Chinatown/International District in Literature

I always think it's cool when Seattle is in a movie or on TV or in a book. Well, that's usually the case. When I was on a non-stop flight to Beijing I encountered the endless loop of 'Sleepless in Seattle' and I thought I was going to die. Was I worried about any sudden turbulence that was going to cause my plane to nosedive into the Pacific Ocean? No, I didn't know if I could stand Meg Ryan stalking Tom Hanks again and again. Was this a comedy or a prequel to Stephen King's Misery?




Anyway, so my friend casually mentioned this book to me a few months ago and finally I got around to reading it and I discovered that I knew all the places he's writing about.

(The characters on the gate are: 中華門, Zhonghua men, literally, 'China/Chinese Gate.')








I won't spoil the book for you (because I know I'd hate it if you try to spoil it for me!). I'll just share with you a few things, just in case you're not in Seattle.
















There are some things that he writes about that makes me think he's local. Then, there are things he writes about that makes me wonder . . . . But if he was local, why would he say such and such and so on? Okay, it's a piece of fiction. It doesn't have to be accurate, right? Then again, if you go out of your way to try to sound local, why don't you just have a local read it first and see what he thinks about it. Anyway, I'm on the corner of Disappointment and Acceptance. That's nowhere near 6th and Jackson.

One time, I was watching an episode of 'Will and Grace' and Karen said that she took the monorail to the game. Yeah, right! You can take the monorail to Westlake Mall or take it to Seattle Center, but not to the game! That's like saying you're having a mooncake and you can't decide between carrot or chocolate! Yeah, right! Anyway, there is a hotel that they're talking about in the book.



Is this the hotel they are talking about?


















Doesn't this window remind you of another novel, 'Snow Falling on Cedars?'












This is a great teahouse. And it's a hotel too. I booked a famous friend into this hotel and she thought I was crazy. I guess she was expecting the Fairmont Olympic Hotel or something. At the time, there was an article about it in a famous travel magazine and I thought she would get a kick out of it. She got over it.

This place was also mentioned in the book. I bought a humbow here before.