Jamie Ford

Ford's first book, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, was published on February 1, 2009.[3] The novel received numerous awards after its publication. The most notable awards came in 2010, when the book was the winner in the "Adult Fiction" category at the 2010 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature,[4] and was a runner-up for the 2009 Langum Prize for historical fiction. It was also named the No. 1 Book Club Pick for Fall 2009/Winter 2010 by the American Booksellers Association.[5]

The book is set mainly in the Nihonmachi and Chinatown-International District areas of Seattle, Washington. It switches between two different narratives of a Chinese-American named Henry Lee, each one taking place at different points of his lifetime. The first narrative, taking place in 1942 just after the United States has entered World War II, focuses on Henry's struggles with the racism towards Chinese and Japanese-Americans that was commonplace during that time period and his relationship with a Japanese-American girl named Keiko Okabe. The second narrative, also taking place mainly in the Chinatown-International District, is set in 1986, focusing mainly on an older Henry in his late fifties as he attempts to reconnect with his grown son, Marty, after the death of his wife Ethel.[6][7]

The book was part of various selections and picks in the media which included the IndieBound NEXT List Selection, a Borders Original Voices Selection, a Barnes & Noble Book Club Selection, Pennie's Pick at Costco, a Target Bookmarked Club Pick, and a National Bestseller.[8]

The novel received positive reviews, including from the New York Times and the author Lisa See. Seattle author Garth Stein commented, "A tender and satisfying novel set in a time and a place lost forever, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet gives us a glimpse of the damage that is caused by war—not the sweeping damage of the battlefield, but the cold, cruel damage to the hearts and humanity of individual people. Especially relevant in today's world, this is a beautifully written book that will make you think. And, more importantly, it will make you feel." Lisa See said the novel explores "old conflicts between father and son", while the book was "an impressive, bitter, and sweet debut."[9] Goodreads gave the novel a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with over 100,000 votes.[10] The book also received positive reviews from Kirkus Reviews.[11] As of 10-August-18, the book had 3082 reviews on Amazon.com, with 4.6 out of a possible 5 stars.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet has been translated into 35 languages.

On September 10, 2013, Ford released his second novel, Songs of Willow Frost which debuted at No. 11 on the New York Times bestseller list. After the books release it received mainly positive reviews, with Barnes & Noble readers rating the book 4.5 out of 5 in November 2013.[12]

The book is the story of a twelve-year-old orphaned Chinese American boy named William. It is set in Seattle's Chinatown in the 1920s and 1930s and is alternately told from his mother's perspective and from William's. The book is also laced with details about life in Seattle in the 1920s and 1930s. The book references a number of historical figures, including "Rum King" Roy Olmstead and filmmaker Nell Shipman. There also a host of references to gone-but-not-quite-forgotten places including the Meadows Race Track, Frederick & Nelson and Seattle's Film Row.[13] Shortly after release, the book made it through to the second round of the 2013 Goodreads Choice Awards in the category of historical fiction.[14] As of 10-August-2018 the book had 684 reviews on Amazon averaging 4.1 of 5 stars.

At Seattle's 1909 World's Fair, a young boy named Earnest was auctioned off. Little, if any, more is known about him. Jamie Ford has given him a family name, Young, a girl friend, a life in the 'tenderloin' district of Seattle, and later a wife and daughters. As of 10-August-2018 the book has 275 reviews on Amazon averaging 4.4 of 5 stars.