martes, junio 02, 2009

Turn the page.. Tuesday



Well, I'm posting this on Monday night because tomorrow I have to get in a plane and I won't have time until the night, with a little bit of luck, to read the other pages...
As I have mentioned before, the books chose us. They find us and get their way into our lives.
This book saw me when I was waiting for my student. She was late, and I got to read two chapters before she appeared. She looked curious about what I was reading, I told her about the book, and she secretly bought it for me, my birthday was the next day we had class.
I love the stories that the books in the shelves have.
The book for June is Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford.
As the Panama Hotel owner discovers the belongings of Japanese families, left when they were sent to internment camps during World War !, Henry Lee, widow, father, makes another amazing discovery: The owner shows to the press a Japanese parasol, and opens it, taking Henry to 1940, to Keiko and his first love.
He is convinced that the parasol was hers, and searches the hotel for clues about her family, for his voice, for a long-lost, invaluable object. Set both in 1942 and 1986, the novel goes back and forth, explaining the past, unravelling the present.
But this novel is also made of little moments: of a jasmine smell, a can of pears, a photography never taken...
The story makes us keep reading, and the details, embroider the pleasure of the trip...

Just a quick note: Adrienne, I never made it to my May(d) by me... I got the patterns, though. So maybe, just may(be), I will get to sew the summer clothes before the summer gets here...
As with books, we continue living, but the small moments, the peas getting bigger in the pod, the kiss of a loved one, the sound of rain, is what brings us pleasure. Happy June to all.

4 comentarios:

Adrienne dijo...

This sounds like a great book! My library has it too! It's on my list ...

Don't feel bad about May(d) for me - I didn't get a thing done either. It was just too crazy ... there's always summer!

Paula dijo...

This is a wonderful review! I love how you made us feel the emotions of the book. I've seen this book on several different blogs now and it sounds so good. I will keep my eye out for it.

Unknown dijo...

This book sounds so good!
I read one awhile back by David Guterson about the same subject called "Snow Falling on Cedars" it was very good!

Khris dijo...

Just dropping by to say hi..hugs Khris