Genre – Historical fiction
***WARNING – SPOILERS
(Hell, I’ve given out the entire story) AHEAD. PROCEED WITH CAUTION***
Historical fiction is one genre I’m into these days. I loved
Orphan Train (by Christina Baker Kline) and jumped at the prospect of reading
another such story. So, I bought this book from the Kindle store with free
kindle ebook coupons I got with Top Ramen instant noodles (This offer was
amazing! I got coupons worth INR 300 and bought 5 books with that. Isn’t that
super cool? I’m not sure if the offer still exists though). Coming back to the
point, I read a few reviews and was skeptical of it being another regular love
story but the author cleared all my doubts because the moment I started the
book I was hooked! There was no stopping and the book left me controlling my
tears (tears of happiness of course, this book has a happy ending and will
leave you satisfied).
The book keeps switching between the WWII times and the late
1980s (the present) and follows the life of Henry Lee, a Chinese immigrant. He
is introduced as a widower having a troubled relationship with his college
going son who finds Henry very traditional and illiberal. A completely
different side of Henry is shown in the past where he is a rebel and quite the
adventurer. He meets Keiko Okabe, a Japanese girl at his American school. It is
to be noted that this was also a time when Japan were the bad guys and were at
war with both America and China, thus causing China to support America in the
World War. Keiko and Henry have many things in common. She is also in the
school on a scholarship and is subject to bullying for being the traitor (Henry
is often mistaken to be Japanese by the Americans). Although Henry is a Chinese
at heart (his father’s influence) and has his doubts about being friends with
someone from Japan, they both bond and there springs a special kind of love
between them. One that is so pure and innocent and can only happen between 12
year olds. They start meeting each other after school at Japantown, which he is
forbidden to enter by his father and which is also where Keiko lives. Then
comes a time every Japanese is speculated for being a spy and helping Japan.
The Okabes are also subject to it despite them being staunch Americans. All the
Japanese are evacuated and Henry’s heart breaks. They are sent off to live in
camps and right when you think “Please don’t tell me this is over” comes the
saving grace in the form of Mrs. Beatty, the cook at school who offers to take
Henry to the camps to help her out. He visits the camp every weekend and
eventually finds the Okabes and Keiko. Back at home however, things go bad when
his parents find out about his feelings for Keiko and his father is furious. Our
hero however defies his father which leads to a break in their relationship. A few
days later, Keiko’s camp relocates and Henry is all sad about the things he
couldn’t do and the words he couldn’t say. His friend Sheldon, the jazz player
and also a brother figure, offers to help him out and they both visit Keiko’s
new camp. He finds Keiko there and he stays there for the night. He later
leaves and they promise to write to each other. When he gets back home he
learns that his father had suffered from a major stroke and can’t speak anymore. He
also learns that is father is planning to send him to China to finish his
studies. He refuses to go but eventually gives in when he learns that Keiko has
moved on and has forgotten him. You can’t help but feel angry and frustrated at
Keiko at this point and sympathize with Henry. He later finds love in Ethel, the
girl who works at the post office, posts his letters to Keiko and later sympathizes with him just like us (I
should’ve guessed this). His parents approve of her and they get married after
he returns from China. However, he still can’t forget Keiko and before he
leaves to China, the day his dad dies, his dad confesses to him that he had
stopped the letters from Keiko and had done it for his own good (I should’ve
guessed this too). Heartbroken, Henry moves on with his life.
Coming back to the present, Henry’s memories of Keiko are
rekindled when he finds a few of her possessions and also the jazz record they
held so dear (now broken into two) in the titular Panama Hotel. He tells his
son Marty Lee and, his Caucasian fiancé all this and they work on tracing Keiko
(you might’ve guessed this). They surprise Henry by giving him Keiko’s
whereabouts and there’s a happy reunion (so guessable).
Now, every aspect of this story would make for a beautiful
film. There’s a sad love story with a happy ending, villains who get the
punishment they deserve, signature items and words like the ‘I’m a Chinese’
badge, the jazz record, the Japanese greeting, which keep recurring throughout
the book. Every aspect of it is so predictable (Although I didn’t predict most
of them and still curse myself for being so dumb) but the beauty is in the
writing style. The author has set up a clever trap where you get so immersed in
the words you are reading that you don’t bother to think about what happens
next and that is when he springs the twists (how much ever small they may be)
upon you. He takes you on this emotional rollercoaster and you leave all cares
and readily go with him. I know you might read this review and think of how
banal a story this is, but I would advise you to give the writer a chance to
work his magic on you.
P.S. Would love to see this book made into a movie. Given
that the story is made as it is without any exaggerations and deviations that
Hollywood is notorious for.
Rating – 4.25/5 (Marks deducted for my dumbness :P)
