Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford

As the novel opens, recently widowed Henry Lee is standing outside Seattle's boarded up Panama Hotel in 1986. In the basement, the new owner has found the personal belongings of a number of Japanese-American families interned during World War II. Henry knows that among them are possessions of his sixth-grade sweetheart, Keiko Okabe. Throughout the rest of the book, the story unfolds in two time periods--1942 and 1986.

In 1942, the two young people are struggling to find their way as Asian-Americans, one of Chinese heritage, the other Japanese. Henry's father hates the Japanese and insists that Henry wear a button proclaiming "I am Chinese," while Keiko's parents want her to be an American. The two are the only nonwhite students at their elementary school, where their parents have sent them so they can excel in America, either unaware of the challenges the children face at school or believing those challenges will make them stronger. Keiko and Henry become fast friends, although Henry must keep the friendship secret from his parents. They struggle to keep their relationship alive after Keiko's family is evacuated, and they eventually fall out of touch.

In 1986, Henry is reconnecting in the first year after his wife Evelyn's death. The links he is rebuilding are to the past and to his son Marty, with whom he always had a somewhat difficult relationship, mediated by Evelyn (and echoing his own childhood relationships with his parents). Marty is engaged to an Anglo woman, and the two surprise Henry with their reactions to his story. The climax of the story is, unfortunately, not so surprising.

Ford's idea to tell the story of race relations and the Japanese-American internment through the lens of a Chinese American is engaging, as is the "hook" of the long-lost belongings in the hotel basement. Also interesting is the Seattle history, including the intertwined histories of Chinatown, Nihonmachi, and jazz. Ford's writing, however, lacks the depth and grace to maximize the story's impact.

Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet will be the One Book One Broomfield selection for 2010 (not sure if it's been officially announced, so I may be jumping the gun). While the history will provide grist for interesting conversations, it's too bad that the writing isn't up to the standard set last year by Kent Haruf's Eventide.

Favorite passage:

None really--I do think the title is evocative, so I guess that's my favorite "passage."