From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books…

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Jamie Ford

Start date: October 1, 2014

Finish date: October 31, 2014

Discussion: Group Reads Discussions

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Group Reads Discussions

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last updated Jan 18, 2013 07:12PM

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What Members Thought

May 07, 2010 Sera rated it really liked it

Shelves: own, literary-fiction, kindle

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Henry, the central character in the story, is a Chinese boy, growing up in Seattle during WWII. Although the book starts out in present day, most of the story is told during 1942, and in particular, when the American government placed thousands and thousands of Japanese citizens in internment camps.

What I enjoyed most about this book was that I was able to get a glimpse into a small community where Chinese, Japanese and black Americans lived together. I think that sometimes we tend to think that ...more

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Jun 26, 2014 Tiffany rated it it was amazing

Finally a good book! I loved it!

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Aug 02, 2010 Rachel rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-reads

Interesting time in history. I found the book lacking substance in the characters for 3/4 of the book, but I felt much more connected in the last bit. Overall, quite good.

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Dec 10, 2012 Astrid Lim rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: america, asia, literature, historical-fiction, world-war, culture, race, family, book-club

It's a pretty sweet, decent historical fiction thick with romance plot. The interesting thing about this book is it told a forgotten story during the World War II in America. It touched an identity issue- that in my opinion is still relevant in this modern era. How did it feel to become a Japanese American in the middle of the war between America and Japan? Is your pledge to be loyal to the country you were born in was not enough? Were people always mean just because you have Japanese name? I li ...more

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Oct 08, 2011 Sarita rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2011

GR fall 30.8 book B student

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Jan 02, 2013 Lisa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-adults

Loved the story. Could not put it down because I had to know how it turned out.
Warning: Don't read in public unless you don't mind having strangers watch you sob! ...more

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