4.5 stars

This rating of 4.5 stars truly reflects the outstanding quality and performance of the subject in question. It indicates that it has exceeded expectations in many aspects. The product or service has likely impressed customers with its excellent features, reliability, and overall value. With a score so close to a perfect 5 stars, it shows that it is highly regarded and has received widespread acclaim. Customers who have experienced it have likely been very satisfied and would recommend it to others. This high rating also serves as a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team behind it. They have clearly put in the effort to ensure that every detail is perfect and that the end result is something that customers will love. Overall, a 4.5-star rating is a great achievement and a sign that the subject is truly top-notch.

Well-written and undeniably fascinating/horrifying, Ozeki's first novel is solidly good.

However, ideologically, it leaves something to be desired. I wish it had a bit more depth and a more complex way of expressing its ideas. Additionally, the exploration of both race and adoption felt quite shallow and uncritical.

The characters also lacked dimension, and with its long page count, the book didn't seem to fully utilize its potential.

Nevertheless, it was definitely a page-turner, interesting and fun to read. Overall, it's a pretty good effort for a debut novel.

Enthralling story, haunting message. This work by Ozeki is not only heavily satirical in style but also daringly grotesque in thought. It offers a unique outside perspective on American meat culture, delving deep into the complex issues of health and ethics.

For meat lovers, it presents a thought-provoking examination that might make them question their consumption habits. It forces them to consider the potential consequences of their choices on their own well-being and the greater ethical implications.

Vegans, on the other hand, will find validation and perhaps new ammunition for their cause. The book shines a light on the often overlooked aspects of the meat industry, making it a powerful tool for raising awareness.

In conclusion, regardless of where you stand on the meat-eating spectrum, this book is a must-read. It has the power to challenge your beliefs, expand your understanding, and leave you with a lasting impression.

This was a fiction book about a Japanese - American documentarian, Jane Takagi - Little, which I liked quite a lot.

However, unfortunately, the story was wrapped around a non - fiction diatribe about the factory farm beef industry, and it was rather heavy - handed. I suppose Ozeki felt that it was her duty to convey this information to us. I hate to use the word "preachy," but in this case, it seems to fit. I rarely use the skip button on an audiobook, but the unrelenting nature of this part made it necessary.

I understand that the paper book had an interview with the author that was not included in the audio version. This is a bit of a disappointment.

Overall, I can't really recommend this book to anyone. There are multiple reasons for this, and it should include trigger - warnings for people with PTSD. The combination of the heavy - handed diatribe and the potential triggers makes it a less than ideal read for many.

An incredibly racist book with an embarrassingly lukewarm message.

The book is filled with nothing but stereotypes about black and Asian people, and it's excessive and weird. Many comments have already addressed the blatant anti-black racism in the book, but it also does a horrible job representing Japanese people. In the story, Japanese men are all crazy corporatist slaves, incredibly racist and hateful towards women. Japanese women are all stupid and submissive, needing to be saved by the Wasian protagonist, who is frankly insufferable. The Japanese people also only speak in broken English, furthering the attempt to make them look unintelligent. There are even explicit points of racism, such as when the Japanese character, Ueno, exhibits a fetish for white women, saying they are well-bred compared to inbred Japanese people, and even attempts to rape a white woman, which is then never brought up again. This messaging around Asian people is horribly reminiscent of Yellow Peril narratives, positing the danger of Asian men and the harm they wish to enact on white people. Similarly, the main character's mother is described as having "oriental panic," another horrible example of anti-Asian racism. Simply put, there is no lens for viewing Asian people that is not racist and does not make them appear stupid, sexist, or downright evil.

The actual message about meat and sex is frankly so whatever. Yes, the meat is pumped with hormones and processed in disgusting ways that are bad for people, but racism is also bad for society! I literally could not take the book's message seriously because of how badly it was written, and I'm a vegetarian!

This book is so bad, and I don't care if it's satire if it's genuinely this gross. I would certainly not recommend reading it, especially if you're Japanese or Asian American.

I have a profound love for Ruth Ozeki's "A Tale for the Time Being" -- and now, I have just unearthed her very first novel (a big thank you to Jamie!).

Admittedly, it does have some of the flaws typical of a first novel. There are moments when there is a bit too much exposition, presented in rather awkward chunks. However, when looking at the big picture, it is an extremely compelling and engaging read!

The story follows a would-be documentary filmmaker who manages to secure a paying job working on a Japanese TV series. The aim of this series is to introduce Japanese housewives to American meat, which leads to a series of events that are first comic and then take a terrifying turn.

This novel masterfully combines goofy farce with some extremely serious subject matter. It will truly make you think twice before ordering a steak or even a fast food burger ever again. At the same time, it introduces well-developed, memorable characters from a wide range of the human spectrum. Additionally, it offers a welcome dose of cultural contrast and awareness.

I absolutely adored it! Some might argue that the ending was atypically rosy. But considering the distressing subject matter in the last quarter of the book, I, for one, wholeheartedly welcomed that bit of relief.

This is my new BFF Ruth Ozeki's first novel.

Yes, it is a novel that delves into the woeful health impact of the way beef is processed these days by the US meat industry. However, like all of Ozeki's novels, it is so much more.

I, for one, am a little astonished that this is her first novel because there are so many layers to it. The complex ensemble of voices, self-referentiality, and documentary work is put together in such a controlled, light-hearted, humorous yet touching way that you just can't stop reading.

It seems as if what I'm about to say could be said of all of Ozeki's novels, but this is mainly a story of women. Since Ozeki is a fierce woman writer, she gets into the nitty gritty of femalehood from the very beginning. She explores sex, the body, mothers, children, wives, blood, guts, food, work, love, resilience, and the bond of honesty that must link women everywhere. She stays in that space of womanhood that is so often undervalued and dismissed, even when the going gets tough and malehood threatens to encroach and take over.

There are lovely men and awful men in the book, but the women are all terrific, even the monstrous ones. This is only fair because women's worlds get so little room in literature and movies. We need to see the world through a woman's eye and understand that we trust and need each other a whole lot, and that men sometimes can be bad people who think they own us.

Some people found the book preachy, but I can't see any preachiness in it. At the same time, I do understand how one might feel that way. If you feel preached at, just drop this book and read something else. Ruth Ozeki won't mind as she didn't write the book for you.

What makes it all so fantastic is how daring Ozeki is formally. She puts herself into the narration, spills outside the boundaries of the traditional novel forms, and does what she pleases. She addresses the reader, discusses the book, and blurs the author-narrator distinction. She infuses it all with riotous humor, elegance, and pathos, and it all works together seamlessly. There isn't a clumsy or incongruous moment in the whole thing.

So sharp! So tangy. This is truly one of the best pieces of satirical fiction that I have ever read. Ozeki has done an incredible job. She manages to ripple the waters of the façade of the media, revealing the humans hidden behind all that we do. Through her work, she shows us what "truth" really means to those who are in charge of creating our facts. It's a powerful exploration that makes us question the information we consume and the forces that shape it. We are forced to look beyond the surface and see the real people and motives at play. This is not just a story; it's a wake-up call. It makes us realize that the media is not as objective as we might think and that the truth can be a very subjective thing. Ozeki's writing is both engaging and thought-provoking, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

This was an extremely strange little book, yet I had a liking for it. It was penned before Michael Pollan and others began to be listened to and taken seriously by Americans. So, lacking that background information which is now rather common knowledge, Ozeki had to sort of cram it all into the story in small bursts of intense information, ultimately leading to a climactic and disastrous visit to a slaughterhouse. Without the Pollans and Food Inc.s of the world, I wonder how this story was received when it was first published. I suspect it might have been regarded as more of a fictional work than it actually was. But when read now, with the public being aware of all these issues, some parts of the book seem like a great deal of unnecessary exposition.

There are certain flaws in the storytelling. One cannot simply wake up as a citizen of Japan, decide to move to America without the benefit of a Visa, a job, or mastery of the English language, while being pregnant, and immediately obtain an apartment and, I assume, also a job. Huh?? A number of loose ends do get tied up rather easily at the end, but I'll accept it.

I still relished the story, along with all the mini-stories of the American wives and their families, and the sub-themes regarding the reality and truth of media entertainment. There are some horribly violent scenes, and one may need to be familiar with the Japanese culture for some reactions to make sense. However, for the most part, overall, it felt real or "authentic," which is of great importance to the characters in this book. And so, even though I typically don't let so many "This would never happen" moments pass by, I still believe it was a good and interesting read.

DNF at about the 1/3 mark.

Having adored A Tale for the Time Being, I entered into this book with great anticipation. At the beginning, I took pleasure in the satire of American and Japanese commercialism, the world of reality TV, and as a lifelong vegetarian, the act of meat-eating. However, as the satire progressed, the manner in which the buffoonish Japanese men harassed and bullied women started to seem far from humorous. It became rather disturbing. And when the narrator regarded her own rape as merely an aggravating annoyance, I simply had to stop reading.

A great deal has transpired in the 30 years since this book was penned. I have a hunch that perhaps the author herself might now hold different views. Times have changed, and our sensitivities and perspectives have evolved. What might have seemed acceptable or even comical in the past no longer holds the same appeal or validity in today's more enlightened and aware society.

Ok, I give up.

Sorry Ruth, but I don't think you're the author for me.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't "hate" this. I just wasn't ever fully enamoured by it either. Perhaps it would've been more impactful if it didn't contain certain information I was already aware of, mainly when it came to the agricultural "facts and figures" side of the narrative.

That said, this is my third attempt at reading Ozeki's work, and each time I seem to have the same three issues. Firstly, her prose is far too plain and didactic. It lacks the elegance and nuance that I look for in a good read. Secondly, her characters are flat, almost like caricatures. Sometimes they are far too racially stereotyped for my liking as well. This makes it difficult for me to fully engage with them on an emotional level. Thirdly, her plot/storyline in general is just too busy. There's always too much going on, which can be overwhelming and make it hard to follow the main thread of the story.

Put it this way, this was a fairly interesting, somewhat basic attempt at examining the ever powerful influence of the dreaded media. Specifically when it comes to manipulating people's attitudes, opinions and ideas of food, motherhood, race and culture. However, due to the aforementioned issues, I can only give it 2.5 stars.

CW/ rape, eating disorders, miscarriage, animal abuse, racism

Second read, 3/2020, 5/5

Oh my. Ruth Ozeki's novels truly seem to enhance with a reread. This time around, I felt a deeper understanding. The backdrop of animal agriculture in the story provides a powerful literary element. It's a pity that more fiction doesn't explore this from various perspectives in a less overwhelming way to help people be more aware. We indeed need more authors like Ozeki who can masterfully blend important and educational topics with engaging storylines.

First read, 6/2016, 5/5

I finished this book days ago but struggled to put my thoughts into a coherent review. So, I'll just list what I adored about My Year of Meats. Honestly, there was nothing I disliked.

1. The main theme of meat production problems is explored. I've researched this myself, but there was still new information, especially about hormones in cattle. However, this isn't a book that exhaustively explains why not to eat meat. It doesn't have to be. After all, it's fiction and not preachy.

2. Other aspects like the power of media, eating disorders, infertility, cultural differences, and domestic violence are also brought up. Ozeki is excellent at teaching while telling a captivating story.

3. The characters are wonderful. Like in A Tale for the Time Being, this book follows two very different females whose lives are connected in a heartwarming manner. There are also many side characters, and even those who appear for only a few pages are endearing.

4. The story and writing are superb. I won't explain here, but if you haven't read it, check the Goodreads synopsis. The idea is truly unique. The text flows beautifully.

5. The structure is great. Divided into twelve chapters, one for each month, it's easy to follow. At the start of each chapter, there's a quote from Shonagon's The Pillow Book. These obscure lists are extremely interesting. I loved how Ozeki introduces new ideas without making the text dry.

After just two books, Ruth Ozeki has become one of my all-time favorite authors. Her stories have everything I love in a book. After finishing, I feel like I've changed. I'm definitely going to read All Over Creation soon, but not too soon as I want to give it the attention it deserves.