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Big in Japan
by
Jennifer Stewart Griffith (Goodreads Author)
Buck Cooper doesn't remember when he became invisible. It was probably around the time he hit 300 pounds, and that was quite a few pounds ago. At six-foot-six, he's the elephant in the room nobody notices. Still, his social leprosy doesn't keep him from putting in for a promotion in the stats department, or from carrying a torch for the gorgeous Alison, who just might see...more
Hardcover, 318 pages
Published
July 28th 2012
by Jolly Fish Press, LLC
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Big in Japan by Jennifer Griffith is a well written novel that is fast paced and extremely engaging. With each turn of the page, I itched to see what would happen next. It’s an inspiring story of an underdog who goes through tremendous brutality to become a stronger and mightier man both physically and mentally.
Though many stories display their heroes as being of a certain acceptable weight and build, Griffith’s main character, Buck Cooper, is an obese Texan. Like a Sumo “Kung Fu Panda,” he tak...more
Though many stories display their heroes as being of a certain acceptable weight and build, Griffith’s main character, Buck Cooper, is an obese Texan. Like a Sumo “Kung Fu Panda,” he tak...more
When fellow author Jennifer Griffith Stewart fist told me about her newest novel, Big in Japan, my reaction was: "Wow, that's different. It will either be an embarrassing flop, or a huge success."
Now that I've had the pleasure of reading her book, I'm going with huge success.
This isn't my usual thing. It's about an ordinary guy who has an ordinary job. The only thing unusual about him is that he's unusually obese. He views himself as invisible, since that's how others treat him, which is ironic,...more
Now that I've had the pleasure of reading her book, I'm going with huge success.
This isn't my usual thing. It's about an ordinary guy who has an ordinary job. The only thing unusual about him is that he's unusually obese. He views himself as invisible, since that's how others treat him, which is ironic,...more
Jennifer Griffith’s newest novel, Big in Japan, tells the story of Buck Cooper, a Texas gentleman with a heart as large his home state and a body and self-esteem problem to match. What starts as a supporting role in a family business trip to Tokyo ends with Buck staying in Japan training to be a sumo wrestler as the kohai to the Kawaguchi Stable’s star ozeki, Torakiba. Torakiba is the senpai from hell, subjecting Buck as his kohai to humiliating tasks including foot washing and warm watermelon s...more
This was a fun read. A brief intro: big blond Texan Buck has no luck in his slightly pathetic attempts to talk to (let alone date) the girl at his office. Then his parents need him to accompany them on a week-long trip to Japan. Amid the culture shock of Tokyo he attends a sumo wrestling match and is asked (on national TV no less) to enter the ring for a pre-match sumo "skit". To the surprise of everyone he doesn't make a complete fool of himself, and after that the rumors fly that he'll be the...more
This book was hard for me to get into at first. I found it rather slow and stiff. With that said, it grew on me and definitely built momentum with the reading. I like a book where each chapter becomes more compelling than the last. Buck Cooper is a 6 foot 6 inch overweight Texan working at a job where he is under appreciated not only professionally but by the pretty secretary for whom he has a mad crush. We go from this scene to Buck training to be a Sumo wrestler in Japan. That doesn't sound sl...more
For my complete review, visit Perpetual Chaos of a Wandering Mind
In Big In Japan, Jennifer Griffith manages to pen a humorous, engaging and heartfelt tale of someone of stature without resorting to stereotypes and clichés. She approaches the differences between the obese and the svelt, East and West, male and female with a deft hand and a kind heart.
She uses Buck Cooper's mass to propel her plot and create challenges for him, not define his character. Buck is actually pretty likable with lots of...more
In Big In Japan, Jennifer Griffith manages to pen a humorous, engaging and heartfelt tale of someone of stature without resorting to stereotypes and clichés. She approaches the differences between the obese and the svelt, East and West, male and female with a deft hand and a kind heart.
She uses Buck Cooper's mass to propel her plot and create challenges for him, not define his character. Buck is actually pretty likable with lots of...more
Okay I knew this would be quality writing having read other work by Jennifer Griffith but to be honest, I never thought I could be interested in a book about a fat guy and sumo wrestling. When I dive into a book to be taken away, those are not my first choices for escape. That said and my shallowness now exposed, let me just say, I loved this book! It was hilarious in places, gut wrenching in others- not a fat joke I swear- and so involving that I forgot it was about a fat guy. Many of us can re...more
Originally I decided to read this because it was written by my friend and fellow Jolly Fish Press author, Jennifer Stewart Griffith. I try to read and endorse books by authors I know. What surprised me was how much I enjoyed this book. It was just delightful!
Buck is a big guy. A really big guy. Like, built like a sumo wrestler big. He has an office-cubicle type job that he hates, though he has a crush on blond, bimbo-ish co-worker. He's waiting to hear about a promotion and the business is makin...more
Buck is a big guy. A really big guy. Like, built like a sumo wrestler big. He has an office-cubicle type job that he hates, though he has a crush on blond, bimbo-ish co-worker. He's waiting to hear about a promotion and the business is makin...more
I'd heard about this book previous to its publication and was intrigued by its premise: a fat, blond, overlooked American guy goes to Japan and ends up becoming a professional sumo wrestler. I was so excited to get it when it came out, and it exceeded all my expectations. I laughed; I cried. Then I laughed some more. Buck is such an underdog, and the sport (which, I admit, I knew very little about) is brutal to newcomers. But his goodness and hard work help him to triumph in unexpected ways. One...more
I highly recommend the novel, Big in Japan, by Jennifer Griffith, a mixed-genre story that pulls the reader into the interesting life of a stranger in modern-day Japan. The story has mystery, adventure, romance, and humor in near equal doses, presented in a story that hooked me and kept me reading to the end. Buck Cooper was a big Texas kid, who became an even bigger man. His size and weight had dominated his life, and not in a good way. He is a good-hearted person, intelligent, and witty, with...more
WHAT MY STARS MEAN:
5 Stars--the book had a profound impact on me. It touched me on some special level and lingered with me long after I'd finished reading it.
4 Stars--I loved this book. If I don't own it, I will buy it so I can read it again and again.
3 Stars--I enjoyed the book but may have had an issue or two with it.
2 Stars--I had more than a few issues with it.
1 Stars--I hated it.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Buck Cooper doesn't remember when he became invisible. It was probably around the time he hit 300...more
5 Stars--the book had a profound impact on me. It touched me on some special level and lingered with me long after I'd finished reading it.
4 Stars--I loved this book. If I don't own it, I will buy it so I can read it again and again.
3 Stars--I enjoyed the book but may have had an issue or two with it.
2 Stars--I had more than a few issues with it.
1 Stars--I hated it.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Buck Cooper doesn't remember when he became invisible. It was probably around the time he hit 300...more
Read it ASAP!
Let’s just take a moment to marvel at the glory that is the premise for this book…. Because it’s as awesome as it sounds. I loved every second of this story that takes the reader from a stuffy cubicle in Texas to the excitement of the Sumo ring to the dangerous Sumo underbelly to a first kiss in a garden. I laughed out loud many times, but also found great insight and depth. Buck, the main character is incredibly endearing with a genuine sense of humor, unfailing integrity and real...more
Let’s just take a moment to marvel at the glory that is the premise for this book…. Because it’s as awesome as it sounds. I loved every second of this story that takes the reader from a stuffy cubicle in Texas to the excitement of the Sumo ring to the dangerous Sumo underbelly to a first kiss in a garden. I laughed out loud many times, but also found great insight and depth. Buck, the main character is incredibly endearing with a genuine sense of humor, unfailing integrity and real...more
Big in Japan is a fun and fast paced book. You can't help loving Buck because it's nice to have somebody whose just so gosh darn nice all the time, no matter what. Plus getting to see Japan in an everyday life sort of setting is very interesting. I loved the romance between Buck and Chocho and the wonderful characters that Buck interacts with throughout the book. This is a fun and interesting read!
This was a different, but interesting, story about a really big guy from Texas who finds himself sort of accidentally training as a sumo wrestler in Japan. I was definitely rooting for the hero, who was very likable, and cringed at some of the training and brutal hazing he was put through. Some parts of the story seemed a bit far-fetched and coincidental, but it was a great underdog story!
Don't bother with this one. I'm surprised that I finished it myself. Oddly, it came highly recommended as one of the "must read" books of 2012 in the newspaper. All I can say to that is, "Why?" I mean, seriously. Okay, so maybe the IDEA of the book might be amusing, but the writing was very amateur. I felt like I was back in 9th grade reading all that mormon fiction (which I refuse to acknowledge that I actually read here on goodreads). The writing was that-bad. Even the some-what promising stor...more
This is one of the most engaging books I've read in a long time. I loved it! It's unique in a good way--I don't think I've read anything quite like it before. It's an off-beat, almost quirky story that really moved me. It's got something for everyone--a romance, action, interesting characters, you name it.
Sumo. A brand new world to me. And I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. The heart of the story lies in Buck Cooper, a 400 lbs Texan, who suddenly finds himself in a sumo match. It follows his struggle to break into an impossible world (for a blonde-haired American)and rise in the ranks of Sumo. His integrity and determination made my heart melt and cheer for him through the horrible hazing, impossible odds, and injustice that happens all around him and even to him. Buck Cooper is my new he...more
Loved it!
I've said it before, but I'll say it again, characters really make a book for me. And the characters in Big In Japan, all of them, just jumped off the page.
The story line wasn't as light-hearted as I thought it would be. I found myself getting angry several times and feeling so bad for Buck I wanted to hug him. But with everything he went through you could see his character grow and I loved him even more!
This book is definitely worth your time!
I've said it before, but I'll say it again, characters really make a book for me. And the characters in Big In Japan, all of them, just jumped off the page.
The story line wasn't as light-hearted as I thought it would be. I found myself getting angry several times and feeling so bad for Buck I wanted to hug him. But with everything he went through you could see his character grow and I loved him even more!
This book is definitely worth your time!
Full Review Herehttp://morganhagey.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-big-in-japan-by-jennifer.html
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Jennifer was one of my roommates from my DC days PLUS I have a love for Japan from my high school days. So it started as an indulgent read for me, but I truly think it's a book anyone would enjoy.
Ok, this book was just such a fun read! I felt like I was actually in Japan and experiencing everything with the main character. As witty as it was, there was also a mysterious element that had me in high anticipation. Fabulous!
This book isn't actually released yet. I read an Advance review copy. It's different, but I loved it.
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Writing: good.
Storytelling: good.
Depiction of Japan: error strewn.
Storytelling: good.
Depiction of Japan: error strewn.
Interesting look at sumo and Japan! Fun book and enjoyable read.
Fresh, exciting & fascinating!
How can you not be a fan of Buck! It was fun to read about his transformation and loved that he stayed true to himself through it all. (A little more info about professional Sumo than I had bargained for), but all in all a good read.
Interesting story about a very tall, overweight American guy named Buck who takes a trip to Japan and through a series of weird events becomes a Sumo wrestling star. The story was very different and moved along pretty quickly, and Buck was a likable main character. I was entertained and learned a little about Japan and a lot about Sumo. Makes me want to find some Sumo on ESPN45 at 3:00a.m. and watch it.
This book took me awhile to get into, but it is a unique plot line and I really liked the ending.
I was disappointed. I like the story concept, and I'm always game for reading about other cultures, but the writing was too corny, and the plot too predictable. Anytime the underlying love story came into play, it read like a teen romance novel (clean, and good morals, but too much fluff). I would recommend this to teens who are more interested in storyline than rich writing.
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I had high hopes from the great reviews. And then after I started I couldn't figure out how it got such high reviews. Realized only 17 people had reviewed it. So I was sucked in by the family and friend reviewers without realizing it. Not well written. Sweet premise and certainly a lovable main character. Needed a better editor.
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Jennifer Griffith, moderately bad housekeeper, and her husband live in the Arizona desert where they are raising their five children. At 5'1" she is far too short to ever consider sumo wrestling.
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