ARTFUL READERS CLUB
Songs of Willow Frost
by Jamie Ford
by Jamie Ford
June 25, 2014
Set it Seattle in the 1920's and 1930's, this is a story about the love between a mother and her son during desperate times.
It's 1934 and William Eng is turning 12, celebrating his birthday along with all the other boys at the Sacred Heart Orphanage on September 28th, the designated day for all boys' birthdays at that institution. Their treat is a highly anticipated trip to a movie theater...something special during this depression era of sparse meals and few possessions. This turns out to be the best gift for William as it offers him something he's wished for each day of his 5 years at Sacred Heart...evidence that his mother is still alive. He recognizes the actress on the screen as his mother who abandoned him five years earlier. William decides to sneak out of the orphanage with a friend to search for his mother, Willow Frost, who happens to be visiting the city.
That he does find her is only a small part of this complex story. With a story that goes back to 1921 and forward to the present 1934, the sad tale of Liu Song aka Willow Frost is revealed and William understands why he was given over to the care of the Sacred Heart nuns.
Jamie Ford has a talent for writing profoundly sad books that offer tender moments and hope. (I loved his "HOTEL on the CORNER of BITTER and SWEET.) In both books, he points out that while the US may think of itself as a melting pot of many immigrant cultures, we have not always welcomed or accepted all citizens equally. The history of the film industry, the difficult depression times and the discrimination faced by the Chinese added to the emotional impact of this book...one that I enjoyed and recommend!
My art shows Willow, the star... and William, the little boy waiting... in Seattle's Chinatown in the 1930's.
Glad you stopped by...hopefully, this is a book that'll interest you. For other recommendations, check out our Facebook group, The ARTFUL READER'S CLUB.
Until my next regular posting,
Hugs,
abbyj
