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Nan's Reviews > Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
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Original review posted: Mar 19, 09
I have to admit that I did not like this book. Mr. Ford is a decent writer, and while he did research 1942 fairly extensively, he did a crappy job portraying 1986. I was alive in '86. I was ten, in fact. While my memory of the time is going to be different than that of a 50 year old character, I wound up being very tired of the repeated anachronisms. In one paragraph--on page four of the book, I believe--the narrator tells the readers that the main character's son is seeing a grief counselor and participating in an Internet support group. In 1986, that sort of thing would have been highly unlikely. Further, in that same paragraph, he tells us the main character's deceased wife is buried in the same cemetary with Bruce and Brandon Lee--and this is seven years before Brandon's death.
I'm not the kind of reader that gets easily annoyed by poor detail editing--but I am annoyed when sloppy research (or a failure to do any sort of research) leads to misrepresentations of the setting. I found this book to be very sloppy indeed.
Edit posted: April 21, 2013
After years of getting comments and feedback on this review, I will take the time to edit it for two important details.
1. Many of the errors that I found irritating were fixed in the paperback edition of the book. I would argue that this means that others also found the errors irritating that they were, indeed, errors.
2. Ford replies to the internet issue as one of his FAQ replies on his website. He states:
You can see the comment here.
I have to admit that I did not like this book. Mr. Ford is a decent writer, and while he did research 1942 fairly extensively, he did a crappy job portraying 1986. I was alive in '86. I was ten, in fact. While my memory of the time is going to be different than that of a 50 year old character, I wound up being very tired of the repeated anachronisms. In one paragraph--on page four of the book, I believe--the narrator tells the readers that the main character's son is seeing a grief counselor and participating in an Internet support group. In 1986, that sort of thing would have been highly unlikely. Further, in that same paragraph, he tells us the main character's deceased wife is buried in the same cemetary with Bruce and Brandon Lee--and this is seven years before Brandon's death.
I'm not the kind of reader that gets easily annoyed by poor detail editing--but I am annoyed when sloppy research (or a failure to do any sort of research) leads to misrepresentations of the setting. I found this book to be very sloppy indeed.
Edit posted: April 21, 2013
After years of getting comments and feedback on this review, I will take the time to edit it for two important details.
1. Many of the errors that I found irritating were fixed in the paperback edition of the book. I would argue that this means that others also found the errors irritating that they were, indeed, errors.
2. Ford replies to the internet issue as one of his FAQ replies on his website. He states:
"I'm afraid I have to reveal just how geeky I truly am. I was on Compuserve in 1984, with an old coupler modem like you saw in the movie Wargames. Back when you had to pay $100 to sign up and were charged by the hour. Just because most people weren't online then, doesn't mean no one was. Just the few, the proud, the computer geeks..."
You can see the comment here.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
March 1, 2009
–
Finished Reading
March 19, 2009
– Shelved
March 19, 2009
– Shelved as:
borrowed
September 15, 2011
– Shelved as:
never-again
September 16, 2011
– Shelved as:
world-war-ii
Comments Showing 1-50 of 109 (109 new)
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Julie
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rated it 4 stars
Mar 22, 2009 10:46AM
Yeeesh, good call on the Brandon Lee thing. I did notice the internet anachronisms but I didn't even think about Brandon Lee!
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I agree totally with everything you mentionned. It is full of errors. Read Snow Falling on Cedars, one of my favorite books ever. Same topic, love story and a mystery.We're among the few who disliked it...
Oh no. I just got this book for Christmas and am afraid to give it a go. I liked the description on the back cover, now I just wish I hadn't read some of the reviews. :)
This is interesting! I'm reading the book now and those bits are not in my copy! I must have a reprinted edition where those errors were fixed! I am loving the book!
My book didn't have these "errors" either but even had they been in there, I think the story flows along so quickly that I wouldn't have noticed them.
I read a first edition hardcover, so it is very likely that the book was edited a second time prior to the paperback release. At the time I read it, I assumed that Ford had originally set the later portions of the novel in 1996, where these small issues would not be anachronistic, as they no doubt were in 1986.I might want to try reading the paperback. If these sorts of errors have been fixed, I may be able to actually enjoy the story. However, I could not enjoy the hardcover release because these small details kept making it impossible for me to suspend my disbelief long enough to get into it.
I'm about 1/3 of the way through and am annoyed with the superficiality and banality of the writing. I didn't notice the Bruce Lee thing or the internet thing, but I did wonder if they had 'hot rollers' in 1942, when Keiko supposedly had used them on her hair. How do these things get published?
Thanks for the heads up about the errors. That would try me crazy. I'll look for the latest edition.
I noticed the red, white and blue mailboxes that did not exit in 1942! Don't books have to have notice they are "revised" if changes are made? My paperback copy did not indicate it was any different than hardback. Perhaps I did not get involved emotionally with this story because I felt "Farewell to Manzanar" (which was my first exposure to the internment of Japanese) was so much better.
Yes! I agree! I was very annoyed with the error about the Internet support group. There was also an incorrect reference about how records were giving way to CD's, and how they found Keiko by doing research on the computer and a few phone calls. I was a kid in 1986, and we were listening to tapes back then. I first heard of CDs in about 1988 or 1989. And using the Internet to do searches - the general public didn't do that kind of thing until at least the mid-90s!
Interesting notes about cultural inaccuracies. I haven't read the book yet, but I do have the paperback version. A note on CDs - I remember Christmas 1984, my cutting edge of technology cousin who was in the music biz made me a tape of his Thriller CD. He was telling me how much clearer the CD was than my record album. I wore out the tape, but my 9 year old ears couldn't hear any difference! LOL So, CDs were around in 1986, but really only just coming into vogue.
I just finished this book and I looked back at where it talks about his son being a support group, but it doesn't say internet of any kind. It say that his son is in a support group of some kind, but doesn't say internet or online. Just thought you should know
What a shame that instead of taking all of the interesting historical lessons some only saw minor errors. I found it to be a good read, clearly illustrating differences between cultures (Chinese & Japanese as well as Western) as well as showing the terrible effects that removing Americans from their homes (Japanese only by culture) and confiscating their homes, land, property.
My book days Bruce Lee, not Brandon Lee. Bruce Lew died in '73, so that makes sense. I am really enjoying the book. I read a lot, but don't particularly look for historical fiction, but I think this one is great. The thing that keeps me interested and wanting to move forward (not want to have to put the book down ever!) is the description of the relationships between the characters. They are very believable, in my opinion. I can picture the characters and their expressions easily; I can understand and feel what they are feeling, their actions & reactions to events & each other. I am finding it to be an amazing book. I believe it is most definitely the best book I've read in a long time.
I mean Bruce Lee, of course. My thumbs are too clumsy to write on my iPhone like I do. :(
After seeing good review after good review, I'm relieved that at least some others were as bothered as I about the banality of prose and historical inaccuracies. I usually am not aware enough of errors to be distracted by them, but in this case, the writing was not compelling enough to sweep me past them. So I was repeatedly stopped mid-page to puzzle over steep hills where they don't exist, streets running in the wrong direction, misspelling of Colman Dock, mis-dated ownership transition of Bud's Jazz Records, as well as the use of the internet in a time when even my early-adapter husband still wrote letters with pen on paper. And the simple story seemed better suited for readers the age of the young protagonists. For all the promise of an interesting read, I was very disappointed in this book.
I had internet in 1986. Remember Compuserve? It was not as easy as it is today but you could still do research and there were online groups.
That's true, Carola. But it would have been called Compuserve, not the Internet. According to the OED, in 1986, the word Internet still referred to the system operated by the Department of Defense.I know that I only pointed out two small errors in my review, above, and a number of people have taken me to task for responding so negatively to them. However, I stand by my reaction. Those small inaccuracies made it more difficult for me to suspend my disbelief and enjoy the story. I'm sure that far more of the history was accurate than not, but I found myself in a situation reading the text where I did not think I could rely on the author. That, to me, is a failure.
Nan wrote: "That's true, Carola. But it would have been called Compuserve, not the Internet. According to the OED, in 1986, the word Internet still referred to the system operated by the Department of Defens..."I agree, Nan, and it wasn't only the small inaccuracies. The two characters as children acted like adults. They were wooden and unbelievable. I can't help but believe that there must be books written about this tragic time in our history that show more sensitivity and accuracy than this one does.
im so glad im not the only one who noticed the errors. interesting that in the newer versions it was corrected. in my version he says that bruce lee along with his son brandon were buried at the cemetary. i just check when i read some of the comments to make sure i read it correctly. i read mine on my ereader...i guess the ebook version doesnt have the corrections. other than that the story is wonderful.
I'm only 40 pages in and the "online support group" really bugged me. I let it go, but now am trying to figure out if this school is public or private? Henry and Keiko are "scholarshipping," and have to workin the kitchen, but the bully has been held back two years - that's why he's a head taller than anyone. Who gets held back in private school? I'm so annoyed by the lack of an editor that I'm having trouble picking the book up to continue...
Huh.. I must have read a later version as that was indeed not in my version. I liked the book and didn't think, but yes, agree that the dialogue for two 12 year olds WAS a little complex, but wanted to say, I want to private parochial school and kids were DEFINITELY held back, though a lot of times, those kids just left because they would be teased mercilessly. Small schools can be the WORST for that because everyone knows everyone so when you're held back, it's pretty public & humiliating.
The school bit is still bugging me. I'm going out on a limb here to say that in the 1940s, there probably weren't as many private schools around small-town Seattle. Still, even the name does not ring true. "Elementary" usually indicates a public school, "Saint" a catholic school, and "school" or "academy" a private school. Sigh - these little things make me feel like the book was slap-dash.
agreed! The internet reference bugged me the most.
The internet reference totally ruined the book for me. How did that get by his editor???
It doesn't specifically say Brandon Lee, what it says is " like Bruce Lee and his own son, Brandon." Bugges me too.
maybe i bought an edited version because my book just reads that he was seeing a counselor "through a support group of some kind"..and Bruce Lee died in 1973 - so there is nothing wrong with that reference. Brandon Lee is not mentioned at all in that paragraph.. i must have bought the cleaned up version.
Good points. I failed to catch these details and thoroughly enjoyed the book however.
Children acting like adults might be one of the most believable things about this novel. Sure its extremely sappy and sentimental, but the reality of the word undoubtedly causes children to grow up fast and acts like adults. There's no other option. There certainly are moments that where both Henry and Keiko exhibit that duality of being children who are forced to act like adults. Like Henry's hope that he could sneak Keiko out. Deep down he knows that isn't a real solution to his problem but for a moment he seems to be naively convincing himself that he could actually sneak her out and hide her with his aunts. I'm not saying these characters are a perfect example of 3 dimensionality but they certainly aren't completely flat and wooden either.
I am the kind of reader who is easily annonyed by poor detail editing and I missed the things you are writing of - I guess I just was very wrapped up in an excellent story.
It wasn't just the Brandon Lee and internet support group references and the unclear school situation that bugged me. Here's what else I caught:-Henry calls the early 40's "the war years." This is written as if Henry coined the term.
-Henry's father speaks Cantonese, but his dialogue is written as if translated to pidgin English. Why?
-Rainier Elementary is an exclusive prep school, but the bully Chaz is a head taller than Henry because he has been held back twice - who pays three times for the same year?
-Henry frequents jazz clubs between the ages of 13-18. Highly unlikely for a minor.
-Are there floorboards in horse stalls? There is a bouquet of flowers that apparently poke through the stall where the Okabes are residing.
-Henry and Keiko work in the school kitchen. The National School Lunch program was not enacted until 1946. There was an earlier program in 1937, under the WPA, that targeted underprivileged children (which the Rainier kids were not).
-How did Ethel know Henry was waiting for someone who would never show, unless she was in on the scheme or read Henry's outgoing mail (the narrative says she was innocent).
-Approximately 15 minutes passes between the relocation leaflets being distribited and Henry watching a Japanese family stow their belongings with a Chinese family - that's some fast packing.
-Keiko has a sketch of Henry and herself in Minidoka. Who drew it? Keiko?
Where were the editors for this book?
The copy i read, Ethel admitted to reading Henry's mail. She handed him his letter to Keiko that said returned to sender opened. Is it that hard to imagine that while missing Henry, Keiko drew a picture of them together that she imagined in her head? If she's a talented artist, I'm sure it wouldn't be hard. especially if she already has other sketches of henry to go from or has his image plastered in her memory.
Holy Cow! Obviously some editing was really needed, but this is a great story. Is that all that this group can find to discuss about it are the editorial errors?I so appreciated a glimpse of what life in Chinatown might have been like at that point. The fact that the Chinese along with the "white" population did nothing concerning the internment, except take advantage. It was interesting to me that the Japanese in the camps saw obedience as loyalty, even if the internment was unjust - they were American citizens.
I find many, books that lack what appears to be an editor altogether, let alone a good editor - but must that get in the way of the story so completely that we miss discussing what is good and interesting?
If it were just a few errors, I'd overlook it. But there were so many, and they were so big, I could not trust the narrative. What else did Ford make up to move the story along? Contrast reading this book with reading To Kill a Mockingbird, where every word is perfect, even when Lee is just describing small town Mississippi. For better books on this subject, read the No-No Boy and Snow Falling on Cedars.
Lghamilton wrote: "If it were just a few errors, I'd overlook it. But there were so many, and they were so big, I could not trust the narrative. What else did Ford make up to move the story along? Contrast reading ..."I see your point. I have read Snow Falling on Cedars. One you might enjoy if the subject appeals to you, is Obasan.
I will check it out!
I double checked my copy. Ford did say Henry's son was "dealing with his mother's death through a support group of some kind." Further down the same page (4)it stated that Ethel...."was interred with Seattle's other notables like Bruce Lee". According to Wikipedia, Bruce Lee died on July 20, 1973 at the age of 32, 13 years before Ethel's death. My copy was published in 2009, so maybe there was another copy. I loved this book and thought it sensitively portrayed a sad chapter in American history.
I have a 2009 edition ( must have been early 2009). It says Marty...was dealing with his mother's death through an online support group "whatever that was.". And that Ethel ... Was interred with seattle's other Chinese notables, like Bruce Lee and his own son, Brandon.There must have been complaints and a new version quickly issued!
That is so interesting. My copy was in paperback, whatever that might mean??
They did another round of edits between the hardcover and the paperback. The edition I read was a hardcover. From what I understand, the errors persist in the ebook versions.
My edition only mentions Bruce Lee and never says online support group, just support group.
I just started reading the ebook version and yes, the Internet and Bruce/Brandon Lee references persist. I came here to see if anyone had left a review about it. Certainly it was sloppy editing if I noticed it. I think I'll put this one down for now and if I decide to read it I'll find the latest version. Several of my friends have left excellent reviews for it, but for now, I don't think I can get past the errors.
I loved the story, the inaccuracy is more important in non fiction. This is fiction. The story is still believable
Nan, I thought the exact same thing when I read the Brandon Lee and Internet support grp references!! LOL They did have BBS online groups back in the 80s...so the author probably meant that or maybe he meant hotline numbers?
He does not mention Brandon lee-only Bruce lee
and also mentions nothing of internet-just grief counseling
Jennifer, if you had read the previous comments, you'd see that the paperback edition is not the same as the hardcover or ebook editions. The material I objected to was in the hardcover.
I read the ebook version & I'm disappointed to learn there is an edited version that fixes those glaring errors. Why not fix this version, too?!
Good question, Diana!
