Seldom have I read a story that was so amusing, the seriousness of its subject just sort of snuck up on me. Ruth Ozeki's novel, My Year of Meats, is one of those kind of stories.
My Year of Meats parallels the lives of two women linked by a common television show. One is Jane Tagaki-Little, a Japanese-American documentary producer tasked with the production of "My American Wife", a program sponsored by the U.S. Beef Export Council to entice Japanese wives into a hiigher consumption of American beef.
The other lead female protagonist is Akiko Ueno, a Japanese wife who is so thin she remains infertile, much to the dismay of her overbearing husband. She is ridiculed in a society that heaps shame on those who are "different" from everyone else, who don't act in the way that is expected of them. Akiko's husband wants a child, so he commands her to watch "My American Wife" and make the meals so that she can "put a little meat on her bones."
Ozeki's cast of characters are so well-developed that you can't help but get sucked into their lives. It's been a long time since I've read a story peppered with such "real" characters. Not only that, Ozeki weaves one helluva funny story as the heroine, Jane, begins to rebel against her show's sponsor, choosing some very controversial "American Wives" -- including lesbian vegetarians!
Don't be surprised if you find yourself laughing out loud on the subway with this book. It's a fast read and perfect for busy people who tend to read in short spurts. And when you're finished, don't expect to be able to eat steak for a while. . .
