A beautiful love triangle dealing with immigrants from Asia being bought and sold into prostituion during the time of the 1909 Seattle World's Fair. The novel switches between 1962 and 1909 effectively roping the reader with a series of mysterious events. ( )

I was quite enchanted by the setting of this book and the amount of historical knowledge I gained reading about the World's Fair.
 
Especially as Ernest is an immigrant coming from nothing, Seattle is mystical to read about and I very much enjoyed all of the details of the politics of the time and the influence that various people from different backgrounds had, especially when hypocrisies were exposed and future implications highlighted.
 
The timeline worked quite well. The book is in a manner a mystery, as our view of Ernest's wife flipflops and evolves. One of Ernest's daughters is a journalist which adds a fascinating aspect also. While the meat of the story is in the 1910s, the elements from the present day that are included serve to give the book a little more momentum.
 
I felt like most of the characters had their own motives and desires which made the story all the more intriguing to read. I loved how characters that I thought I would never read about popped up again and grew up in their own manners.
 
At points this was a slow read, but it was solid nonetheless. This book was worth reading simply for the historical aspects and for the way that the World's Fairs were brought to life, and that an intriguing exploration of characters and growing up was included made it even better.
 
To know this was based on a true story makes it all the more charming and romantic.
 
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Highly recommended! Poignant, subtle, philosophical story by an author who knows how to immerse the reader in a time and place.

The storyline follows the life of Ernest Young. Born in China, he is sent to America as a child by his starving mother to save his life. He survives the brutal trip when others do not and is taken into a children’s home as a ward of the state. His education is sponsored by a wealthy Seattle matron. When he expresses a desire to expand his horizons beyond the school, where he has been subjected to racism and second-class treatment, his sponsor arranges for him to be raffled off as the prize. When the Madame of a high-end brothel wins the raffle, Ernest’s life improves dramatically through developing the familial bonds with the colorful cast of residents.

The story is told in dual timelines: the early 1900s and 1962, related to two significant fairs that took place in Seattle, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of 1909 and the Century 21 Expo in 1962. This beautifully written book provides a vivid picture of each event, and provides a striking contrast between the two.

Explores substantial topics such as human trafficking, racism, prostitution, and hypocrisy. Also delves into the timeless themes of the human condition, such as yearning for a sense of belonging, feeling less than adequate, the psychological impacts of suffering, and the desire to be loved. The main characters express philosophical views of life, such as the interconnectedness of memorable moments, the often-unintended consequences of decisions, and the vast capabilities of the human heart.

Highly recommended, especially to book clubs, readers of historical fiction, and those who enjoy somewhat sentimental stories about the complexities of people. ( )

This was such a sweet story! I live in the Seattle area, so it was fun to read about bygone days. I appreciated learning about certain aspects of this area's history--such as the Asian population and their storied backgrounds--about which I had never even heard. The World's Fair was practically character itself as the story swirled around it in two totally different eras, which was a fun concept. This was a moving read that kept me guessing until the very end. I will say, the end felt a little rushed, but still provided most of the closure needed. I would've like to have heard more from/about their kids, but perhaps that's a story for another book. All in all this was a good, clean, fast read and I recommend it for one of those cozy, rainy days when you just want to snuggle up with a book that will make you think AND give you warm fuzzies. ( )

child given away in a lottery lives in a brothel. ( )