Told as a series of loosely interwoven stories, I Hotel can be a bit of a challenge at times. At the same time, diverse characters provide insight into a rich variety of political, cultural and intellectual traditions and achievements. Readers are treated to compelling historical fiction regarding Japanese, Filipino, Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese experiences including interments, human smuggling, sweatshops, and blatant discrimination. The frame is the Asian American experience, particularly in NoCal, most particularly in San Francisco. Full of truths and insights into an explosively intense and volatile period of recent history - the life of the left in the late '60's and early '70's. Alternating poetry, prose, screenplay and line narrative, I Hotel runs the gamut from hip and light-hearted to horribly sad. Relentlessly intelligent, both in terms of literary style and substance.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |