4.5 I have just completed savoring "MY YEAR OF MEATS" by #ruthozeki, the author of "TALE OF THE TIME BEING".

This book is not similar to that one, yet it is still an outstanding literary piece.

It is unusual, at times distasteful, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and political.

Moreover, it frequently made me experience hunger.

The story revolves around Jane, who is creating a TV show for Japan centered on Wholesome American wives cooking meat.

However, along the way, Jane begins to feel uneasy about the meat industry.

It also delves into the life of Akiko in Japan, who watches the show and relates to some of the more radical episodes, which angers her husband.

Furthermore, it touches upon the themes of loss and starting over.

If you are squeamish about the origin of your beef, you might not wish to read this.

Nevertheless, I believe there are significant lessons to be learned, as it is factual.

Certainly, it can raise the topic of what you purchase at the store and how often.

I truly valued the quirkiness of this book.

Although this book was kind of slow-paced and didn't contain any truly amazing characters, I still thought it was pretty dang good.

Most of the time, when a book so blatantly has (or is going to have) a message like the one in this book, I tend to feel that it's too preachy or overly obvious. However, I actually learned a great deal from this book. I felt that Jane's reaction was very realistic, and Ozeki managed to convey the message in an effective and, once again, realistic manner.

Overall, the book wasn't perfect. The story definitely wasn't as interesting as it potentially could have been. But the lessons and information that I gained from it truly made it better and well worth the read!

I would recommend this book to others who are looking for a thought-provoking read that offers valuable insights. It may not be a page-turner, but it will definitely make you think and perhaps even change your perspective on certain things.

Ozeki explores the producer/consumer relationship in a quite compelling way.

Through split narratives, we are introduced to two main characters. There is Jane Takagi-Little, a Japanese American documentarian, and Akiko Ueno, a Japanese housewife. Jane is hired by Akiko's husband and his business, Beef-Ex, to direct and produce reality/cooking shows about American meats for a Japanese audience.

Jane then embarks on the task of directing and producing this program, which is called 'My American Wife'. She travels across the US and meets 'wholesome and upstanding (and they must be attractive and white!) families that they can showcase to Japanese housewives. The aim is to sell their meat industry products to this new population.

As Jane produces the show, she becomes very involved with her subjects. However, she gives very little thought to the Japanese consumers back in Japan who enjoy the show and what effect it has on them.

The book veers into Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" territory. While some may discount it for this, I felt that Ozeki steered the ship right. She found a platform to share true and relevant information in this fictional universe.

I would rate this book 4.5 stars. It was nearly marked up to 5, but I was a little distracted by the pregnancy subplot. I felt that the book would have been just better without it.

The story is captivating and told in a unique and engaging way. It has the power to draw the reader in and keep them hooked from start to finish. However, it's a pity that it ends with the rather cliched 'and everything turns out okay' conclusion.

Perhaps the author could have explored more complex and unexpected endings, adding an extra layer of depth and realism to the narrative. This would have made the story even more memorable and thought-provoking.

Nevertheless, the overall quality of the writing and the way the story is constructed are still impressive. The author has a talent for creating vivid characters and a compelling plot that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

With a bit more experimentation and a willingness to break away from the traditional 'happy ending' formula, this author has the potential to create truly outstanding works of fiction.

I'm truly finding it extremely difficult to construct a review that will comprehensively express my absolute enjoyment of this book.

At first glance, what may seem like a simple and easy read with a light and joyful plot quickly reveals that there is much more hidden beneath the surface. It is a truly remarkable work that is both provocative and funny, interesting and sad, dark and, most importantly, one of the most insightful reads I have ever had in my life.

I don't want to claim that this book will be the decisive factor in my decision to adopt a vegan lifestyle, but some of the points made within its pages will definitely make me think twice.

And finally, I firmly believe that this book serves to demonstrate just how much women can uplift and strengthen each other, regardless of language and/or cultural boundaries.

CW: Mentions and descriptions of physical abuse, rape, blood, and general disgust concerning slaughterhouses.

This would be Ruth Ozeki's fantastic first novel.

You should go read this right now if you haven't already. It's one of my all-time favorites.

The story revolves around two protagonists. One is a mixed-race American woman who works as a television producer. The Japanese Beef Council hires her to create a series that profiles a different American family and its beef consumption each week. The series highlights the all-American robust outdoors-y health of the family and features a beef-heavy recipe at the end.

The other protagonist is a Japanese housewife who watches the show. Her husband desires them to have a baby, but he is unaware that she has been vomiting everything she eats to prevent menstruation and thus avoid getting pregnant. She prepares the beef meals from the program for him every night but doesn't eat them herself. She feels trapped in her housewife role and wants to leave the marriage but doesn't know how.

Meanwhile, the American TV producer begins to understand the horrors of the beef industry and the unfortunate side effects associated with excessive meat-eating. She starts to feel pathologically guilty about her role in producing this beef propaganda for Japanese viewers. One family she profiles raises cattle for beef, and the young daughter there has already begun developing breasts due to overexposure to growth hormones. The father in another family has developed thyroid cancer from ingesting the hormones in the low-grade chicken products his family consumes.

I think the TV producer also has some sort of pregnancy side plot, but I can't recall exactly what it is. The book could potentially be just overly student-like propaganda, but it is actually presented as a really engaging story full of moral ambiguities. And maybe it will make you stop eating meat. Not that I have, but you know.

This book is truly one-of-a-kind, not like any other that I have ever read. I found myself completely immersed in its pages and really enjoyed the reading experience. In fact, I was very close to awarding it a perfect 5 stars. However, the last 15% of the book had a bit of an impact on my overall perception, causing me to lean more towards a 4-star rating.

What makes this book so remarkable is the crazy mix of themes that are woven together in such an interesting way. It made me stop and reflect on the presence of these themes in my own life. It was truly a thought-provoking and engaging read.

I am so impressed with this book that I will definitely be checking out Ruth Ozeki's other works. I can't wait to see what else she has in store for readers.

Maybe I am being a bit too harsh with my initial rating, and I may very well change it to a five stars later. But for now, I am still processing all that I have read and am looking forward to exploring more of Ozeki's writing in the future.

Shockingly brilliant! This book is truly a masterpiece. While certain parts of it made my stomach turn in disgust and my blood boil with furious disbelief, it was an astoundingly clever story. The author has crafted it with such precision and skill that it becomes not-put-down-able. I found myself completely immersed in the narrative, unable to tear myself away.

I am now eagerly looking forward to reading more of Ozeki's work. "My Year of Meats" is a clear evidence of her talent as an original voice in the world of fiction. Her ability to create complex and engaging characters, along with a thought-provoking plot, is truly remarkable. I have no doubt that her other works will be just as captivating and will continue to leave a lasting impression on me.

** Books 213 - 2017 **

This book has accomplished the Tsundoku Books Challenge 2017 and the Challenge New Author 2017.

It has received a rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars!

It is one of the books that has made me hesitant to eat red meat, especially after learning about some of the hormone medications that are injected into cows. I think I should reduce my consumption of red meat and return to being a pesco-vegetarian.

Thanks a lot to the Periplus Store for the 86% discount, which reduced the price from IDR 201,000 to IDR 28,000!

This book has not only provided valuable information but also had a significant impact on my dietary choices. It has made me more aware of the potential risks associated with consuming red meat and has motivated me to make a change for the better.

The discount from the Periplus Store was an added bonus, making it even more accessible and affordable. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about healthy eating and the impact of our food choices on our health and the environment.

I just finished reading a book and I have to say it's a 3.5-star experience for me.

As I start to organize my thoughts, I realize that I need to let the content sink in a little more.

The story had its moments that really grabbed my attention and made me eager to turn the page. However, there were also parts that felt a bit slow or could have been developed further.

The characters were interesting, but I think some of them could have had more depth.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but it didn't quite reach the level of a 4 or 5-star book for me.

I'm looking forward to reflecting on it some more and seeing if my opinion changes as I continue to think about it.

Maybe with a second read, I'll be able to pick up on some details that I missed the first time around.

For now, I'll just let my thoughts simmer and see where they take me.

First of all, it is truly fascinating to read a book from the late 90s that involves so much faxing. The concept of film editing in the pre-digital era is also quite remarkable.

The story itself is rather high-level and peculiar. The characters possess numerous internal inconsistencies, which one might initially view as mere plot devices to推动 the narrative forward. However, upon further reflection, I believe these inconsistencies are a very human trait and simply difficult to accept. I also appreciate the author's approach to presenting the data. As the book progresses, it transitions from a somewhat lighthearted and silly tone to some truly profound and disturbing content that you might not want to read right after dinner.

In this particular edition, the interview with the author afterwards, regarding why and how she decided to write this specific story, truly resonates in the context of the Covid times.

What is it that scares us about a "novel of causes"? Conversely, does fiction have to exist in a suspended, apolitical landscape in order to be considered literary? Can it not be politically and temporally specific and still maintain good literary taste? We are understandably cautious of literature that reeks of polemics, instruction, or prescription. After all, it can be tiresome to be lectured to. But what does this imply about our attitudes towards intellectual inquiry? While I enjoy reading "kitchen table novels" where characters are reduced to their emotional essence and their lives are stripped of politics and commerce, this does not accurately reflect my own experience. I perceive our lives as being part of an enormous web of interconnected spheres, where the operations of the larger social, political, and corporate mechanisms impact something as personal and intimate as the descent of an egg through a woman's fallopian tube. This is the kind of resonance I strive to evoke in my books.

I aspire to write novels that engage both the emotions and the intellect, which means confronting head-on the chaos of evils and issues that threaten to overwhelm us all. And if these threats endanger the characters, then I must make the characters stronger.

This is an absolute killer of a book!!!

It pairs well with Sophie Lewis’s FULL SURROGACY NOW for a deep and engaging discussion on pregnancy, the agency of childrearers, and reproductive labour.

Moreover, it can also be coupled with food justice stuff and theorising about hormones, adding another layer of complexity and interest to the overall exploration.

The book is brutal, yet funny, angry, and brilliant all at the same time. It doesn't shy away from tackling tough and controversial topics, but presents them in a way that is both thought-provoking and accessible.

Whether you're interested in feminism, reproductive rights, or simply a good read that will challenge your assumptions and make you think, this book is definitely worth checking out.