riendship is the most precious thing in life
Jill McCorkle once said “The silver friend knows your present and the gold friend knows all of your past dirt and glories. Once in a blue moon there is someone who knows it all, someone who knows and accepts you unconditionally, and someone who is there for life”. McCorkle’s description of a “gold friend” reminds me of a novel I recently read called “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” where friendship is universal and described as a bridge that connect all social gaps including gender, race and differences in abilities. Throughout the book, author Jamie Ford has succeeded to show readers that friendship is the most precious gift of life and it is also the most valuable thing to pursuit by giving details about how characters in his book such as Henry, Keiko and Sheldon help each other in the hardest time of their lives.
Spreading out along the book is a beautiful and unbreakable friendship formed by Henry and Keiko, two young people that suffering from discrimination and found each other among the chaos of war. In the beginning of the novel “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet”, we can clearly observe that Keiko and Henry experienced many hard times and obstacles that prevented them from sticking together, many times where it would have been easier for them to just simply give up and accept the reality that their friendship will never work out. Instead of going along with fate, they choose to create their own destiny by
The first way is by trusting your friends. In this novel, Henry and Keiko continually trust each other with certain assignments. Henry needs Keiko to be his friend, and to guide him through the stressful and confusing world. Keiko needs Henry to assist her in getting new supplies in her concentration camp and to have a true friend, and not just a loving family. Henry and Keiko's trust in each other is a extremely meaningful theme throughout the novel. The second way is by being loyal to your friends. Keiko and Henry experience a lot of difficulty, many times where it would have been easier to simply quit and acknowledge the fact that their friendship can never work out. Instead, they find new methods to make their relationship work. Henry is ready to sacrifice his life with his family for Keiko's friendship, and in turn Keiko sacrifices much of her time and the risk of being humiliated by spending time with Henry. All in all, the theme of friendship and self-reliance is presented throughout Henry and Keiko's relationship. There are many characters in this novel, but the main ones are Henry Lee, Keiko Okabe, and Sheldon. Henry Lee is the main character and the protagonist (the leading character or hero). He is a
“A broken record, he thought. Two halves that will never play again,” (pg 178). Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford is a historical fiction book based on World War 2 in Seattle, Washington. This book is about Henry Lee, a young Chinese boy living in Seattle, who meets a Japanese girl named Keiko. The book discusses the racism towards the Japanese from World War 2, and the internment camps they were sent to. Henry comes from a disconnected family, as he isn’t allowed to speak Chinese or know anybody who is Japanese. As Keiko is Japanese, she is sent to a camp and distances herself from Henry. The book also focuses on Henry in his 50’s, after his beloved wife Ethel had died. It focuses on the same disconnect he has with his own son, and what they overcome to reach closure on his past. Henry as an adult was once very closed off and lonely, but through achieving closure and gaining connection in his
Rebirth is an over arching theme in the book, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, written by Jamie Ford. One of the main symbols of second rebirth is the ever-present Oscar Holden record. The records symbolizes not only Henry and Keiko’s relationship, but how it can be renewed. From when Henry and Keiko buy the record, to Henry finding it 40 years later, the record always has a strong significance in the book.
While many obstacles get in the way of friendship, true friendship still lives, even in silence. In the book, The Chosen , By Chaim Potok, two boys, Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders, who are very religiously different and both raised in completely opposite ways, develops a deep friendship. Their friendship opens up their worldview to many other different viewpoints in life. The friendship between these two boys is one with great religious significance, starting off with destiny and Gods will. As Danny and Reuven’s Friendship develops, it teaches them to respond wisely to the values of the more complex and secular world. It also teaches the true value of friendship. Because Danny’s father, Reb
The novel “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,” written by Jamie Ford is a compelling novel about a young Chinese American boy name Henry. Henry is growing up after the Pearl Harbor incident and the start of the internment camps for Japanese Americans. Henry’s ethnicity as a Chinese American affects his childhood in being bulled in school, having a distant relationship with his parents, and causes issues with his first love Keiko, a Japanese American girl.
Being held by your word because you make a promise, or commitment is frustrating and tough. You don’t always want to do what you promised because it could be hard, or get you into trouble. Throughout the book Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Henry and Keiko’s relationship comes at a cost. They make commitments that comes with sacrifices which makes them hard to keep. Through Henry and Keiko’s relationship Ford shows that commitment is difficult.
Imagine going through life without any emotions or feelings for anyone. Life would be methodical and boring; one should be enjoying their life with friends and loved ones. Ones character would be affected greatly without relationships intertwined within ones life. Life would be more enjoyable when having someone to share good and bad memories. It is always best to keep the most important relationships closest to the heart. By doing this, dealing with life struggles can become a much more easy ordeal. In the book, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Henry and Keiko were always there for each other. Jamie Ford, the author, was able to portray two best friends that shared an ordinary yet unique childhood.
Jamie Ford, the author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, wrote a story about a Chinese boy named Henry and how he fell in love with a Japanese-American girl named Keiko Okabe. Their adorable and heart wrenching love story took place at Seattle, Washington during World War II when tensions rose between Americans, Chinese, and Japanese. In the novel, Henry’s father was a traditional Chinese man who was extremely loyal to his country. Due to his strong devotion to his homeland and resentment toward Japanese people, he disapproved of his son’s friendship with Keiko. As Henry’s affection and admiration grew for Keiko, his relationship with his father suffered. Misunderstandings and built up frustrations emerged from their lack of communication. Henry struggled with communication, the key to forming a strong relationship and a UULO that is significant throughout this novel. Because of this, he had a difficult time maintaining many of his relationships, including the one with his father, Keiko and his son, Marty.
The hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet is a novel written by Jamie Ford. This book takes place in between 1940s to 1990s, during the World War II. This is when the Japanese’s were forced into concentration camps. Some were temporarily to live in horse stalls. This is a fictional story between a Japanese girl and a Chinese boy. Jamie Ford uses characters to show most relationships can survive anything.
No matter your size or age friends play a big part in everyone's life shaping and influencing lives. In the fictional novel “Fluke” by Christopher Moore, the main character, Nathan Quinn teams up with his best friend, Clay Demodocus with a group of workers to study on an island what he loves most, why whales sing. Nate quickly catches feelings for his next closest worker, Amy Earhart who later on impacts Nate’s life. Through the power of friendship Nate experiences benefits, struggles and some unexpected friendship. Unexpected friendship moments can impact someone's lives in a great way.
Friendship describes the mutual pledge to help reveal the innermost workings of a person, bringing out the hidden attributes and validity of one’s characteristics. Subsequently, the bonds and struggles of friendship are a central cause for unveiling identity as the relationship one makes contributes to long-lasting change. The acceptance of a person’s differences conveys an importance for the development of strong bonds. Moreover, hardships accompanying relationships establish times to reflect on oneself and lead to positive outcomes for growth. Furthermore, the memorable journeys embed an area in one’s mind that will change the way self-perspective is seen. Through the characters of Lewis in If I Ever Get Out Of Here by Eric Gansworth and
"Family isn't always blood. It'd the people in your life who want you in theirs; the ones who accept you for who you are, the ones who would do anything to see you smile, and love you no matter what"(anonymous). In the Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Henry Lee discovers that sometimes friends care more then family. Relationships are difficult and have changed between Henry, Henry's father, Henry's son, Keiko. Some relationships fall shirt from expectations, while others survive the long haul.
However, the most important message was the importance of friendship, with the development of an unbreakable bond, love, and trust between two friends. This is a story of two women with a keen desire to encourage one another and beautifully inspired many others in the process.
An epic fantasy and a gloomy ranch life. True friends will never fade away. Or will it? Friendships and their outcome get very subjective evaluations. Both Steinbeck and Tolkien’s books: “Of Mice and Men” and “The Fellowship of the Rings” deal with a consistent theme of friendship. Although each author has their own distinct way of communicating their ideas, these books show similar views on the strength, consequences and limitations of friendship.
In Charlotte’s Web we are witness to an odd friendship that evolves from a need to survive into one of deepest respect, understanding, and selflessness. In The Fox and the Hound, we see how the innocence of childhood breaks through the barriers of society’s norms and their friendship develops from similar passions and curiosities - with bonds so strong that neither time nor the pressures of family and work can not break them. In life, as in literature, friendship is an important theme that touches us all. One never knows where or when they will find a friend so stay open and receptive. Smile at that person next to you in the cafeteria, strike up a conversation with the kid next to you on the bus, bake your neighbor some cookies and stay for tea… You may be embarking upon your next tremendous