Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

The ethnic stereotypes and prejudices which emerged following 9/11 have brought many comparisons to the harsh treatment and interning of the Japanese American population during World War II. Ford's novel is set in Seattle just before and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. As the longtime entry point of Asian immigrants, Seattle had large Japanese and Chinese populations, some of whom had been there for generations.

Henry Lee's father is determined to give his son every opportunity and obtains a scholarship for him at an exclusive, all-white elementary school. Henry is ostracized and bullied by the other students, separated from them both by race and his scholarship job serving lunches in the kitchen. The addition of Japanese girl student Keiko to the kitchen staff brings welcome camaraderie and a friendship that blossoms into love. Nationalistic to an extreme, his father will not hear of the relationship and banishes Henry when he discovers his son has hidden family photographs for Keiko when their family is sent to an internment camp.

A vivid portrait of attitudes and practices in wartime Seattle, the novel is also a moving study of the relationships between fathers and sons. The many fans of Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson will find much to savor in Ford's book.

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