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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
This author, who wrote Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, has some of the most visual writing I've read. He creates the setting in the turn of the century (1902) into the early 1960's so well.
The story begins with Ernest Young, (Yung Kun-ai) standing at the gates of the World's Fair in 1962 where he remembers when he left China, during the war and famine, to the US via the 'water trade,' slave ships. We journey with him in his memories, recalling when he first met his wife who now has memory loss and lives in a care home: "Her mind had become a one-way mirror....A ghost of red-light districts past...a ripple from the water trade." Ernest lives in "...this pay-by-week purgatory, the rooms were tiny, the floors warped, the bathrooms shared, and the old floral wallpaper was perpetually peeling."
The truth of his life and his memories are spurred by his daughter, a journalist, who is assigned to investigate and write about an old newspaper article in Seattle which stated that "...a boy, a charge of the Washington Children's Home Society, is one of the prizes offered at the 1909 World's Fair. His name is Ernest." Tickets were sold for this 'prize.'
The unfolding novel is rich with setting and characterization of Ernest, Gracie, and the women from Madame Flora's house as well as old Seattle and the events of that era.
This novel is so good, I'm going to go back and read the author's first book, Willow Frost. This is an honest review of the ARC sent to me by NetGalley.
The story begins with Ernest Young, (Yung Kun-ai) standing at the gates of the World's Fair in 1962 where he remembers when he left China, during the war and famine, to the US via the 'water trade,' slave ships. We journey with him in his memories, recalling when he first met his wife who now has memory loss and lives in a care home: "Her mind had become a one-way mirror....A ghost of red-light districts past...a ripple from the water trade." Ernest lives in "...this pay-by-week purgatory, the rooms were tiny, the floors warped, the bathrooms shared, and the old floral wallpaper was perpetually peeling."
The truth of his life and his memories are spurred by his daughter, a journalist, who is assigned to investigate and write about an old newspaper article in Seattle which stated that "...a boy, a charge of the Washington Children's Home Society, is one of the prizes offered at the 1909 World's Fair. His name is Ernest." Tickets were sold for this 'prize.'
The unfolding novel is rich with setting and characterization of Ernest, Gracie, and the women from Madame Flora's house as well as old Seattle and the events of that era.
This novel is so good, I'm going to go back and read the author's first book, Willow Frost. This is an honest review of the ARC sent to me by NetGalley.
Intriguing glimpse into a portion of Seattle's history. The flashbacks between eras provides depth to the story. Enjoyable read.
I knew absolutely nothing about this time in American history (or Jamie Ford for that matter) and I am so impressed by how well he painted Seattle during the Alaska Yukon Pacific Expo. The characters felt real and I can tell Ford did his research before writing this book. The story was very well written and peeled back in layers as it progressed, alternating between the 1910s and the 1960s. I will be thinking about beautiful and heartbreaking book, as well as the true events that inspired it, for a long time.
Beautifully written story. I like how the 2 timelines were intertwined.
I really enjoyed the way this story was told. Wonderful storytelling techniques that unfolded into a beautiful story. I’m excited to read more Ford books!
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a review, thank you.
I would have to say I liked this book but I wanted a little bit more out of it. I was definitely captivated by the story of Ernest and how he came to the states, and met and fell in love with both Maisie (I adore that name) and Fahn. It was interesting how that corresponded with the story of him nearly 60 years later with his wife who was starting to remember the past. I definitely didn't want to put the book down. However, I wanted MORE. I wanted a little more time in the early 1900s, learning about what else happened to all 3 of them. The book felt like it ended too abruptly, I wasn't ready for it to be over yet.
I would have to say I liked this book but I wanted a little bit more out of it. I was definitely captivated by the story of Ernest and how he came to the states, and met and fell in love with both Maisie (I adore that name) and Fahn. It was interesting how that corresponded with the story of him nearly 60 years later with his wife who was starting to remember the past. I definitely didn't want to put the book down. However, I wanted MORE. I wanted a little more time in the early 1900s, learning about what else happened to all 3 of them. The book felt like it ended too abruptly, I wasn't ready for it to be over yet.
I truly enjoyed this read. Ford does a wonderful job of creating characters and settings that suck you in. I found the interplay between Ernest and his daughters and the secrets he keeps from them almost as a duty to be one of the most interesting parts- probably due to having moved back in with my own parents (one of whom's health is in steady decline.) I would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a break from the every day while still offering more to the reader than a mere beach read.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No