What's been said...

There are countless reviews of the novel My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki, and the comments varied from extremely enthusiastic to less than desirable. The first comment that I thought reflected somewhat similarly to what I felt was post by an anonymous source May 13, 2002 on Barnes and Nobles website.

“If Ozeki's goals were to (1) change attitudes about meat and the meat industry and (2) tell a good story, then she succeeds. The problem is that the story is also about race, intimacy, fertility, American, families, the media, consumerism, and a few other big things.”

I understand the meaning of meat to be symbolic and play beyond its role than just an Americanized food into new cultures, but I do like to reflect on this reviewer’s point. The point that many people found most wrenching in this story was the lack of wellness in food and environment within the United States and outside of its boarders. I know the hormone DES was horrible and it hurt people, but I did not see it as the core of the story line. It did play a role in the shape of how the story did unfold, but the way it appeared did take away from what was going on within the characters and what was being experienced by them. Suddenly this huge idea is put into the book about hormones and it affecting people and the focus is no longer on Jane or Akiko, but a world view of what is going on with this hormone.

The next review that I looked at was from Amazon’s website by Alana V. Rivera “eveninghawk” posted February 5^th, 2005:

“This book is excellent because it's an unforgiving romp through modern day America and the hurdles it holds for artists, people of multicultural heredity, and women. It's also an unforgiving look at some of the Japanese misconceptions of America and how they're perpetuated.

What I really love about this book is the role-reversal of strength and the confrontation with one's own self-image.

The other real clincher is that the book hits on a real life issue - medicines in our meat - in a way that hits the reader right in the gut. It's a well-researched heads up for our social consciousness.”

I love this review because they touch on a few of the bases that we had for class discussion. The concept of American culture invading other cultures and giving misconceptions about life. The review talks about women and individuals who are multicultural which is what I think is at the center of the book. How American cultural has shaped Japan, causing cultural change that may not be seen as good, especially for those that do not want to change. I also enjoyed the use of the word self-image. Even though I did not think of it myself, the book did somewhat revolve around the issue of how people saw themselves. Akiko saw herself as helpless, and needed to find herself. John was looking for this self of power, a family. Jane, a Japanese American was trying to find her niche in life. All the characters one way or another was controlled or wanted control of their self-image.

The last review I would like to bring up is from the website Good Reads by Pamela Huxtable post April 22^nd, 2012:

“Ozeki touches on so many subjects and does it so well. This novel is funny, tragic, sweet, and infuriating. Two central characters, Jane and Akiko - one an independent American filmmaker, the other a submissive Japanese housewife, guiding the reader through their Year of Meats.

Ozeki punctuates each chapter with snippets from Shonagon's Pillow Book, which was a good quiet balance, especially in the last few climatic chapters.”

I choose this review last because it is a good summarizing point. There were a lot of subjects mention in My Year of Meats and the seriousness of each is enough to stress anyone out. The book all in all is a good reference point for a great deal of discussions. From cultural invasion, environmental justice, multicultural individuals, women, the list is seemingly endless. Ozeki does a spectacular job putting so much into one book, but it does come as a conscience of other materials being pushed to the sidelines or overlooked. 

Works Cited:

Anonymous. "good, not great." Barnes & Noble. N.p., 13 May 2002. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.

Rivera, Alana V. “eveninghawk”. "it’s all about the image." Amazon, 5 Feb 2005. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.

Huxtable, Pamela.  Goodreads. N.p., 22 Apr 2012. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.