This book delves into the life of Jane Takagi-Little, a Japanese-American documentary filmmaker.

She is hired to create a television show aimed at promoting American beef to a Japanese audience. Jane embarks on a journey across the American heartland, searching for housewives and their meat-loving families to showcase on the show.

Meanwhile, Akiko Ueno, the extremely unhappy wife of the show's producer in Japan, is compelled by her unfeeling husband to watch the show weekly, rate it, and prepare the recipes.

As Jane delves deeper into the meat industry during the creation of the show, the story takes a personal twist for her. She becomes increasingly appalled and discovers a connection to her own battles with infertility.

This book covers a wide range of topics. I was impressed by its complexity, and I felt that the story and the message were skillfully intertwined. The slaughterhouse scene was truly gruesome, and I had to pause several times to get through it; I was actually reduced to tears.

I really liked Jane as the narrator. She is intelligent and has a sarcastic sense of humor that I thoroughly enjoyed, yet she also has great depth. There are also many unforgettable minor characters.

All in all, this is a remarkable book.

This book truly covers a vast amount of ground.

Jane is the director of episodes of My American Wife!, a Japanese television show sponsored by the beef industry. It aims to bridge the Japanese/American cultural divides and persuade Japanese women to include more red meat in their families' diets. I found the concept quite amusing, and Jane as a character was both endearing and irritating at times.

We also follow Akiko, a Japanese woman married to a man who works for the company sponsoring the show. We witness her reactions to each of Jane's episodes as we learn about her tumultuous relationship with her husband and her own body. Although I liked her story arc, I'm not entirely convinced it was necessary. I felt that we could have focused solely on Jane and still had a strong narrative.

It's rather strange to read this 25 years after its publication. Food, Inc. came out when I was in high school, and I recall there being a great deal of popular discourse surrounding factory farming and the use of hormones in the meat industry. I still gained some knowledge while reading this, but some sections seemed overly preachy, and the information was often presented in a strange manner. In one scene, specific statistics were simply rattled off by a conveniently knowledgeable temp employee. I'll attribute some of this to it being Ozeki's debut, as her writing is much stronger in The Book of Form and Emptiness.

There are also interwoven passages from Sei Shōnagon's pillow book. These lists structure the chapters and influence the way Jane and Akiko perceive the world around them. Ozeki effectively incorporates this historical element, which complements her broader discussions of cultural hybridity. It's also a clever way of juxtaposing both old and new forms of entertainment.

Moreover, if I received a nickel for every time I read a book in 2024 where faxes were central to the plot, I would have two nickels. It's not a significant amount, but it's odd that it happened twice.

This book is definitely recommended if you enjoy being concerned about American health issues.

My Year of Meats is a captivating account that revolves around a television show aired in Japan and sponsored by the American meat industry. The primary objective of this show was to boost the consumption of US meat in Japan. It showcased wholesome American wives preparing meat, with the mantra "pork is possible, but beef is best!", and overall, promoting the wholesomeness of beef and American culture.

The shooting of the first episode was almost a farce, as everything that could potentially go wrong indeed did. However, it was only later when our protagonist demonstrated her talent in identifying the most suitable subjects for filming that the show took a turn for the better. The story of the couple who adopted ten children was truly touching. These adopted children were the offspring of US soldiers and Asian prostitutes. Some of them were physically handicapped, while others had endured child abuse. And then there was the miraculous recovery story of the little girl who was crushed under a truck. It was simply heart-wrenching. Oh, how one wishes it were a true story!

Subsequently, we delved into the horrors associated with meats. One of the crew members suffered an anaphylactic shock after consuming meat, and it was discovered that he had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic residue present in the meat. Then we learned that cattle raised in US factory farms were stuffed with antibiotics, growth hormones, medicines, pesticides, herbicides, and fed all kinds of unimaginable substances (plastic! cement! feces!) that made one's stomach churn. I don't think I would become a vegetarian after this experience, but I would definitely steer clear of US factory-farmed meat (especially when pregnant, beware of DES!).

La ignorancia es un acto de voluntad, una elección que repetimos sin cesar.

Especially now that the amount of information is overwhelming and knowledge has become a synonym for impotence.

In this age of information explosion, we are bombarded with an endless stream of data.

However, instead of using this wealth of knowledge to our advantage, we often choose to remain ignorant.

We may be too lazy to search for the truth, or we may be influenced by false information.

As a result, we continue to make the same mistakes and fail to progress.

It is time for us to wake up and realize that ignorance is not bliss.

We must take responsibility for our own learning and seek out the knowledge that will help us make better decisions.

Only then can we break free from the cycle of ignorance and move forward towards a brighter future.

For the most part, I commend Ozeki for this novel.

She has the remarkable ability to identify and package information about the meat industry in a way that inevitably elicits a reaction.

It's not written with the intention of morally antagonizing meat enjoyers nor does it simply reassure vegetarians and other plant-based individuals about their dietary choices.

Here, Ozeki uses meat as a sort of catalyst, the driving force that leads the two narrators to their individual discoveries about life and themselves.

It was rather compassionate in the sense that the complexities of human vulnerability were given the space to exist and be explored.

While I did find this novel largely engaging due to the writing, some parts still pulled me out of the narrative because of how one-dimensional some characters were.

Jane is objectively the more nuanced of the two narrators, clearly demonstrated by the use of the first-person POV for her chapters.

Akiko, on the other hand, is seen through the third-person POV and is largely characterized as the stereotypical Japanese woman who is demure and submissive, even when she is being subjected to domestic violence.

The other POC in the cast, including Jane's Japanese mother and her black ex-husband, were also depicted similarly, lacking depth when there was an opportunity to give them more life beyond stereotypes.

I wouldn't say I hated this novel, because Ozeki's writing is still buoyant and moving.

However, I do have reservations in saying that I fully enjoyed it.

It's definitely something that lingers with you, and that much is true.

I just wished it could have had more to appreciate in terms of its characters.

If you want to read this book, just a trigger warning for spousal abuse, eating disorders, r*pe, and racial slurs.

“Women were just like cows; women and cattle were being given the identical drug, with equal disregard for safety.” This powerful statement sets the tone for a remarkable book.

I bought this in 2015 after loving A Tale for the Time Being and just got to it now. And wow, it’s absolutely amazing. It follows a documentarian filmmaker Jane (Japanese/white) who is producing My American Wife!, a Japanese show sponsored by a US meat exporting business. Alongside her is Akiko, a Japanese housewife struggling to escape her abusive husband.

The book also delves deep into the topic of synthetic hormone D.E.S. and food safety, especially in the meat industry, which is rife with commercial sponsorships. It was thrilling and suspenseful, and I couldn't put down the book in the last 100 pages as everything was coming together.

This book also touches on eating disorders. “I … I can’t help it” (99). Reading about anxiety-induced nausea and not being able to eat even though you want to is truly painful. I could relate to a lot of it, so I had to keep taking breaks. It’s painful because you are accused of being ill on purpose, of not eating enough on purpose, of wanting to be sick. I’ve heard these sentiments, and it only makes things worse, regardless of the person's intentions.

The book is heavy and touches on many heavy topics. If you can handle it, I would highly recommend this novel. I was very impressed by it and can see myself rereading it again in the future.

I would like to think of my 'ignorance' not so much as a personal shortcoming but rather as a significant cultural tendency, an instance of doubling and psychic numbing that typifies the millennium.

If we are unable to act based on knowledge, then we cannot survive without ignorance. Therefore, we nurture ignorance, going to great lengths to even celebrate it.

Fed on a diet of truly bad news from the media, we exist in a perpetual state of suppressed panic. We are immobilized by bad knowledge, and the only way out is to play dumb. Ignorance then becomes empowering as it allows people to carry on living. Stupidity turns proactive, becoming a political statement and our collective norm.

- Ruth Ozeki, 1991

At the end of every Ozeki book I have read, and this is my third, I feel like a better version of myself. I depart with things I wish to enhance.

"Book of Form and Emptiness"? It's time to fill up my trunk and head to the Goodwill donation line. To attempt to live with less clutter.

"A Tale for the Time Being"? Time to journal more and tell my friends and family that I love them. To be more introspective and look within.

Now, with "My Years of Meats", I want to seriously reduce my meat consumption. I have been considering it for a while, but this story is finally compelling me to do so. Heck, I now truly contemplate vegetarianism. All that I have learned about the meat industry and DES has been churning inside me and making me want to change. Her writing never fails to captivate me, and I refuse to let go. It's also time to read some ancient Japanese poetry now.

There’s something truly unnerving when the lives of women are explored through the subject of meat.

This novel, which is styled more like a docudrama, is a remarkable work by Ruth Ozeki. She masterfully mixes truth with fiction to present us with a multi-perspective tale.

Through this story, she shines a light on some of the cultural and gender politics that exist both in the home and in the workplace. The result is a unique and engaging narrative that is both quirky and warm, yet at the same time, quietly unsettling.

It makes the reader think deeply about the various issues surrounding women's lives and the role that meat plays in our society.

The way Ozeki weaves together different perspectives and storylines adds depth and complexity to the overall narrative, making it a truly thought-provoking read.

Overall, this novel is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the intersection of culture, gender, and food.

The last 80 pages weren’t completely terrible.

However, I still found myself wondering how I actually managed to make it to the end.

The story seemed to drag on at times, and I had to force myself to keep reading.

But there were also some redeeming qualities.

The characters were well-developed, and I found myself invested in their fates.

The author also did a good job of creating a vivid setting, which added to the overall atmosphere of the book.

Despite its flaws, I’m glad I stuck with it until the end.

It wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read, but it wasn’t a complete waste of time either.

I would probably recommend it to others who are looking for a somewhat challenging read.

Ozeki's debut novel presents a complex and engaging narrative. The protagonist, Japanese-American Jane Takagi-Little, is a tough and independent producer for a Japanese reality TV show called My American Wife! set in the US and sponsored by the meat lobby. The show searches for TV-friendly wives and families to showcase cooking meat recipes for Japanese consumers. However, Takagi's actions start to deviate from the show's original plan when she features a handicapped girl who attributes her recovery from a coma to eating lamb, which is not the favored meat of the show, and a vegetarian mixed-race lesbian couple, much to the displeasure of one of the show's Japanese producers, Joichi Ueno. Surprisingly, these shows receive the highest ratings.

Interwoven with the TV show storyline is Takagi's on-off romance with Sloan, a jazz musician. Takagi had difficulties getting pregnant with her first husband and discovers that her uterus is misshapen due to her mother taking DES. She has always used birth control but one night with Sloan, they decide not to, believing it to be safe. Unexpectedly, Takagi gets pregnant. As she continues to film the show, she delves deeper into the world of DES and the hormones and antibiotics used in meat raising and feedlots. Serendipitously, they manage to cast a husband-wife team who run a cattle feedlot and have a five-year-old daughter with breasts and pubic hair due to estrogen in the feedlot effluent. The DES subplot gradually becomes the main plot, transforming the novel into a muckraking book. However, some might argue that it becomes overkill.

Meanwhile, across the ocean in Tokyo, Ueno's submissive housewife Akiko is unable to give her husband the baby he desires. She is bulimic and her periods have stopped. Additionally, Ueno abuses her physically, mentally, and emotionally. He beats and kicks her. Akiko religiously watches My American Wife! and prepares all the recipes for Joichi. She finds the episode with the lesbian couple strangely moving. One night, Joichi comes home drunk and sexually assaults Akiko. At the hospital, suffering from rectal bleeding and fractured ribs, Akiko realizes she is finally pregnant.
It seems rather odd that when a drunk Joichi Ueno sexually assaults Takagi in an American hotel room, she simply shrugs it off and continues to work with him, and the novel hardly gives it a second thought. Ueno is portrayed as a completely evil character, lacking any redeeming qualities. In the reader's guide, Ozeki is asked about the one-dimensional nature of Ueno's character. She agrees that he may be more simply depicted than Jane and Akiko but maintains that he is not a point-of-view character and the book isn't really about him. She also mentions that some readers feel little empathy for him, despite him being a sad man caught between his American bosses, Japanese corporate culture, and two highly subversive women. He has extreme rage and a substance abuse problem, and handles himself poorly. Ozeki believes his position is interesting and compromised, and one she can relate to.
However, Akiko's character also lacks nuance. She is completely submissive until the moment she leaves her marriage, boards a plane to New York City, and with the help of Takagi and the lesbians, gets an apartment in Northampton, Mass. But how will she earn a living to support herself and her baby? She speaks little English and is likely on a tourist visa. And how was she able to come to the US on a tourist visa with a one-way plane ticket? Surely these factors will complicate her job search.
My favorite character in the novel is Takagi's racist mother. Her comments, such as "Why you get pregnant now? You not even married anymore." and "Who is father? Is it another one of black Africaman?" add a touch of humor and also highlight the themes of race and family in the story. Takagi's response, "No; this one's green." [Sloan is white.] and her mother's retort, "Good. Is better you have green baby. Is matching stupid color of your hair." create a memorable and somewhat comical exchange.

Overall, Ozeki's debut novel is a thought-provoking exploration of various themes, but it also has its flaws in character development and some plot inconsistencies.

4.5 stars

This is SO good. I am also SO glad that I haven't eaten meat in 10 years. It's truly amazing how this choice has not only had a positive impact on my health but also on my overall well-being. The flavors and textures of plant-based foods have become a source of great joy and satisfaction for me. Every meal is an opportunity to explore new and delicious combinations. I've discovered a whole new world of cuisine that I never knew existed before. And it's not just about the food. Giving up meat has also made me more conscious of my environmental footprint and the treatment of animals. I feel a sense of responsibility to make choices that are kinder to the planet and all its inhabitants. Overall, I couldn't be happier with my decision to go meatless, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to make a positive change in their lives.

Ruth Ozeki's work is a thought-provoking exploration of various issues.

She敏锐地察觉到商业驱动的媒体炒作、消费者故意的无知以及食品行业的底线行为之间的协同作用，对令人不安的全球趋势和局部影响的这种诊断听起来很真实。这本书中有很多关于激素处理牛肉的信息，我以前并不了解得如此详细，而Ozeki很巧妙地将这些信息包装在一部关于两个都专注于生育问题的女性的小说中。第一个是日裔美国纪录片制作人简·高木，她被一个日本电视节目雇佣，通过一个关注美国家庭的真人秀系列来推广牛肉产品，这个系列名为《我的美国妻子！》。Ozeki毫不隐晦地暗示，女性在媒体（有时在自己家里）中的待遇与这些情节中包装好的牛肉块有着惊人的相似之处。第二个是企业赞助商BEEF - EX代表的日本妻子。这位企业代表开始用“约翰”来配合他的名字“上野”（并且喜欢说“明白了吗？明白了吗？约翰·韦恩 - O！”）

我对这本书的一个问题是，它的描绘过于宽泛（而且其中一些描绘似乎非常接近熟悉的亚洲刻板印象）。例如，这位日本妻子无可救药地胆小和谦逊，即使她的丈夫变得越来越可怕和虐待。他是一个毫不掩饰的恶棍，随着书的继续，他变得更加暴虐和可恶。越来越令人毛骨悚然的是，他的妻子明子已经决定她想要的只是在他的精子的帮助下成为一个母亲，然后她就可以离开他。？！？！我毫不怀疑世界上存在这样的怪物，但似乎很方便的是，这位殴打妻子、酗酒、喜欢脱衣舞女、强奸犯丈夫碰巧也代表了一个邪恶的牛肉集团，一心要向世界推销受污染的产品。有趣的是，所有这些道德败坏的层面都结合在一起。

相比之下，日裔美国人简与一个相亲对象上床，结果发现他比她一开始意识到的还要棒。他不仅在床上很棒（Ozeki毫不留情地详细描述），而且他还是个好人。而且富有。而且英俊。而且是个音乐家，如果你相信的话！简的自主性和自我决定（以及西方性，我不想补充）使她能够在书的结尾通过她的艺术拯救世界。当明子和简最终见面时，明子对简不够坚定和果断感到失望，但似乎简的整体精神是这本书的道德中心，引导其他人走向更有自我意识的位置。在这种表述中，虽然日本正受到美国食品产品的污染，但他们也需要美国的个人主义和反传统精神来减轻对权威和僵化性别关系的尊重。我对日本文化了解不多，但这种关于美国主义的自满语气让我觉得不真实。

小说跟随简的旅程，她在真人秀节目中访问了一些家庭，这些家庭本应教日本家庭主妇了解肉类产品。在这里，Ozeki也公然亮出了她的意识形态底牌。“好”家庭包括一个有多文化收养孩子的家庭、一个积极参与当地教堂活动的非裔美国家庭、一个残疾少女在沃尔玛受伤的父母和社区，以及一对跨种族的女同性恋夫妇。我也赞赏对多样性、残疾和酷儿性的认可（万岁！万岁！），但所有这些家庭结果都相当平淡和完美。他们感觉不真实；他们感觉像是自由派理想的感觉良好的家庭模式。与此同时，“坏”家庭是白人（一对经营民宿的平淡夫妇）和/或为不良行业工作（经营饲养场和屠宰场的家庭，必须被简·高木唤醒，认识到他们的错误方式）。

这本书的说教性削弱了它的小说性和心理共鸣。这里面有一些令人心碎的话题：从孩子中毒到恶性强奸和配偶虐待，再到晚期流产。但它们都没有让人感到心碎（更可怕），因为我一直觉得自己像是在被引导着走过一场意识形态的争论，而不是一个真实的、活生生的世界。我的超然感感觉更奇怪，因为我或多或少同意这种意识形态的争论。（工厂化养殖 = 坏。美国食品和制药之间这种有毒相互作用的全球影响 = 坏。）但是被书中描绘的令人不安的事情恶心到和被感动是不一样的，我想被感动并相信这些角色。他们感觉像是自己的纸板剪影。冒着一个令人畏缩的双关语的风险，我想要更有“肉感”的角色。