This is a rather difficult book to review and do it justice.

It is about so much and has so many interwoven stories that all pull and tug against each other, and prop each other up.

To reduce the book to a summary of the events would be criminal.

If I tell you it’s about genetic engineering of foodstuff, many readers would yawn and find another book to read. But it is.

Except it’s also about a whole lot more.

It is also about family and what makes a family; and what breaks one.

It’s about life and death and propagation.

It’s about faith and trust and forgiveness.

It has a huge cast but all of them are essential and full characters and are necessary.

The stories unfold in a completely believable way and are so clear that there is never any confusion.

The main story is of the Fuller family, Lloyd, his Japanese wife Momoko and his run away and now adult daughter Yumi.

Lloyd was a potato farmer but now sells seeds with his wife.

Yumi ran away from home at 14 and only now, at 39, has returned to Idaho because her father is dying and her mother is losing her mind.

Yumi returns with her three children and a host of issues and a history which returns to bite everyone in the ass.

Added to this family saga of death, dementia, anger, love and forgiveness are the band of political activists who join forces with Lloyd in an anti-genetically modified foodstuff movement.

Throw in an abortion, a barren couple, a dodgy dude with mirror shades and a bitter and twisted small town sheriff and the result is a very well worth reading book.

It delves deep into the human psyche, exploring the complex emotions and relationships that make up our lives.

The author has done an excellent job of creating a vivid and engaging world that draws the reader in and keeps them hooked until the very end.

This is a book that will make you think, make you feel, and leave you with a new perspective on life and the world around us.

Ruth Ozeki is truly a remarkable and brilliant writer. Her works are nothing short of absolutely fantastic.

She has this unique ability to create vivid and engaging worlds that draw the reader in from the very first page. Her characters are complex and multi-dimensional, making them feel real and relatable.

Ozeki's writing style is also a joy to read. It is lyrical and beautiful, yet still manages to convey deep and profound emotions. She has a way of exploring important themes such as identity, memory, and the meaning of life in a way that is both thought-provoking and accessible.

Whether you are a fan of literary fiction or simply looking for a great read, I highly recommend checking out the works of Ruth Ozeki. You won't be disappointed.

I can clearly perceive the manner in which this novel endeavors to comprehensively elaborate on My Year of Meats and zero in on bioengineering and vegetable consumerism.

However, in the end, it gave the impression of having an excessive amount of content yet lacking in cohesion. Momoko, as a character, in particular, seemed inadequately developed.

The actions of the characters either blended together indistinctly or were portrayed in too broad a stroke. The themes were identified too blatantly.

Ruth Ozeki's writing is invariably excellent, yet in this instance, it failed to be as captivating as it potentially could have been. There were moments when the story seemed to be pulling in multiple directions simultaneously, without a strong enough thread to hold it all together.

Perhaps with a bit more refinement and a tighter focus, this novel could have achieved greater heights and truly engaged the reader on a deeper level. As it stands, while it has its merits, it ultimately falls short of its full potential.

52 USA State Challenge - Idaho

This remarkable novel delved into a plethora of topics in an utterly captivating manner, with its core focus being on Idaho Potato farming. Achieving this was no small accomplishment. The characters were truly fabulous, and I found myself immediately developing an affection for them.
While I believe that some of the science regarding the genetic engineering of the plants might have been a bit suspect, I would need to look it up to be certain. However, the story was so engaging and terrific that it was effortless to overlook any oversights regarding the nitty-gritty details of genetic modifications of plants.
I had already formulated a plan to read this particular book for this USA challenge. But now, I am extremely eager to read her new novel that was released in 2021. Perhaps, with a bit of luck, I can manage to fit in more of Ruth Ozeki's wonderful work this year.

All Over Creation was my very first encounter with an Ozeki novel. I'm aware that she has a new book out, but unfortunately, my library hasn't yet included the audiobook in their collection. So, I decided to go for whatever was available as an audiobook, mainly because I didn't want to pile up another book on my bedside table, which was already filled with neglected ones.

This novel revolves around the Fullers, who own a potato farm in Liberty Falls, Idaho. Lloyd, the patriarch, is a successful potato grower. His Japanese wife, Momoko, is a passionate gardener and has even started a seed business. Their only daughter, Yumi, however, feels constricted and suffocated.

The story spans a relatively long period, beginning in the 70s and stretching up to the late 90s. We first meet fourteen-year-old Yumi, who is unfortunately seduced by her history teacher. This incident leads to the breakdown of her relationship with her father, and she ultimately runs away.

Twenty-five years later, Lloyd is on his deathbed, having battled cancer and suffered several heart attacks. Momoko has developed Alzheimer's and is too frail to take care of Lloyd. Cassie Unger, Yumi's former best friend and neighbor, steps in to look after the Fullers, but she has her own responsibilities as well. When Cassie hears that Lloyd doesn't have much time left, she tracks down Yumi, who is now living in Hawaii, and urges her to come home.

Yumi, now almost forty, teaches and also sells real estate. She has three children - a fourteen-year-old boy named Phonix, an almost seven-year-old daughter named Ocean, and a one-year-old named Poo - all with different fathers. Life is indeed messy, and relationships are no exception. It's distressingly easy to break them, even when there is love present.

Ozeki further complicates the plot by introducing a group of environmental activists. They are fighting against the bioengineering companies that are imposing their products on the already burdened farmers. In exchange for helping to take care of Lloyd and supporting Momoko's seed business, they take up residence in the Fuller's driveway with their bus.

This novel is not without its flaws. It could potentially be criticized for being overly didactic and sentimental, especially when dealing with topics like GMOs and corporate farming. However, despite these possible drawbacks, I truly enjoyed it. I'm eagerly looking forward to reading more of Ruzeki's works.

And let's not forget Anna Fields' extraordinary narration, which added an extra layer of depth and charm to the story.

I first want to preface this by saying that A Tale for the Time Being was one of my absolute favorite books that I read last year. Ruth Ozeki is truly a remarkable writer. She has the ability to craft multi-layered stories with complex characters and address relevant problems. This latest work of hers is no exception, although I must admit that I didn't like it nearly as much as A Tale for the Time Being.

Yumi has always felt like an outsider in her community. After a deeply traumatic experience during her teen years, she made the decision to leave Idaho, vowing never to return. However, circumstances change when her ailing parents find themselves in need of her help with their day-to-day lives. Just as Yumi is dealing with this new responsibility, a group of environmental activists arrives, eager to learn about her parents' seed business.

This book delves into the unknowns of GMOs, explores the impact of big Agribusiness on the small family farmer, and examines how all of these issues affect people on a personal level. It is both thought-provoking and interesting, making it a worthwhile read. While I didn't connect with the characters in this book as strongly as I did with those in her newer work, I'm still a fan of Ruth Ozeki's writing. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

I absolutely adored this book! It truly struck a chord with one of my life's greatest passions, which is safeguarding the genetic diversity of seeds.

I have been a dedicated supporter of Seed Savers Exchange for a long time. The importance of protecting the genetic variety of seeds cannot be overstated. It is not only crucial for the future of our food supply but also for the biodiversity of our planet.

This book delved deep into the subject, providing valuable insights and information. It made me even more determined to continue my support for organizations like Seed Savers Exchange and to do my part in protecting the genetic diversity of seeds.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in this important topic. It is a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of our food and our planet.

“Lloyd’s home, Mom.” I fingered the straggling ends of my mother’s hair. And your daughter is having a nervous breakdown. And there’s a caravan of hippies camping out behind the barn. Oh, and you’re a prophet of the Revolution.”

All Over Creation is perhaps Ruth Ozeki's least strong book thus far. Nevertheless, I devoured it within just one hung-over weekend.

I won't elaborate much on the plot other than stating that it's the story of a family that split due to a matter of principle and is gradually coming to terms with each other, life, illness, death, and all the elements surrounding them.

While Ozeki's writing is mostly wonderful, I felt that All Over Creation was attempting too hard to achieve two things:

1. Zero in on the environmental message of the book;


2. Linger on scenes and descriptions for dramatic impact.

The book didn't need to do this, and there were several scenes where I believed that less would have been more, especially towards the end.

However, I was still moved and engaged. It made me laugh and evoked all kinds of emotions. I won't hold the overdone emotional writing in a few scenes against the rest of the book, which clearly elicits a more intellectual appreciation for the way Ozeki crafted her characters and gave them voices so real that I had no difficulty imagining them.

As strange as my introductory quote may sound, there is far more to the book than just the family saga. In a sense, there are two parallel stories - one about the family and one about the family business (selling plant seeds). Sometimes it's not clear whether the story is about the family or the seeds, and this metaphorical conundrum is where Ozeki's skill is on display:

“But they’re ours. We have to keep them safe!” She shook her head. “No. Keeping is not safe. Keeping is danger. Only safe way is letting go. Giving everything away. Freely. Freely.”

All Over Creation by Ruth Ozeki

I really wish there could have been a more satisfying resolution between Yumi and everyone she left behind, especially Lloyd. There was also a lack of in-depth character development for Yumi, as well as for Cass and the Seeds. The story seemed to fall a bit flat in some aspects. Additionally, the environmental message at times felt rather forced and not as seamlessly integrated as it could have been. This work is not Ruth Ozeki's best, in my opinion. However, I still have a great deal of love and admiration for her as an author.

Her unique writing style and the thought-provoking themes she explores are always值得欣赏. Despite the shortcomings in this particular piece, I look forward to seeing what else she has in store for us in the future.

I believe that every work is a step in an author's creative journey, and even with its flaws, this one still has something valuable to offer.

Maybe with time and further exploration, Ruth Ozeki will be able to refine her ideas and create an even more powerful and engaging story.

Here is an enjoyable novel that features a rather strange grouping of characters. There is the estranged daughter who returns from Hawaii to the Idaho farm family she once ran away from, accompanied by her three kids. Her father, a farmer, is in failing health. Her Japanese mother has tended to her specialty seeds for decades and, along with the father, has been selling them via catalog. Then there are the neighbors who have bought the family farm. And finally, there are the anti-GMO guerillas who come to learn from her parents. The story unfolds as these diverse characters interact and deal with various issues and emotions. The daughter has to face her past and reconnect with her family, while the parents have to deal with the changes in their lives and the arrival of the anti-GMO guerillas. The neighbors also play an important role in the story, adding another layer of complexity to the relationships. Overall, this novel offers an interesting and engaging look at family, relationships, and the changing world of agriculture.

All Over Creation was an incredibly emotionally exhausting journey. It wasn't just about the family drama, which there was an abundance of. Ozeki also expected the reader to grapple with other themes, especially environmental issues. Tension is crucial to keep the reader captivated, and I believe this book could have focused on a few specific problems instead of presenting a seemingly endless list.

This book felt disorganized and unbalanced. I was aware that some characters were more important than others, but Ozeki seemed to lean too much on some of them. In the case of Yumi (or Yummy), it was unnecessary. To put it simply, I hated her, which further influenced my opinion. If Ozeki's intention was to create a self-absorbed character that readers wouldn't like, she succeeded. At times, it was difficult to get through the book because Yumi's selfishness infuriated me. What made it worse was that so many of the other characters just accepted it. She was at the center of the story, which was frustrating. I wanted to hear more about Momoko, the Seeds of Resistance, and even Cass and Will. It was annoying to see these characters pushed aside so that the reader had to endure the selfishness of others.

The environmental issues were barely coherent, mainly due to the almost propagandistic mentions throughout. Otherwise, they would have been overshadowed by the constant changes in character perspective and timeskips. Even without this stylistic choice, the sheer number of traumatic events that occurred on a potato farm in rural Idaho would have drowned them out.

As frustrating as this book was to read, I was impressed by the aspects that felt real. The complexities of the characters, even the ones I hated, kept me emotionally engaged. I cared about what they did, got upset over their mistakes, and so on. Unfortunately, this wasn't enough to make it a satisfying read for me.