Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Set in the turmoil of WW2, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a love of bitterness and sweetness book involving a Japanese girl, Keiko, and a Chinese boy, Henry. They strives to keep their relationship and deal with the consequences inflicted upon them by their parents and the war. As the story rolls along, many thoughts occurred that Henry and Keiko would be able to marry, but a twist happens, which results in their separation; unquestionably, Henry and Keiko moves on to have their own family.Therefore, does Henry gives up on Keiko too easily? Yes, Henry give up on Keiko too easily. Henry has his chance of going back to Keiko, but he let it slips by. He tries to forget about Keiko and moves on with his life. Henry thought that his decision is what seems right and the best thing to do. Although many readers may think that Henry does not give up on Keiko too easily as they got reunited at the end, but there were more than just the reuniting. This would eventually prove that Henry give up on Keiko too easily.
The Chance of a Lifetime
Chances are rare to come by. Depending on one’s decision, it can affect one’s lifetime. Henry consciously, after so long when a second chance is given to him again, let his chance slips by without giving his all. As Henry was talking to Marty at his University, Henry says: “I had my chance, I let her go...I made my decisions...I could found her after the war. I could have hurt Ethel and had what I wanted, but it didn’t seem right. Not then. And not these past few years” (Ford 268). An unforeseen circumstance is given to Henry as another chance. Henry’s decision involving that chance is to marry Ethel and stay true to her; as a result, Henry let Keiko go. However, when it does seem right,...

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...o at the end, it does not proved that Henry does not give up on Keiko too easily as it is just a sweetness in the bitterness.
In the end, Henry does give up on Keiko too easily. Henry has a chance before and after 40 years, but his final decisions are still the same, letting Keiko go. Henry could have prevented the separation from happening and breaks Ethels heart, but as a soft-hearted person, Henry does just the opposite. He moves on with his life with Ethel and forgets about Keiko. Henry thought that his decisions are what is best and what is right for the both Henry and Keiko. Although reunited at the end of the book, does not suggest that Henry does not give up on Keiko too easily, because the book always have a sweetness along with bitterness.

Works Cited

Ford, Jamie. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: A Novel. New York: Ballantine, 2009. Print.