Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

by

Jamie Ford

Marty Lee Character Analysis

Henry and Ethel’s son, and Samantha’s fiancé. Marty is a college student studying engineering. He and Henry have a difficult time communicating, and Marty assumes that Henry is similar to his own father: traditional and rigid. Over the course of the novel, Marty and Henry get to know each other better. Compelled by the discovery of Japanese American families’ belongings in the Panama Hotel, Henry begins to open up to Marty about what he really experienced in childhood, and, in turn, Marty grows more comfortable asking his dad questions. They no longer have Ethel to act as a bridge between them, and they gradually (if a bit awkwardly) learn how to communicate better and share what they are truly feeling.

Marty Lee Quotes in Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet quotes below are all either spoken by Marty Lee or refer to Marty Lee. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Belonging, Bigotry, and Identity Theme Icon
).
Ume (1986) Quotes

But more than that, Henry hated being compared with his own father. In Marty’s eyes, the plum hadn’t fallen far from the tree; if anything, it was clinging stubbornly to the branches. That’s what I’ve taught him by my example, Henry thought.

Related Characters: Henry Lee, Henry’s Father, Marty Lee
Page Number: 84
Explanation and Analysis:
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Marty Lee Quotes in Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet quotes below are all either spoken by Marty Lee or refer to Marty Lee. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Belonging, Bigotry, and Identity Theme Icon
).
Ume (1986) Quotes

But more than that, Henry hated being compared with his own father. In Marty’s eyes, the plum hadn’t fallen far from the tree; if anything, it was clinging stubbornly to the branches. That’s what I’ve taught him by my example, Henry thought.

Related Characters: Henry Lee, Henry’s Father, Marty Lee
Page Number: 84
Explanation and Analysis: