A review by jeremyanderberg
Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford
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.