Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Can two men from the same city but segregated worlds maintain a connection during a time in US history that not only brands one of them as the enemy but denies that a love such as theirs exists?

On the surface, Jack appears to have all a man in World War II era 1941 could want with his solid middle-class background, upcoming college graduation, and the perfect, devoted fiancee. But one night when he accidentally stumbles upon a shadow life of men who desire other men in a Downtown Los Angeles park, he begins to realize exactly what has always left him with a feeling of emptiness.

Despite the constant danger of being arrested by vice cops, Jack continues to visit the park every chance he has to feel a connection, no matter how fleeting, with another man. One night he meets a handsome and charismatic Japanese-American, Hiro, who appears to want more than a quick encounter, and Jack surprises himself by starting to truly fall in love for the first time.

However, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt issues Executive Order 9066 and orders the mandatory relocation of over 100,000 Japanese-Americans, who have never been charged with a crime, to far flung internment camps sites. Jack and Hiro suddenly find themselves torn apart before their secret, fledgling romance can blossom.

Desperate to find and reconnect with Hiro, Jack accepts a high school teaching position at an internment camp in the California desert, Manzanar. There, surrounded by armed guard towers and a prison-like environment, Jack begins to fully realize the injustices being faced by Japanese-Americans during one of the most controversial times of United States history and shifts his world view- forever.

Book Review

‘Gardens of Hope’ is a beautiful story about one man’s journey to understanding who he is, what he wants in life, and how he changes from a young man doubting his own feelings to an adult with a clear vision of who he is. It is a tale of love, but there is just as much despair and loss contained in these pages. And yes, there is romance, but there is also empathy for fellow human beings and a great view of history starting in the California of 1941, when the majority of the novel takes place, up until the present. In many ways this book chronicles the development of gay rights in the US as much as American-Japanese cultural relationships over time. Above all, this book is about hope and, despite the nontraditional ending, the key message I took away left me feeling happy and emotionally satisfied. Well worth a read, if you ask me!

Jack is, at first glance, a perfect example of the middle class in 1941. He is about to graduate from college and has a devoted fiancée, yet he is subtly different from the men around him. He can’t find happiness, and it is a chance encounter in a park that triggers his realization as to why – he feels a real connection to the other men in the park, something he has never had before. Much of what follows is about Jack’s path to figuring out and admitting he is gay and the way he deals with the implications.

There is also a second part to Jack’s story, and it is as complicated as I expected, considering what was going on between Japan and the US in the early 1940s. When he meets Hiro, who is of Japanese descent, Jack is immediately attracted to him. Jack doesn’t know that it is possible for men to love men, since that was not accepted by mainstream society back then, but his feelings for Hiro grow to the point that it is hard to deny they love each other. Jack begins to think about the way the Japanese are treated, and can’t agree with what is happening. He makes his life choices accordingly, and his life is never the same.

If you like stories set in historical times that feel so real it makes you think you were there, if you want to know more about what it is like to feel a love “forbidden” by society’s beliefs and obstructed by political obstacles, and if you’re looking for an unusual read that is touching, emotionally intense, has great characters and a nontraditional ending, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. It’s a fantastic exploration of history and human nature, and made me cry as well as smile. Absolutely wonderful!

 

 

 

 

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Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 236 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	22-December-2016
Price	$4.99 ebook, $14.95 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Gardens-Hope-Michael-Holloway-Perronne-ebook/dp/B01MQZ25SL