This story transported me back in time and inspired me to imagine places I would not have ever visited had I missed this book. I knew, minutely, of the Chinese internment camps, but Ford's story brought them to life in a personal, I-can-just-picture-that way. It gave yet another glimpse into the horrors of war -- not the bomber, bloody battlefield aspect of it, but how it affects humanity one by one....breaks hearts and alters lives forever, even those of children.

Jamie Ford is a promising, but not yet polished story teller. The main characters never quite "bloomed" fully for me, though some side players like Sheldon and Mrs. Beatty were a pleasure to meet. Also, as the book swings back and forth between 1986 and the 1940's, Henry's (the protagonist) voice changes not at all. This prohibited me from being fully immersed because of the continual awareness that 56-year-olds do not think or speak exactly like their 12-year-old selves.

Overall, Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet almost always held my attention, gave me enough well-written words to transport me to its setting, and was well worth the time I devoted to it.