Pastor Becker Recommends: Want to read a good novel? On vacation I read Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford. I enthusiastically recommend this as a good engaging, sweet summer read that also has a lot to consider.  

It is about a young Chinese American boy and his childhood Japanese American friend who, with her family, was sent to an internment camp during World War II. The story is rich with thoughtful depth, considering: the emotional and human effects of war, the relationship of fathers and sons, the developing relationship between the two childhood friends, the grief of losing a spouse, the reality of racism, the dedication of friends, and long-lost love that might once again be found. It is really a quick, easy read that gives you a lot of food for thought, including a lot that touches the heart.    

There is also a good discussion guide at the end of the book, and if you read it and want to get a group together over coffee for a good discussion this summer, please give me a call. I’ll set up the time and place to meet