Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet Read-Along: Part One

How the Read-Along Works

Each day we will read a section of the book Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford together.  After reading each section, please feel free to comment, and add your thoughts about the book.  The more input, the better this works!  Comment as little or as much as you want, and feel free to stray from the discussion starters if you have something else about the book you really want to discuss.  Most importanly, have fun as we read this book together!

Part 1:  "The Panama Hotel (1986)" through "Keiko (1942)"  pages 1-21

Welcome to our first day of reading and thank you for joining us!  I hope you enjoy yourself as we read Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford.  For this first section we are introduced to our characters, Henry, his son Marty, Henry's father, and Keiko.  The story is told both in the present day and in the past.

Discussion Starters:

1. What is your first reaction to the relationship between Henry and his son Marty?


2. What is your first reaction to the relationship between Henry and his own father?


3. What do you think of the contradiction Henry's father creates by making him wear an "I am Chinese" button, but not allowing him to speak Chinese in his own home.


4. How do you feel about the story flipping back and forth between the two times?

Other comments on this section...

For tomorrow we will be reading "The Walk Home (1942)" through "Dim Sum (1986)" pages 22-40.  Hope to see you all back tomorrow!