[Subdue] My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki 5 stars

[Sue]

Jane Takagi-Little is a Japanese-American documentary maker who jumps at the chance to direct episodes for a Japanese TV show about American housewives cooking meat. The show is sponsored by the beef import industry in Japan and is intended to increase beef consumption in Japan.

As Jane progresses through various episodes, she gradually learns disturbing facts about meat production that lead her farther and farther from the show's sponsor's intentions. Ultimately Jane has a harrowing, life-altering experience in a slaughterhouse. Fair warning - those scenes are intense and disturbing.

There is a parallel story line following Akiko Ueno, a Japanese housewife, target audience for the TV program and wife of the head of the ad campaign for the beef industry.

And a sub-story through the whole book follows both Jane's and Akiko's inability to conceive a child. Eventually Jane and Akiko's paths cross with startling results.

This was a very complex story. I loved how the author was able to weave all the threads together and really loved the ending.

[NancyJ]

I really liked this one too, and the ending was wonderful. I'm so glad you liked it! I thought a lot about Akiko and her awful husband last month while reading Japanese books. Every once in a while I remember some random detail from this book, such as the little girl affected by hormones, or the Kudzu (sp?), and the great singing in the audio.

[Sue]

I'm glad you liked this one too Nancy! And I agree the singing in the audio was great. I especially loved how Akiko tried to recreate some of the experiences from songs at the end.