A review by jsh626
How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway

4.0

I was very pleasantly surprised by this random library pick of mine, because my random picks usually turn out poorly. How to Be an American Housewife is an engaging and poignant story about a Japanese woman who marries an American soldier at the end of WWII and her silent struggle to be accepted by the cultures of both their families. Based loosely on the author's own mother and her experiences, I was drawn into this story right from the start. I love how each chapter starts with snippets from a fictional book (but again, based on an actual book) that gives Japanese wives step by step instructions on how to assimilate. Wonderful details about Japan and the relationship between an American raised daughter and her very traditional Japanese mother. The story gets a little bogged down toward the end, but still a great read.