Ruth Ozeki's writing is characterized by such remarkable precision and unwavering honesty that as I delved into her novel, I felt as if I was physically walking beside her main character, Jane Tagaki-Little. I was completely engrossed in the story, unable to view it objectively. I constantly had to remind myself that this was Ozeki's debut novel, for it is so impeccably crafted and well-written.

Jane, a documentary maker, secures a job producing a television series for Japanese housewives titled "The American Housewife," sponsored by the US Beef Conglomerate. She embarks on a journey across the country, seeking families that embody American wholesomeness and values and can also offer a delicious meat recipe. (Truly, it's a brilliant premise.) Meanwhile, across the globe, Akiko, a bulimic Japanese housewife, watches these shows and is deeply moved by them. Each chapter begins with the words and poetry of a 1st Century female writer, Sei Shonagon.

With its alternating viewpoints, the blend of verse and prose, the author's penchant for switching between first and third person, and a jumble of faxes thrown in, this novel could have easily descended into a chaotic mess. Instead, it emerges as a work of art.

Both women are on a quest to discover themselves, which forms the emotional core of the novel. Akiko's story unfolds in real time, while Jane writes with a certain self-awareness as she looks back on "My Year of Meats."

"It changed my life. You know when that happens -- when something rocks your world, and nothing is ever the same after?"

Although Jane's assignment initially starts as just a job, she becomes increasingly immersed in the lives of the families she profiles. She grapples with the challenge of balancing her desire to tell the truth with her obligation to serve her client, the show's BEEF-EX sponsor, personified by Akiko's husband. As she delves deeper into "meaty" stories, she uncovers disturbing truths about the meat industry, adding a deeply disturbing (almost nauseating) undertone to the novel.

Ozeki clearly states in the author's note that this is a work of fiction, yet it feels incredibly true, complete with a bibliography and footnotes. Issues such as hormones, fertility, abuse, agriculture, and culture all take center stage, but Ozeki resists the temptation to sermonize.

"I chose to ignore what I knew. Ignorance. In this root sense, ignorance is an act of will, a choice that one makes over and over again, especially when information overwhelms and knowledge had become synonymous with impotence."

Ozeki seamlessly transitions this novel from being sharp-witted and playful to emotional and honest. Her writing truly shines in the descriptions of each of the families Jane profiles, adding layers of depth and richness to the main narrative.

"Each sojourn into the heartland had its own viscosity - a total submersion into a strange new element - and for the duration, the parameters of my own world would collapse, sucked like a vacuum pack around the shapes of the families and the configurations of their lives."

This is my second encounter with Ozeki's work. Last year, I fell in love with "A Tale for the Time Being." I will now actively seek out her other books. I am officially a die-hard fan.

Highly Recommend.

Wow - this was an incredibly proactive, highly informative and at times truly heartbreaking story. It took me to places that I simply didn't expect.

I found myself constantly thinking about it in between reads. The vividness of the narrative made it impossible to forget.

I know for sure that it will stay with me for a very long time. It has left an indelible mark on my mind.

However, I would definitely recommend a large content warning before reading this book. As it does contain quite graphic descriptions of rape and slaughter houses. These elements can be extremely disturbing and may not be suitable for all readers.

It is important to approach this book with caution and be prepared for the intense and sometimes uncomfortable subject matter. But despite its difficult themes, it is a story that is well worth reading for its powerful message and engaging plot.

It wasn't very subtle about anything.

The cutesy people were extremely cutesy, as if they were deliberately designed to be overly charming. The good people were so incredibly good that they seemed almost too perfect to be real. The bad people were, on the other hand, so blatantly bad that they lacked any depth or complexity. And then there was the hunky macho guy, who was not only so hunky and macho but also rich!

It makes one wonder why American novelists feel the need to make so many of their characters so wealthy. Is it a reflection of the American dream, where everyone aspires to great wealth and success? Or is it simply a device used to add more drama and excitement to the story? Whatever the reason, it seems that in American novels, wealth is often equated with power and desirability.

Perhaps it's time for a change. Maybe readers are ready for more realistic characters, ones who struggle with financial difficulties and have to work hard to achieve their goals. After all, life isn't always about being rich and beautiful. Sometimes, it's the ordinary people with their ordinary problems who make the most interesting stories.

My Year of Meats is my second encounter with the works of Ruth Ozeki, and it is also the author's debut novel. I have previously read and adored A Tale for the Time Being.

What I truly appreciate about My Year of Meats is its sharp satire of American and Japanese commercialism as well as reality TV. The unappealing aspects of the US meat industry are not entirely foreign to me, yet Ozeki manages to craft a captivating story. Anti-racism is skillfully interwoven into the narrative. The portrayal of the relationship between the protagonist and her Japanese mother is nuanced and multi-layered. The inclusion of quotes from Japanese classics like The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon enriches the story further.

However, certain plot details seem a bit too idealistic. The handling of sexism and rape gives the impression of being somewhat outdated. After all, the book was published in 1998, and a great deal has changed in the past 22 years. I can't help but wonder how the author would have approached the story if she were writing it today.

It’s a sticky one, hence the absence of a rating.

Ozeki writes amazingly on a subject that I had absolutely no clue about. At work, a woman mentioned how much of a stir this caused when it was released, and I can see why. It’s fascinating yet nightmarish stuff, for real.

The only major concern I have is that I truly loathe the Akiko subplot. There is so much gratuitous violence and gore that I found a great deal of her story extremely difficult to read, which was really sad. I really don’t think it was necessary for the general plot, and it felt as if the book as a whole would have worked fine without the constant horrific jump scares that defined her entire character arc.

Other than that, though, it’s a really interesting and impactful read, blending an extremely real issue with a gripping story. It makes you think about the consequences of our actions and the power of words. The characters are well-developed, and the setting is vividly described. Overall, it’s a book that I would recommend to others who are looking for something different and thought-provoking.

This book starts off gently, but then the pace quickly builds and it hits you hard with its powerful content.

What makes it even more engaging are the really interesting characters that are introduced. They bring the story to life and make you invested in their fates.

It's quite remarkable that a book that is 17 years old can still address the same issues that are so relevant today, and perhaps even more so.

Unfortunately, it can't be said that there is a happy ending. This serves as a reminder that the problems we face in society are complex and often don't have simple solutions.

Overall, this was a very good book that managed to capture my attention from start to finish and left me with a lot to think about.

Possibly one of the most important books I have ever read is Ruth Ozeki's first work. I was already aware of how Ozeki excelled in handling various themes, but her debut novel truly surpassed all expectations. It delves into not only misogyny, culture, and corporate corruption but also the terrifying reality of American Beef. The story of Jane and Akiko is incredibly captivating, filled with numerous delightful twists and turns. From their shared struggles with fertility to the confining roles imposed on women, Ozeki skillfully weaves their tale. The parallels between the two characters are especially remarkable, leaving a breathtaking impact. Overall, Ruth Ozeki's first book is an absolute masterpiece, demonstrating her exceptional talent as a writer and her ability to explore complex and thought-provoking themes.

I embarked on this book more than a year ago. It was an old purse book that I had picked up on a whim. However, for some reason, I stopped reading it midway. But then, something compelled me to go back and start over again. And boy, am I glad that I did!

It is an incredibly witty story that revolves around a half-Japanese young woman who is working on a documentary series for Japanese television. The series is fully funded by the Beef Export Group, with the aim of persuading the Japanese to consume more beef. But everything changes when our heroine gets her hands on the series and transforms it into something completely different.

The book is filled with a plethora of really well-developed characters that you can't help but fall in love with. Even the villain is utterly fascinating, with his or her own motives and quirks. There are some rather brutal scenes in the book that might make you think twice about eating beef for a while. But overall, the entire thing is excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be on the lookout for more works by this talented author.

4.5 Stars.

My second Ozeki this year and I'm completely hooked. Once I discovered her writing, I just couldn't get enough.

"My Year of Meats" follows two women from different sides of the world. There's Jane, a documentarian working on a TV show called "My American Wife". The show, sponsored by the American meat lobby, aims to sell the all-American lifestyle to Japanese consumers by highlighting various families and their food. Jane's task is clear - to make Japanese viewers desire more meat. Then there's Akiko, the discontented wife of one of the agency directors back in Tokyo.

This book is quite unique. It starts off funny and almost like a parody, but gradually builds up to an extremely intense and not-so-funny climax. It conveys a powerful anti-meat message while also presenting a cast of highly entertaining and memorable characters. I absolutely love the way Ozeki writes. At times, she offers humor, while at others, she provides deep insights and emotional punches. Although it may seem like a niche story, it actually涵盖了 everything from domestic violence to new love, from motherhood to hormone poisoning. I found it impossible to put down and was completely engrossed in the lives of these two women.

This is the most compassionate book I have ever read.

I am truly at a loss for words to describe its profound impact. So, I'll rely on a quote from its back cover: "Ruth Ozeki is a deeply intelligent and humane writer."

She has an extraordinary ability to understand and care for her characters and the reader alike. Her passion for the topics she writes about is palpable, and she is determined to make the reader equally passionate.

Everyone should read this book. In fact, everyone MUST read this book. Despite being set in the 90s, it manages to describe our modern reality with惊人的 accuracy.

The variety of topics and themes in this book is astounding. It takes a skilled, brilliant, and passionate author like Ruth Ozeki to combine all these elements into one: women's struggles, following one's dreams, cultural differences, the film industry, the compromises one must make to survive, and the meat!

Environmental and health issues caused by eating meat aren't the most pleasant or comfortable topics, but Ozeki has a unique way of getting her message across. As the main character, Jane, gradually discovers more about this corrupted and poisonous industry, the information seeps into the reader's mind, knocks on the door of their conscience, and before they know it, has entered their lives forever.

This is exactly what happened to me. It changed my thinking about many things. And isn't this what books are for? It's a prime example of a modern novel that truly matters. It's a sign of the times, destined to change the world.

If I were to describe all the present-day struggles the two main heroines have to endure, I would be here forever. Instead, I'll focus on the ones that touched me the most.

Jane Takagi-Little, a documentary filmmaker, seems like the perfect embodiment of a "modern woman," liberated from traditional gender roles, independent, and in control of every situation. However, as we delve into her thoughts and the events of a particularly tumultuous year in her life, "The year of meats," we see this image deconstructed.

Struggling to make ends meet, she has to take on a job that requires her to tame her documentary efforts and sell unauthentic images of perfect American families, especially wives. The behind-the-scenes of shooting the TV show offer the reader a beautifully diverse and interesting look at American families. It's like a tour around the USA that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Meeting all these people, Jane grapples with many issues: feeling like a foreigner in her own country, racism, and questions of love and motherhood. Here, the prominent theme of the tragedy of people affected by infertility is introduced. "My year of meats" deals with a very important and relevant topic that I wasn't taught about in school: how the inability to have a child can shatter hearts and relationships.

The book provided me with crucial information that everyone needs to acquire before entering adulthood and parenthood. Jane is a particularly dear character to me as I perhaps want to be a filmmaker myself someday. Her courage and perseverance are truly inspiring.

But even though Takagi is so stubborn and passionate about what she does, she alone can't change a rotten industry. In the era of big company sponsorships and advertisement campaigns, an artist's hands are tied. I have to keep this in mind as I move forward, but I will always carry Takagi in my heart as my personal hero.

Cultural differences are a prominent theme in the book, not just between different US citizens but also between the US and Japan. We have a correspondent in Japan, Akiko, a "perfect" housewife: submissive, silenced, and scared.

Through her eyes, we witness the hardships a woman in her position has to endure: constant humiliation, violence, loneliness, and a complete lack of support from those around her. She lives in an arranged marriage with an abusive man who blames her for everything, and societal expectations and fear prevent her from having any interests, friends, or a life of her own.

It's a nightmare and deeply, disturbingly realistic, which is precisely why this book is so important. It's not afraid to speak about the lives of those who are often overlooked, the struggles of women who are silenced to the point of never having their story told.

Akiko is forced by her husband, who coordinates the meaty "American Wife" TV show, not only to watch it but also to cook all the meals of the "superior" culture. Her husband, Joichi "John" Ueno "Wayno," feels deeply inferior to Americans and tries his best to become one.

Akiko's story later intertwines with Jane's, and she finds the courage to change her life. Akiko's tale is important and inspiring, and unfortunately, it may still be relatable to many women today.

"My year of meats" is versatile enough that everyone can find something meaningful in it, yet specific enough that very particular people can claim it represents them.

It leaves the reader with knowledge that will help them navigate the modern age and a greater awareness and understanding of the struggles faced by people around the world. It shines a light on topics that demand urgent discussion.

It presents a fantasy to the reader only to shatter it a moment later. It shocks with blunt reality (which may make some scenes unbearable, not just uncomfortable but also traumatic for some readers, so be cautious).

It exposes industries, topples empires, daunts, and overwhelms the reader. And then it gives us the impetus to take all this knowledge and share it with the world, and most importantly, do something about the current state of affairs.

As the ending of the novel proclaims, no one can change the world alone, but together... well, that's a different story.

This one really fucked me up.

I don't know why, but it just had such an impact on me. Maybe it was the way it was presented, or perhaps it was the content itself.

Whatever the reason, it left me feeling a bit shaken.

I tried to rationalize it, to tell myself that it wasn't that big of a deal, but deep down, I knew that it was.

It was like a thorn in my side, constantly bothering me and making me think about it.

I couldn't seem to let it go, no matter how hard I tried.

And now, as I sit here writing this, I still can't get it out of my mind.

It's just one of those things that will stay with me for a long time, I guess.

As someone who has dedicated a significant amount of time in the past few years to understanding the American food industry, I approached this book with a certain degree of wariness. However, after reading "A Tale for the Time Being" a few months ago, Ruth Ozeki's remarkable ability to craft complex narratives managed to draw me in, despite my initial reservations.

This novel is truly ambitious for a debut, and I have a great deal of admiration for what she achieved with the content. The dual character perspective offers a fascinating cultural contrast, and I thoroughly enjoyed both Jane and Akiko's stories. Some of the secondary characters, particularly Dave, seemed a bit forced in their attempts to incorporate facts about the meat industry. At times, her messaging felt rather heavy-handed, although I'm not certain if this was due to the fact that I already had a fair amount of information about factory farming before starting the book. I imagine that it would serve as an excellent introduction to the problems associated with meat production in the US, especially for those who are not inclined towards nonfiction (it's important to note that this was published 20 years ago, and yet many of the issues remain sadly relevant, if not even more so).

The quote "Coming at us like this--in waves, massed and unbreachable--knowledge becomes symbolic of our disempowerment--becomes bad knowledge--so we deny it, riding its crest until it subsides from consciousness... 'Ignorance.' In this root sense, ignorance is an act of will, a choice that one makes over and over again, especially when information overwhelms and knowledge has become synonymous with impotence... If we can't act on knowledge, then we can't survive without ignorance... Ignorance becomes empowering because it enables people to live. Stupidity becomes proactive, a political statement" particularly stuck with me. Overall, I would recommend this book to those who think they would enjoy interwoven cultural narratives, especially those that touch on themes similar to "The Jungle."