Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet Family Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

He and Marty hadn't talked much since the funeral. Marty stayed busy as a chemistry major at Seattle University, which was good, it seemed to keep him out of trouble. But college also seemed to keep him out of Henry's life, which had been acceptable while Ethel was alive, but now it made the hole in Henry's life that much larger. (2.4)

It's hard for Marty to accept that his family has gotten smaller—and more distant—since his wife's death. Now that Ethel is gone, who's going to keep him and Marty connected?

Quote #2

Ethel's last year had been a rough time. When she'd been lucid enough to engage the both of them, he and Marty had seemed to get along famously. But once her health declined, and the word hospice came up, the real disagreements had begun. (18.3)

There are still hard feelings between Henry and Marty over Ethel's death last year and how her treatment was carried out. Henry believes he did the right thing in keeping Ethel at home, but Marty thinks they should have given her the best hospice care money could buy.

Quote #3

"I'm not like Yay Yay—not like your grandfather," Henry said, as he realized where this was going, stunned to be categorized in the same breath as his own father. He loved his father, deep down, what son doesn't? But after all Henry had gone through, all he'd seen and done, had he changed that little? Was he so much like his own father? (18.40)

Henry still loves his father, but that doesn't mean that he wants to be like him—or have the same kind of relationship with his own son. He wants to be accepting of Marty's decisions no matter what, because that's what true love entails.