Reviews

My Year of Meat by Ruth Ozeki

ayuserious's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ari__s's review against another edition

4.0

my highest compliment for this is it was written in the 90s with so much awareness of the world that it reads as contemporary lit in the 2020s.

parkbench's review against another edition

Very conflicted on this one

anikajaneb's review against another edition

4.0

funny and realistically morally mediocre characters and the power of being stubborn and I'm glad I'm vegetarian

malloryhunt's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

benrogerswpg's review against another edition

3.0

Interesting book!

I really enjoyed the narrative on the big meat industry and capitalism.

It definitely had some good moments.

2.9/5

wrenlee's review against another edition

5.0

This book is beautiful. Such a gem. I’m really happy I came back to re-read it, so big shoutout to my book club for forcing me to.

It’s hard to describe everything I love about this book. For one, it’s the split perspective that show two sides of a similar story about pregnancy, autonomy, and female empowerment. And I gotta say I love Akiko’s ending. Just beautiful.

I love how raw Jane’s story is. It’s heartbreaking to read about her fertility issues but so engaging to see how her story ties into the larger one about the meat industry. She deals with so many complex issues such as infertility, sexism in the film and tv industry, being mixed race, sexual liberation and choice, and more. I love her complex relationship with Sloan. I love her grit and tenacity. I love her character arc where she gains agency and determination.

And the whole documentary aspect, both with the fictional My American Wife show and the truths revealed through the book itself, is wonderful. Each wife is just fabulous, showing the diversity in America. And I mean that for real.

I was so close to tears reading this book, not just because of the content but also because of its message. This book came out swinging with its perspective on life, love, and food, and I am here for it. I’d love nothing more than to see this as a tv show. It’d be amazing.

faheemah's review against another edition

dark informative reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

elangowitz's review against another edition

3.0

Wish I could give it 3.5 stars--the central characters were compelling and I'm always interested in where Ruth Ozeki's writing will take me, but like others have said, the wheels seemed to come off the wagon a little at the end. It was fun reading her work backwards chronologically: I can see that she has refined her style and become an even better writer over her three novels. Can't wait for her to write more!

pennyreadsthings's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5