, I feel as though I can now invent my own words), James, don't forget the A, Michener.

Almost 700 pages, Michener's tome expanses the practically the entire history of the Caribbean from the native explorations, European rule, to 1970-1980's unrest.  I don't know why, but the history of the region never sucked me in until I picked up this book.  You would think that my Floridian butt would care about the back story of my neighbors.

I had a hard time getting immersed in the book at the beginning.  I thought that was odd, but then I realized that the majority of the histories I read, be they factual or fiction, are biographies.  I eat up biographies because I love characterizations.  The Caribbean is a biography of a huge expanse and a variety of cultures.  That being said, since it is a historical fiction, there is a continuity because Michener uses the same families and ties them all together (and to the islands) in the end.  So, once I got into it, I was into it.  Thankfully, there is a prologue of sorts in the beginning telling you which characters were fictional and which were fiction because I truly forgot that most of the characters were not real and I was ready to track them down for either a kick to the shin or a hug. 

I really enjoyed the book.  Thanks to Jill for the thoughtful gift.  And as we sit, I am fighting the urge to pack up my bags and bring the book into the 21st century.

***Next up: The Ten, Make That Nine Habits of Very Organized People.  Make That Ten. The tweets of Steve Martin*****