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Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet Chapters

Chapter 32: Home Again (Pgs. 166-171)

1. Why is Henry horrified by the thought of going to China?

Henry is horrified about the thought of going to china as it is a foreign country to him.

Henry feels china lacks jazz music, comic books, and Keiko.

2. Henry decides to use the money he’s saved to buy Keiko’s birthday present. What does

this tell us about his relationship with Keiko?

Henry’s relationship with Keiko is of mutual respect and care. He values Keiko as a

person and wants to make her happy.

3. Why is Henry able to stand up to Chaz in this chapter?

Henry is able to stand up to Chaz because he is no longer afraid of him. Henry knows he

is a grown-up, strong, confident, and not afraid to speak his mind.

Chapter 33: Dinner (Pgs. 172-175)

1. Why does Henry feel conflicted about wanting to reconnect with Keiko?
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Henry feels conflicted about wanting to reconnect with Keiko as he is not sure if it is the

right thing to do. He is worried that Keiko may not want to see him after all these years

and it might be awkward.

Chapter 34: Steps (Pgs. 176-178)

1. How does this chapter show that Marty and Henry’s relationship has evolved since the

beginning of the novel?

Marty and Henry are able to sit together and have a conclusive discussion without

arguing and hating each other as opposed to the beginning of the novel where they

seemed to argue for the sake of arguing and no one ever won.

Chapter 35: Sheldon’s Record (Pgs. 179-185)

1. Why does Sheldon decide to give Henry his record?

Sheldon decides to give Henry his record because it was a part of his childhood and love

for Keiko.

2. What is Henry’s reaction when he returns home and finds his parents with Keiko’s family

photos?

Henry’s lips fell silent and lost his breath

3. Why is Henry’s father so angry when he finds out about Keiko?

Henry’s father feels betrayed by Henry. He had taken Henry to a white top special school

yet Henry is entangled in a love affair with a Japanese girl that emanates from the lineage
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that murdered his family. Henry’s father fears that the FBI will arrest them, take

everything, and fine them five thousand dollars for helping the enemy.

4. What happens as a result of Henry’s discussion with his parents?

Henry’s discussion leads to him being threatened to be disowned by the family, and never

to belong to the Chinese community.

Chapter 36: Camp Anyway (Pgs. 186-195)

1. What has the atmosphere in Henry’s house changed? How does this change affect him?

The atmosphere in Henry's house changes from a happy one to a sad one when his wife

dies. This affects him because he is left alone and has to deal with sadness and loneliness.

2. What can we conclude about the fact that the men were forced to build their own

prisons?

We can conclude that men were forced to build their own prisons to show the harsh

realities and conditions that men endured.

3. What does Henry mean when he tells Keiko, “We’re the same people”?

Henry tells Keiko that they are the same people because they are both from Seattle and

they are both Americans by upbringing.

4. What does music symbolize in this chapter?

Music symbolizes the connection between Henry and Keiko. It is also a reminder of the

time they spent together as friends and young lovers.

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Chapter 37: Moving (Pgs. 196-202)

1. Henry’s mother makes sure Henry receives Keiko’s letters. What does this say about her

relationship with her son?

Henry's mother is very supportive of her son and his relationship with Keiko. She wants

her son to be happy and she knows that Keiko makes him happy.

2. Why is Keiko disappointed when Henry says goodbye?

Keiko is disappointed when Henry says goodbye because she was hoping to spend more

time with him.

3. What does the razor wire symbolize in this chapter?

The razor wire symbolizes the pain and suffering that the Japanese Americans

experienced during World War II.

Chapter 38: Stranger (Pgs. 203-207)

1. How does Henry feel about the way he said goodbye to Keiko?

Henry feels terrible about the way he said goodbye to Keiko. He was so wrapped up in

his own pain and anger that he didn't even think about how she might be feeling. He was

too busy trying to hurt her the way she had hurt him.

2. Why does Henry formally apologize to his father?

Henry formally apologizes to his father because he wants to make amends for all of the

hurt that he has caused. He knows that he can never take back what he has done, but he

hopes that by apologizing, he can start to repair their relationship.

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Chapter 39: Thirteen (Pgs. 208-222)

1. Why does Henry decide to follow Sheldon’s advice?

Henry decides to follow Sheldon's advice as Sheldon is an experienced hotelier and

knows the business well.

2. Why are Henry and Sheldon surprised by the people they meet on their trip?

Henry and Sheldon are surprised because they are not used to seeing people like that in

their neighborhood.

3. How does the image of Henry and Keiko through the fence contribute to one of the

themes of the novel?

One of the themes in the novel is the idea of being an outsider looking in. The image of

Henry and Keiko through the fence contributes to this theme by showing how even when

two people are close to each other, regardless of a barrier between them.

Chapter 40: Sheldon Thomas (Pgs. 223-225)

1. How does Sheldon respond to the broken Oscar Holden record? What does his reaction

tell us about his character?

Sheldon's response to the broken Oscar Holden record is one of disappointment. He is

disappointed because the record was a gift from his father and it is now broken. This tells

us that Sheldon is a sentimental person who values the things that are important to him.
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Chapter 41: Waiting (Pgs. 226-231)

1. Why does Henry say this was the “best day of his life”?

Henry says this was the "best day of his life" as he was able to reconnect with his first

love, Keiko. He finally feels like he has closure on that part of his life and can move on.

2. How does Mr. Okabe respond when Henry asks why the prisoners don’t try to take over

the camp?

Mr. Okabe responds by telling Henry that the prisoners have no desire to take over the

camp because they know that they will be killed if they try.

3. What important question does Henry ask Keiko’s parents?

Henry asks Keiko's parents if they would be willing to allow him to marry their daughter.

Chapter 42: Farewell (Pgs. 232-234)

1. What does Henry promise Keiko?

Henry tells Keiko that he will always be there for her and that he will never forget her.

2. What does Henry finally say to Keiko? What does this tell us about his character

development?

Henry finally tells Keiko that he loves her. This tells us that he has finally come to terms

with his feelings for her and is ready to move on from the past.

Chapter 43: Angry Home (Pgs. 235- 240)

1. What does Henry find waiting for him at home?

Henry finds a letter waiting for him at home.

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2. How does Henry’s response contrast to his past responses to his father’s demands?

Henry's response to his father's demands is much different than in the past. In the past,

Henry would generally comply with whatever his father wanted without much argument.

However, presently, Henry is much more assertive with his father and stands up for

himself.

Chapter 44: Letters (Pgs. 241-245)

1. What is surprising about Keiko’s response when he tells her of his father’s plans to send

him to China?

The most surprising thing about Keiko's response is that she does not seem at all upset by

the news. She actually seems quite excited about the prospect of Henry going to China.

2. What does Henry think is happening to his letters?

Henry thinks that his letters are getting lost in the mail.

3. How does this affect Henry and Keiko’s relationship?

This affects Henry and Keiko's relationship because they are not able to communicate as

freely as they would like.

Chapter 45: Years (Pgs. 246-249)

1. What does Henry realize when he runs into Chaz Preston?

Henry realizes that Chaz Preston is the son of the hotel owner, and that he has been

working at the hotel for some time. Henry realizes that Chaz is the man he has been

looking for all these years.

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Chapter 46: Meeting at the Panama (Pgs. 250-256)

1. What deal does Henry make with his father?

Henry makes a deal with his father that he will go to college and become a doctor like his

father wants him to if his father pays for his tuition.

2. What motivates him to make this deal?

He wanted to move away from anything that reminds him of Keiko and start afresh.

3. Who meets Henry at the Panama Hotel? What do the star fire lilies symbolize in this

chapter?

Henry meets with a representative from the Panama Hotel. The star fire lilies symbolize

the hope that the protagonist has for the future. He is motivated to make this deal because

he wants to be able to provide for his family and have a stable life.

Chapter 47: V-J Day (Pgs. 257-265)

1. How does the role Ethel plays in Henry’s relationship with his father similar to that of

Samantha’s role in Henry’s relationship with his son?

The role that Ethel plays in Henry's relationship with his father is similar to that of

Samantha's role in Henry's relationship with his son in that she is a mediator between the

two men. She is able to see both sides of the situation and helps them to communicate

with each other.

2. What happens when Henry learns the War is over?

When Henry learns the War is over, he is overjoyed and relieved. He immediately goes to

tell his friends the good news, and they all celebrate together.
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3. Who does Henry imagine he sees in the crowd?

Henry imagines being in an entangled love marriage proposal with ethel before he thinks

of Keiko.

4. On his deathbed, Henry's father said he did it all for Henry. What does he mean? In what

ways is that statement true and false?

The statement is true in the sense that everything Henry's father did was for the purpose

of making a better life for Henry. However, it is false in the sense that Henry's father did

not always make the best decisions for himself or for his family. Sometimes, he made

choices that resulted in hardship for himself and for his family.

Chapter 48: Broken Records (Pgs. 266-268)

1. Why does Henry still struggle to talk to Marty about Keiko?

Henry is still struggling to talk to Marty about Keiko because he is not sure how to

explain his feelings for her. He is also worried that Marty will not understand or accept

his relationship with Keiko.

Chapter 49: Hearthstone (Pgs. 269- 272)

1. What does Sheldon want Henry to fix?

Sheldon wants Henry to fix the door to the basement so that it doesn't slam shut.

Chapter 50: Tickets (Pgs. 273-277)

1. What does Henry find waiting for him at home? How does this imagery parallel another

scene in the novel?

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Henry finds his best suit on his bed with his shoes placed next to his suitcase. This scene

is similar to a scene when Henry, is waiting for his father to come home from work. He is

wearing his father's suit and carrying a letter that his father has written to him.

In Chapter 51: Sheldon’s Song (Pgs. 278-281)

1. How is Sheldon able to hear his song “Alley Cat Strut” again before he died?

Sheldon hears the song "Alley Cat Strut" again before he died because it had been

recorded on a cassette tape and given to his daughter.

2. What does Henry learn from Keiko’s letter?

From Keiko's letter, Henry learns that she is doing well and that she is happy. He also

learns that she has forgiven him for what happened between them in the past.

Chapter 52: New York (Pgs.282- 284)

1. What do we learn about Keiko’s family?

They are all smiling and happy, and it is clear that they love and support each other.

2. What does Henry and Keiko’s use of their old catchphrase imply?

That they are still good friends who care for each other and enjoy each other's company