jeremyanderberg's review against another edition
4.0
I first read Jamie Ford back in 2011, when I thoroughly enjoyed his debut, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. It’s about a couple of kids back in WWII-era Seattle who fall in love (the teenage version) and have to navigate being Asian in that tumultuous period of America's history.
Then a few years later I read The Songs of Willow Frost as soon as it came out. It’s about a 12-year-old orphan in Depression-era Seattle who is convinced his mother is still alive, and a famous actress no less. Also quite enjoyable.
So when his newest book came out I knew I had to read it. And vacation was the perfect time. (Especially a vacation to the Pacific Northwest.)
As you will have noticed, Ford writes (so far) within a rather narrow niche: 20th century historical fiction set in Seattle, featuring teenaged Asian protagonists. His novels tend to bring the reader between multiple periods decades apart to show what the passage of time does to the characters’ memories. Ford is almost Dickensian in his focus on the teenage set and what it’s like to be separated from the main thrust of society.
Anyways, this new book is about a 12-year-old orphan who ends up being raffled off at Seattle's 1909 world's fair and lands at a famed brothel, working as sort of an errand boy and then chauffeur. Love and jealousy ensues. Peppered between important events from 1909 are chapters from 1962, which was the next time Seattle hosted the world's fair. It's great framing for a story and easily transports the reader between the time periods.
I enjoy Ford’s novels because they’re nicely-written stories about young people figuring out the world, and they’re pretty easy reading. At the same time, not everything about them is light and fluffy; there’s still some intense trauma and tragedy, but it’s not all about that. (Plus those tragedies always follow the course of what has actually happened, making it more believable.)
I don’t always want some crazy mystery or intense action plot on vacation. I want something sort of chill, that’s somewhat easy to read, and makes me feel good about humanity. That usually falls into the realm of fiction, but not always. While there are some sad parts, Love and Other Consolation Prizes is ultimately a book about love — falling into it, choosing it, releasing it. It was an excellent vacation read.
Ranked, I’d put this one in the middle of Ford’s three novels. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet was probably better, but not by too much.
Then a few years later I read The Songs of Willow Frost as soon as it came out. It’s about a 12-year-old orphan in Depression-era Seattle who is convinced his mother is still alive, and a famous actress no less. Also quite enjoyable.
So when his newest book came out I knew I had to read it. And vacation was the perfect time. (Especially a vacation to the Pacific Northwest.)
As you will have noticed, Ford writes (so far) within a rather narrow niche: 20th century historical fiction set in Seattle, featuring teenaged Asian protagonists. His novels tend to bring the reader between multiple periods decades apart to show what the passage of time does to the characters’ memories. Ford is almost Dickensian in his focus on the teenage set and what it’s like to be separated from the main thrust of society.
Anyways, this new book is about a 12-year-old orphan who ends up being raffled off at Seattle's 1909 world's fair and lands at a famed brothel, working as sort of an errand boy and then chauffeur. Love and jealousy ensues. Peppered between important events from 1909 are chapters from 1962, which was the next time Seattle hosted the world's fair. It's great framing for a story and easily transports the reader between the time periods.
I enjoy Ford’s novels because they’re nicely-written stories about young people figuring out the world, and they’re pretty easy reading. At the same time, not everything about them is light and fluffy; there’s still some intense trauma and tragedy, but it’s not all about that. (Plus those tragedies always follow the course of what has actually happened, making it more believable.)
I don’t always want some crazy mystery or intense action plot on vacation. I want something sort of chill, that’s somewhat easy to read, and makes me feel good about humanity. That usually falls into the realm of fiction, but not always. While there are some sad parts, Love and Other Consolation Prizes is ultimately a book about love — falling into it, choosing it, releasing it. It was an excellent vacation read.
Ranked, I’d put this one in the middle of Ford’s three novels. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet was probably better, but not by too much.
karissakate's review against another edition
3.0
Overall a sweet story. Definitely some tough subjects but I felt they were written about in an almost detached way (not saying it's a bad thing - def plays into the narrator/character) but the writing style definitely framed this story in a very specific light.
knp4597's review against another edition
4.0
I was expecting something nauseating a lá Nicholas Sparks however this historical fiction is the perfect mix of heartache and happiness (minus any syrupy sweetness) to make it a really great read.
maggie56's review
5.0
This was a love story that started with tragedy. Very young children, in a world of complexity, and unfairness. During an era of man, and changing times. The story brought comparisons to stories told by my father with immigrant parents. But with the growth of the children, into young adults and living a life of ups and downs, finally finding love and peace. This story has sadness, tears, but over all beautiful love, compassion, trust within your soul. I absolutely loved it and the way it was told was heart warming.
jtlars7's review against another edition
I liked The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet ok, but didn’t finish Ford’s next book, or this one. This novel should have been fascinating based on the events it recounts, but something about the writing style just didn’t pull me in. To be fair, I had two did-not-finish books back-to-back, so my frame of mind was probably part of the problem.
bookish_nat's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
karenreagan's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
k8iedid's review against another edition
3.0
Can you imagine? Can you EVEN imagine giving away a baby at a World's Fair? I loved the premise of this book (yea to author interviews at the back of books so we can find out where nuggets of stories are born!). Much of my reading interest is on the absolute randomness of when and where we're born and this was a whole new area for me to explore.
Ford's rich and detailed writing placed me right in turn of the century Seattle - it was beautiful. I loved the juxtaposition of the empowering and inclusive brothel atmosphere alongside the suffragettes.
I took off a star because the current day parts of the story were a little flat, same with Gracie's sometimes memory clarity.
Ford's rich and detailed writing placed me right in turn of the century Seattle - it was beautiful. I loved the juxtaposition of the empowering and inclusive brothel atmosphere alongside the suffragettes.
I took off a star because the current day parts of the story were a little flat, same with Gracie's sometimes memory clarity.
amyma's review against another edition
4.0
Having read and enjoyed Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford, I knew I had to read Love and Other Consolation Prizes. Just as with the previous novel, this one is also a beautifully told story of love. Switching between telling in present day and going back in time is done seamlessly. Jamie Ford's descriptions of Seattle and the World's Fair made me feel I was there, experiencing the auction, the first cars on the road, the poverty, and the "over the top" ways of the brothel. This is not a fast story, rather it is told slowly in a way that will draw you in and make you not want to put the book down.
** Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review. **
** Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review. **
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
4.0
A 2017 staff favorite highly recommended by Andrea. Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Slove%20and%20other%20consolation%20prizes%20ford__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold