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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The historical aspect of the book was good, and something I honestly had never given much thought to.
The story was slow though with a little heart wrenching in the end.
The story was slow though with a little heart wrenching in the end.
I couldn't summon the strength to care about to hear characters. Also, the ending is obvious from a mile away. How convenient that, spoiler alert, her husband is dead too!!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Such a beautiful and heartfelt book. I loved it way more than I expected to
Loved it! Great read, made me want to dig into the era a bit more.
Right from the start, I noticed that the bulk of the writing technique was presented in truncated short, shorter, and shortest sentences possible. I was slightly put-off, as though Ford either made a conscious effort to address the readability factor of his audience, or was trying to affect something minimalistic in his stylistic approach. Yet, the complexity factor increased with the progression of the story, so I held out hope. For too long, as it turned out.
Either way I found it very difficult to engage in this, ‘puppy-love,’ story. Not that it was overly sentimental, no not at all. Midway through the book, I decided to put it aside; as the latest development
Although, I did gain some cultural insight with the, “I am Chinese,” button that Henry wore and learned a little about the implications of Chinese and Japanese relations, I was also disappointed in how ‘cleaned-up,’ Ford presented his story.
Using a puppy-love story to present both 1. the cultural differences between the Chinese and Japanese Americans and 2. Also depicting an internment camp in such a simplistic style and plot form really seems to me to be pandering to the masses or simply the effect of a third generation Chinese American imposing a Brady Bunch (sic from Ford’s Acknowledgments) mentality on his work.
Because I did learn some things from, “The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,” this was not a total waste of time for me. 2.75
Either way I found it very difficult to engage in this, ‘puppy-love,’ story. Not that it was overly sentimental, no not at all. Midway through the book, I decided to put it aside; as the latest development
Spoiler
of Henry working as kitchen help at the Japanese internment camp was so coincidental that it bordered on implausible.Although, I did gain some cultural insight with the, “I am Chinese,” button that Henry wore and learned a little about the implications of Chinese and Japanese relations, I was also disappointed in how ‘cleaned-up,’ Ford presented his story.
Using a puppy-love story to present both 1. the cultural differences between the Chinese and Japanese Americans and 2. Also depicting an internment camp in such a simplistic style and plot form really seems to me to be pandering to the masses or simply the effect of a third generation Chinese American imposing a Brady Bunch (sic from Ford’s Acknowledgments) mentality on his work.
Because I did learn some things from, “The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,” this was not a total waste of time for me. 2.75
I loved it, even in its predictability.
Always good to read a story from a different perspective. It's been years since I read something with a Chinese American protagonist.
♡
Always good to read a story from a different perspective. It's been years since I read something with a Chinese American protagonist.
♡
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This story was quite moving. It occurs in Seattle, both in 1942 and in 1986, and involves the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. Great character development and descriptions of places.