A Change of Pace

Hello!

The weekend is fast approaching and I am looking forward to our annual work Christmas party. In the past, we have gone to Emerald Lake, but this year we are headed to the Banff Springs!

I am currently reading 'The Imposter Bride' by Nancy Richler and this weekend getaway will be a perfect opportunity to get some reading time in. I am loving the book so far!

Last week, my book club met and discussed our latest read, 'Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,' by Jamie Ford. Our discussion about the book wrapped up and we all received a few wonderful gifts (see Taking Cues from SAMCRO to find out why) before we left ;). Read below for my thoughts on our January pick.

Warning: Contains Spoilers

This novel is written from the perspective of a young Chinese boy, Henry Lee, living in Seattle in the 1940's at the height of the war. The book explores the challenges with which Henry is faced every day being Asian and living in the United States during their conflict with Japan. He is often mistaken for a Japanese boy and is mostly ignored by his white peers at school. Henry is lonely at school as well as at home, where he is forced to speak English to his Chinese speaking parents.

When Henry meets Keiko, a young Japanese girl, one afternoon in the cafeteria, his life changes forever. Amid FBI investigations, raids and curfews, as well as discrimination from their peers, the two develop a strong friendship. Unfortunately, this relationship is not acceptable to Henry's parents who's loyalty to China and the United States is unwavering. When Keiko and her family are deported to an internment camp, Henry tries very hard to maintain their relationship and promises to see her again when she is released. Unfortunate circumstances prevent Henry and Keiko's letters to reach each other, and a badly timed event severs the relationship indefinitely.

Forty years later, Henry is widowed, and he discovers items belonging to Keiko's family in an abandoned hotel, which housed belongings for countless Japanese families during their internment throughout the war. With the help of his son and daughter in law, Henry hopes to reconnect with Keiko.

So far, I have only reviewed books that I truly enjoyed, this one...not so much.

This definitely was not my favorite novel. I found the story to be superficial. If you are looking to learn more about the details of the internment of Japanese families during the second world war, you won't find many. If you are looking for a heartbreaking tale of commitment, hope and redemption, you will not find it in this novel. The book touches on many subjects, but doesn't spend enough time describing any of them for you to really feel attached. There are some touching moments and you are really rooting for Henry and Keiko to find each other, but the love story is wrapped up a little too perfectly to be believable.
The story was kind of sweet, but unfortunately it takes place on the corner of boring and glib. *Harsh*

Have a great weekend! Happy reading!
Domi