Told in a dual-timeline style, the story begins with a five year old Yung Kun and the horrific events that led to his mother’s leaving him with a hairpin as she sent him off to emigrate to America. On the boat, we see the emergence of Ernest Young, a child in 1902, half-Chinese, in scary circumstances that his young mind can’t quite process. Instantly Ford draws readers in, giving a sense of the confusion and sorrow buried in this child, and shows us the true heart of the man to come: kindly, smart, observant and above all, his instinct to survive. Throughout the book, we follow the young boy through the arrival (and survival) at Dead Man’s Bay where his life in the Pacific Northwest begins. Shuffled off to a boarding school as a charity student, his loney and isolated life begins: a child desperate for a home and a place to belong, in a strange land and just different enough to not be accepted by either the white or Chinese community. As much as Ernest is changing, the world around him is too: technological advances unlike any of the previous years, the boon years at the turn of the century bring the world’s fair to Seattle – and the descriptions of the amazing sights the boy saw as he waited to become a prize in a raffle for a “Healthy boy to a good home for the winning ticket holder.” Here is where the young Ernest shows both that strength that was hard won in a life full of challenges, and the heart that was so open and giving. Purchased by a brothel madam to be the houseboy, he’s quick to befriend the madam’s daughter and a Japanese kitchen girl, giving him the sense of family he has so longed for.

Mixed with this tale of survival, growth and the sheer power of overcoming every obstacle, many unknown or forgotten in this modern era, we are treated to the older Ernest’s story in 1962 comes full circle with another world’s fair, and the stories he remembers that made him the man he is with his own family, friends and life. Presenting us with an interesting perspective on the impact of decisions made or forgone, the undefinable impact of family made or born to, and the survival of the human spirit the presence of Ernest is palpable and genuine.

It’s difficult to make this book sound just as special as it is: from the history that is learned to the descriptions of the atmosphere, the surprising (and sadly not) racism and discrimination, and the hope found from one woman determined to educate her ‘girls’, those destined for lives that can only be described as soul-draining, the strength of the characters sings loudly. Based on a true history of the author’s grandfather, there truly could be no better way to express his appreciation, nor to honor those who brought you to life than this. From quiet moments of reflection to the more diverse and wonder-filled descriptions of events, places and discoveries, the story keeps the reader engaged and wanting more: more for Ernest as he struggled to find a family even as he never truly lost hope or the memories of what was.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” http://wp.me/p3OmRo-9he /”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

What a powerful, up close and personal, emotional ride featuring Ernest Young/aka Yung Kun-ai, and we walk in his shoes throughout the novel.
With a start in China our little fellow tells of horrible happenings, and being so hungry, he gleaned a harvest rice plot for a few scraps, and then he is gone. What is remarkable that he survived at all, and in doing so we meet his two daughters.
Talk about the down trodden, we meet them and through Ernest we walk in their shoes, and from the shores of China to Seattle. He was born to Chinese mother and an English father, and as such was an outcast, in both China and America.
The Worlds Fairs in Seattle, yes the one in early 1900, and again in late 1950’s are the back drop for a lot of this story, along with a brothel, and what the two have to do with each other, you are on one amazing journey once you turn the first page.
It took me a little bit to figure out who Grace was, and then more surprises are about to fall. A book to tear your heart, and again warm it, and you will be quickly be absorbed in the lives of the people and events that follow young Ernest.
I received this book through Net Galley and Ballantine Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

Love and Other Consolation Prizes is another very special offering by Jamie Ford. Using actual historical items to spin a heart tugging tale, Mr. Ford tells the story of Ernest Young, or young Ernest as he is often called. Sold as a small child and smuggled into the US, Ernest finds himself as a sponsored student at a private school until his sponsor actually raffles him off at the AYP Expo in Seattle in 1908. But luck favors young Ernest and he is won by the madam of an upscale gentleman's club where he is reunited with Fhan, a young girl who was brought on the same ship with him.

The story weaves the unlikely friendship between Ernest, Fhan, and Maisie, daughter of the madam from the day Ernest was won through to the demise of the brothel and beyond.

Jump ahead to 1962 and the Seattle Worlds Fair. Ernest's journalist daughter Juju wants to interview him about the earlier fair and comparing the two. A simple thing until she discovers the story of the raffled boy was not only true, but it was her father. The fair has served to trigger memories for her mother who has been in her own world for the past few years and she is the one who tells of the raffle and spills other secrets from the past as she finds her way back to being more of herself.

A beautiful story of finding family in unlikely settings, Love and other Consolation Prizes will bring a tear to your eye and hope to your heart. The take away lesson is best seen in Ernest and the way he cares for others in his life. A great story, I do recommend this book!

Confession: If a book is about a fair, a carnival, or a circus in the past, I will read it. So, when I read the description of Love and Other Consolation Prizes, I immediately wanted to read it. The First World's Fair in Seattle plus a brothel? Yep. I'm in.
And this novel did not let me down. If anything, it is even better than I anticipated. This book is a sorrow-filled portrait of the lives of Asian immigrants that is so incredibly well-written you will want to savor reading it rather than rushing to reach the end. I spent the whole week reading a few chapters at a time and enjoying every minute, which is much different than a book that is primarily plot-driven that sends you rushing through the pages to reach the conclusion.

The novel tells the story of a young Chinese boy who has been sent to America and goes from one children's home to the next until he ends up the winning item in a raffle at Seattle's World Fair in 1909. Who buys him? A madam of the most prestigious brothel in Seattle. He enters a world of sin, but he winds up finding a family and falling in love.

This novel has amazing characters that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. The various working women are not caricatures but are individual and layered. The settings also come alive - they are not simply backgrounds. The Tenderloin and the World's Fair become characters themselves.

And, the writing. Oh, the writing. Tha author, Jamie Ford, has a gift for evocative language and storytelling. I could go on and on with all the beautifully written lines I underlined as I read. Basically, this novel is wonderful. I highly recommend it and think it will be a great choice for book clubs.

A tear-jerker history lesson! Prepare yourself with tissues and a funny book to read after.

Summary From Goodreads:
Inspired by a true story, this is the unforgettable story of a young boy named Ernest, set during the 1909 Seattle world’s fair called the Alaska Yukon Pacific Expo. It is a time when the magical wonders of technology on display at the expo future seems limitless. But for Ernest, a half-Chinese orphan who found his way to America through a last desperate act of his beloved mother, every door is closed. A charity student at a boarding school, he has never really had a place to call home. Then one day, his wealthy sponsor announces that if a home is what he wants, then that is what he will have: Ernest will be offered as a prize in the daily raffle at the fair, advertised as “Healthy boy to a good home for the winning ticket holder.” The woman who “wins” him is the madam of a notorious brothel who was famous for educating her girls. He becomes a houseboy in her brothel and is befriended by the daughter of the madam, as well as a Japanese girl who works in the kitchen. The friendship and love between these three form the first real family Ernest has ever known.
My thanks to Netgalley and Ballentine Books for allowing me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.  I have to admit that it took me a few days to process and come to terms not just with the content, but the layout of the book.  We first meet an older Ernest standing in front of the World Fair in the 60’s and thinking about a jumble of things from his wife, Gracie, to the poor record keeping of Chine, and then to radio waves bouncing off Cassiopeia.  Honestly it was a mess, and if I were someone that just reads the first page to decide if I want to read a book this one would have been tossed. That would have been tragic.  As the book progressed, moving from Ernest’s earliest childhood memory- the last time he saw his mother in China- to 1960’s America, it quickly found it’s pace and I was riveted.  There were moments of such haunting sadness, but also sweetness and childlike innocence in the oddest places.  I adored the characters and found them touching and well developed.  The fact that the general ideas behind who is “in the right” and “good” was often blurred and even in question here.  Mostly I was left broken yet charmed by a world  I can’t even imagine.  Due to the issues I had with the start of the book I thought I would give this one a lower rating, but I can’t.  It’s still a five star book for me and I will be searching for a hard copy of this one for my shelves.  (And as a possible gift for one of my aunties- this is right up her alley).    If you loved the lyrical beauty and poignant sadness of Memiors of a Geisha, then you will like this one I think.
On the adult content scale…. well there’s a lot.  Sexual content, though done with care and respect, language and violence.  It hits a lot of hard subjects, but I would still let my niece read it.  I give it a five.

Solid 5 stars!

I'm torn by this book - torn between wanting Jamie Ford to write book after book after book, and the belief that eventually my favorite authors will write a dud that disappoints. This was another out-of-the-park read for me, and while I would love to read his books until the end of time, I don't think I could handle it if he cranked out a bad one. It's a dilemma I can live with though ...

Such a compelling story line - Ford has a way of weaving fascinating but little known pieces of history into his books, teaching you about things most of us didn't realize existed. With themes of abandonment, human trafficking and prostitution one might expect a dark and depressing story, but they just provided a backdrop for a beautiful story about love and humanity and devotion. Ford really has a way with his writing that is simply effortless, and truly enjoyable to read. I absolutely adored the characters - Ernest, Fahn and Maisie will stick with me for a long time. They took the hands they were dealt and played them to the best outcome they could, but never lost their core beliefs in love, family and loyalty. This was a wonderful book combining history and fiction, with the end result being a genuinely special novel that I can't recommend enough!

Jamie Ford's novel brings to life an unusual cast of characters against the backdrop of the Seattle World's Fair, both past and present. The reader cannot help but admire the strength of the three friends who meet and deal with adversity as it challenges each of them in different ways. Bits of historical color are dropped along the way, and help to create the authenticity of this story-based-on-truth. It is an enjoyable read on so many levels.

Thanks to the author, the publisher (Random House/Ballantine) and Netgalley.com for allowing me the opportunity to read and appraise this book.

As soon as word got out that there was going to be a new book by author Jamie Ford, I began my hunt for an ARC. I needed to read it as soon as possible. “Love and Other Consolation Prizes” was exactly what I’ve come to expect from Ford. Loosely based on a newspaper article, the story follows a young orphan boy’s new life in Seattle and in his old age taking care of his wife. In a familiar style, Ford jumps between two different times in his life, both centering around the World Fairs. This is a familiar style for Ford, that has definite throwbacks to one of his other books, “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.” If you enjoyed that style, then you will enjoy his latest book as well. There is a great interaction within the story between the main characters and their children. It really shows the difference between generations and the sometimes missed history that can happen in families. Often times we forget that our parents existed before we were born and that they had lives at all let alone the sort of lives that Ernest Young and his wife had to endure. Unlike some of his other books that I felt were wrapped up with perfect endings, “Love and Other Consolation Prizes” left me with a twinge of sadness. I don’t often become emotionally involved with books but this one followed me around for at least a week. If you enjoy generational stories and historical fiction then I would highly recommend this book. I would also encourage you to find a nice comfy chair and prepare to be captured.
*This eBook was provided by NetGalley and Ballantine Books in exchange for honest feedback*

Half-Chinese orphan boy (Yung/Ernest) raffled off at Seattle's 1909 World Fair.

“Healthy boy to a good home for the winning ticket holder.”

The author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, which I loved, has done it again! Based on a true story set in the early 1900s, this story explores a young boy's quest for family after leaving China and traveling to Washington state. Why was he auctioned off at the fair? And, how will he respond once he realizes the woman (Flora) who "won" him is a madam of a brothel? But, it's not all bad... While living there, he falls in love with two teenage girls, Fahn and Maisie, and must choose between them.

The story alternates between Ernest's childhood in the early 1900s and 60 years later as Ernest's journalist daughter (Judy/Juju) delves into his past, discovering secrets about both her parents and the United States' history.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

For a few afternoons, I was swept back into Seattle’s past, at the time of both of its World Fairs, in 1962 and 1911. “Love” wonderfully evokes the red light district of 1911, and the lives of its inhabitants both in the long past, and the near past. I really enjoyed this book. I loved its characters and was sorry to see the book end.

interesting story of the 2 world fairs in Seattle told through the eyes of a Chinese immigrant...as he arrives in Washington as a 5 year old and then 60 years later as his daughter interviews him for a comparison of the 2 fairs. Well written.

Spanning over 50 years, this book weaves a tale about a love story. The Seattle World's Fairs in 1909 and 1962 provides a backdrop to the story. The characters are well-developed and I felt an empathy toward Ernest as he was tossed about as an orphan, then being raffled off to grow up in a brothel. This "family" taught Ernest about family, character and love. The story alternates between Ernest's childhood and his adult life and is a charming story about resilience.

Jamie Ford is a wonderful storyteller. He is able to paint a vivid picture of the time and place he is writing about. Love and Other Consolation Prizes is another prime example of Ford's talents. He shows us how love begins, heals and endures.

Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford

This exquisitely written epic story follows the life Yung Kun-ai, who helplessly watches his newborn baby sister mei mei, at only two days old, born half Chinese on his mother's side, without a father, as she gets buried alive. His mother dug the burial hole with her bare hands. A helpless child of only five years old, his mother places the last of their worldly possessions, a filigreed hairpin in his hands. His mother tells him "Only two kinds of people in China, the too rich and the too poor." Yung is told by his mother that an uncle is going to take him to America. This was her gift to him.

The next morning a man who was not his uncle came for Yung Kun-ai and they boarded a ship to America. As the ship is entering the port the boys are placed in burlap sacks, tied and thrown overboard. As good fortune Ynng Kun-ai uses the pin to tear apart a whole in his sack and is rescued by a man named Ernest and that becomes his name.

The novel opens in 1962 with Yung Kun-ai who has lived for over fifty years by the name Ernest in 1962. Ernest is now in his mid sixties as he stands outside the gates on opening day of the new world's fair in Seattle. Yung has been living as Ernest Young and can smell the cotton candy and can see the space needle. Ernest has no motivation to visit this fair and is married to a woman named Gracie with two adult daughters. Gracie lives with his daughter Judy because she has some form of dementia and gets easily agitated by men. Ernest has been living in a run down apartment building alone for the past three years and misses his wife profoundly.

Ernest's daughter Judy is a reporter and during a visit to her father she guesses that he could be the infant that was raffled off. Judy tells her father that her mother has had some lucid moments and had begun telling her the story. Ernest wanting to protect Gracie tells Judy that it was a boy of twelve who was raffled off at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition back in 1909. He tells Judy that he will tell her more about the story after his visit to her home to visit Gracie.

The narrative moves back in forth in time from the present day in 1962 and Ernest's betrayal by the home he was living at offering him as the prize for the winning ticket holder at the 1909 world's fair. Ernest is won by Madam Flora who owns a brothel in the tenderloin district. When Ernest arrives at the brothel he is amazed at the beauty and grandeur of his new living quarters as the houseboy. He has never been surrounded by so much finery or been so well fed, and he has never before had a room of his own to sleep in.

Madame Flora has given Ernest the winning raffle ticket as a souvenir and he is reunited with Fahn the Japanese girl who works as a scullery maid. Fahn reminds Ernest of his proposal of marriage while they were passengers aboard the ship that brought them both to America. Maisie while showing Ernest around admits that she is not Madam Flora's sister she is the secret daughter.

This is a beautiful story written with imagery and vivid descriptions of both time and place so real I felt like I could see the sights and smell the scents of every vivid detail. This multi-faceted story is about many different themes. Besides the historical setting there are themes of love, prejudice, and exactly who makes up our families. I loved the characters and will miss spending time with them as I savored reading this wonderful novel. I enjoyed this novel so much I can't wait to read this author's other work. I highly recommend this novel for all who enjoy historical fiction and sparkling prose.

Thank you to Net Galley, Jamie Ford and Ballantine Random House Publishing for my digital copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Thanks Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and netgalley for this ARC.

You won't be able to help feeling empathy, regret, joy, and helplessness along with these survivors. This is a book for all book lovers.

Once again Mr. Ford brings us a sad but sweet story of the history of Asian immigrants to the Pacific Northwest. Sure we all learned in 4th grade how Chinese were brought over to help build the railroad, but books like this one remind us that the railroad was only part of the story. Ernest i sold and brought over to America to be a servant. He ends up becoming a charity student at a local private school and then raffled off at the Alaskan-Yukon-Pacific Fair where he is claimed by a local whorehouse. This part of the story is rooted in actual history, except the raffle prize was an infant and there is no information about where he ended up. Mr. Ford's writing is poetry in parts. His characters come to life with all their beauty and flaws and the story deals with not only the issues surrounding forced immigration and racism, but also old age, love, and the need to protect your children from the harshness of real life. This book is beauty.

Wow. This book was not what I expected. Not sure what I expected from the blurb but it wasn't this book. This is not a bad thing at all.

The book alternates between time periods of Earnest's life. The first is him as a young boy through his teenage years and then as an older man. For the longest time, I was not sure who Grace was. Was Grace Fahn or Maisie? I thought this was a great idea on Ford's part to keep the reader in suspense. I was sure that I knew then I would change my mind.

This was the first of Ford's books that I have read and it won't be the last.

“My theory…is that the best, worst, happiest, saddest, scariest, and most memorable moments are all connected. Those are the important times, good and bad. The rest is just filler…” (Maisie, Location 2312 in Kindle version).

Ernest’s story begins in his native China, a young child faced with the devastation of his family. Everything that Ernest becomes starts here, amidst despair, heartbreak, and famine. Orphaned by his mother, he survives a treacherous journey to the West Coast of America. This first instance of abandonment triggers in Ernest longings that last for his entire life – to love and to belong.

Eventually, he finds his way to the 1909 World’s Fair in Seattle and ends up a door prize. He is literally raffled off and handed over to the care of his new family.

This is the moment where everything changes.

Ernest finds family, a home, and the love he has been searching for; however, his family is all women and his home is a brothel. In a story of contradictions, warmth and devotion overflow. Ernest meets his best friends, Maisie, daughter of the Madame, and Fahn, a Japanese servant. The three friends survive and thrive in a world that seems utterly upside-down, and they do it together.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Love and Other Consolation Prizes" and its host of colorful characters. Enthralling lead characters must be supported by a cast that is vivid and real and, in this, Ford fully comes through. He also manages to maintain a sense of anticipation throughout the novel. Ernest slowly unfurls his story through remembrances and conversations with his daughter in the current day, which for him is 1962. I always enjoyed the moments of suspense between the past and the present; they kept me reading long past my bedtime!

Overall, "Love and Other Consolation Prizes" warmed by heart and informed me about a time and a place completely unknown to me beforehand. I highly recommend this book for anyone that loves historical fiction and longs for a book to restore their hope.

I plan to publish my review on Thursday, September 7 on my blog The Novel Endeavor (http://www.thenovelendeavor.com).

From the author of The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (a book I absolutely loved), Ford has written another book that I enjoyed reading. If you enjoy historical fiction mixed in with a sweet romance, you would enjoy this book. Although I would not recommend this book to my students because of its content, I would recommend it to my friends. The story goes back and forth between 1909 and the 1960s and revolves around the 1909 World's Fair. The characters are believable and you become engrossed in their lives.