serranok's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
dustycabbage's review against another edition
3.0
3.6, Reading this book immediately after Jonathan Safran Foer’s “Eating Animals” made for a fun pairing. Ozeki’s writing style is simple, but captivating, and the dual narrative between Jane and Akiko painted really interesting parallel lives. Each highlight from an American Wife was incredibly unique (I especially loved the vegetarian lesbians) and I enjoyed the buildup from the initial not-so-successful episodes to the culmination of Jane’s efforts to expose the meat industry. The chapter covering the slaughterhouse was quite intense. The insertion of faxes made for a fun medium as well, although the story seemed to drag in pace at a few moments. Overall, a good read.
strawberrymilky's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
hollybop's review against another edition
4.0
Just a heads up to pals, this comes with major trigger warnings including eating disorders, rape, miscarriage and domestic abuse. Proper heavy reading but interesting, I guess. I did enjoy it but it would have been nice to have a little forewarning at the start or something...
annemaries_shelves's review against another edition
I was not jiving with this story - I’m not sure if it’s too weird, poor plot/characters, or me… it’s also been 10 months roughly since I last picked it up so I’m even less certain now the reasons why I’ve stopped. But I just don’t care anymore and kinda dreaded picking it up again. So yeah….
lilynemo's review
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
amymcphrsn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Rape, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Abortion, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
lizshine74's review against another edition
4.0
"Maybe sometimes you have to make things up, to tell truths that alter outcomes." This insight comes from Jane Little in the last paragraphs of the novel. The story follows Jane through one year as a documentarian on a Japanese TV show called My American Wives. The book alternates points of view and incorporates faxes sent and received, plus an academic paper. This books blends humor, horror, and sympathy in such a way that in the end I was deeply moved. There were times where the story seemed driven by the social commentary and I wondered if that was a flaw, by I don't think so in part because Ozeki is aware of that flaw and to tell truths commits it anyway.
tayloryams's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
skylars_shelf's review against another edition
5.0
Ozeki expertly mixes comedy and social commentary in this novel. The storyline itself is bizarre-- Jane is helping direct a TV show that's secretly an advertisement for the Japanese meat industry. According to the producer (who is wild and a giant, puffed-up bit of comic relief), wives in Japan will watch healthy American wives on TV preparing healthy hearty meat. But Jane learns more-- about the real day-to-day experiences of housewives in Japan and about the secrets hiding in the meat industry. Perhaps the criticism of factory livestock farms isn't very subtle, but on the other hand, the dramatizations are all based on real research. Highly recommended.