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Cecile G. (Mansfield, TX)
The Songs of Willow Frost
Jamie Ford is bringing Chinese difficulties during the years of WWI and the depression to light in his novels Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and Songs of Willow Frost. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review another fine novel by such a promising author. The characters in Willow Frost are described sympathetically. I felt that the vocabulary used by William Eng was too mature for a young child , especially reared in an orphanage. Having said that, I was drawn to the story line and found it a good read for book clubs. The novel gives information regarding actors, and especially the hardships of
…more persons during the depression so desperate that they are forced to leave their children in the care of strangers not knowing their fate just to feed and provide a place to give shelter. I feel the story line would appeal to women mostly. Good luck in the publication. (less)I was thrilled to see Jamie Ford's second novel "Songs of Willow Frost" as a First Impressions book. I absolutely loved his first novel, "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" so was apprehensive that "Songs" would not live up to "Hotel.
I was not disappointed! The setting is Seattle again, of which I am familiar, and the time period is the Depression years of 1921 to 1934, of which I am barely familiar, and that only from hearsay.
Mr. Ford, name not withstanding, is the great-grandson of a Chinese mining pioneer and a past resident of Seattle's Chinatown. Thus his portrayal of the Chinese-American experience
…more in that town and that era is authentic, educational, and interesting.
This story of a 3 year old boy placed in an orphanage by a sickly mother is heart-wrenching. We learn of 'Willy' endearing himself to the other orphans and to the Sisters of Sacred Heart Orphanage. We follow him as he yearns for and searches for his mother, whom he suspects is a well-known exotic movie star. We learn of early movie making in Seattle, an important and little-known industry there.
And, because Mr. Ford writes with insight and sensitivity, we almost understand and forgive a mother who had two choices and decided the orphanage was the best and only place for her young son.
Though this book may not be the block-buster that "Hotel' was, it will please a variety of readers and would be a good Book Club choice. (less)I enjoyed this story that was told through two perspectives. One side telling of William and his harsh boyhood within a depression-era orphanage and one telling of Willow and her experiences as an female Asian-American within her immigrant culture in the 1920s. The story was engaging and I enjoyed the details given of life during both time periods. The author definitely brought the places and events to life. Willow and William were sympathetic characters and as a reader I was invested in what happened to them. A criticism would be that some of the secondary characters were a little stereotypical in their actions.
…more Although I enjoyed reading the book, it was not a light, feel good book. I would recommend it for book clubs and for lovers of historical fiction as it touched on subjects good for discussion and had a lot of historical period detail. (less)I was excited to receive Jamie Ford's Songs of Willow Frost since I loved his first novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. However, I found it somewhat less compelling.
The characters were well drawn and the descriptions of living conditions in Seattle in the 20's and 30's were illuminating. It is evident that Jamie Ford did a lot of research for this book. I had to keep in mind the attitudes toward women and the Chinese when I became frustrated with some of the decisions the characters made.
Although this was not one of my favorite books, I would recommend it.
Margie S. (Mount Joy, PA)
Expectation not met
Unfortunately "Songs of Willow Frost" doesn't measure up to Ford's first book "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet". It's not a bad book, but my expectations were so high that I was disappointed. Even so, it's a good read about a mother and her son.
Carole V. (West Linn, OR)
Compelling
This is a tender compelling book about an abandoned boy and his Chinese American mother. It also is about prejudice and discrimination during the early 1930's. A book that you won't want to put down!
Jean N. (New Richmond, OH)
A Sad Song
I thought this was a good book, however for me it was so melodramatic in parts that it was distracting. I think the melodrama and some unbelievable parts in the book took away from the story.
Still, I really cared for William, Charlotte and the other children. I felt for Willow, and I thought a lot about the choices that she made for her son. How could she? Then, on the other hand ,what could she do?
This would me a good book for a group discussion.
Florence K. (Encino, CA)
Songs of Willow Frost
I read this book as part of the First Impressions group. Jamie Ford averted the sophomore jinx that besets so many writers. It is a good book but falls short of being a great one. The author does capture the deprivations of the Great Depression and the mood of the country at that time. The Dickensian orphanage where much of the story takes place had a chilling effect on me. I felt that some of the characters verged on stereotypes. Nonetheless it is a good read and would make a good selection for a book club.
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