"My Year of Meats" is a novel about a documentarian/television show director whose work draws her into an intriguing study of the meat processing business. The story follows two women, Jane and Akiko. Jane is the director of the Japanese television show My American Wife, whose tough exterior and battles with health draw both criticism and sympathy. Akiko is a mistreated Japanese housewife whose character is slowly developed as she struggles throughout the story to escape her angry and demanding husband John. These two women are connected through the television show in multiple ways. For example, John is the head of the meat processing company who sponsors Jane's television show. He also forces his wife Akiko to watch the weekly show and take notes on the different meals prepared. Not only does Akiko learn about meat recipes through watching the show, but she also discovers the complex and desirable lifestyles that the "American wives" live. Jane's life back in America consists of filming the show, researching the effects of chemicals in meat, and dealing with a miscarriage and lackluster relationships with her "boyfriend" Sloan and her mother.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters in it were well developed when they needed to be and this is one of the few books I've read in which the characters actually evoked real emotion out of me. I felt a lot of sympathy for the characters, especially Akiko because of her abusive relationship. The odd thing is that I would also become angry with Akiko because she chose over and over again to comply with whatever her husband asked of her. She did not stick up for herself and this irritated me. I think that i grew to dislike her character at times just as much as I disliked her abusive husband John. He was extremely selfish and rude. Jane was a very complex character. She kept most of her feelings bottled up inside and that gave her a tough exterior. But deep down she was vulnerable and just wanted to be accepted. I did feel sorry for her. When she experienced her miscarriage, I felt very sympathetic towards her. Because of complications within her reproductive system, she wasn't even supposed to have children. When she found out she indeed was pregnant it was a welcome surprise. All of the characters seem to go through roller coasters of emotions and this book prompts the reader to do so also.
I also found the symbol of meat throughout the story to be very interesting. First, the meat seemed to be a good object because it was the basis for Jane and John's t.v. show. Plus, it was supposed to help nourish Akiko back to health, re-establish her menstrual cycle, and bring about prosperity. As the story continues, meat seems to represent the harsher realities of life. For instance, processed meat often carries the chemicals that caused Jane to not be able to have children. It also serves as the subject of a t.v. show that John forces his wife to watch and eat, (ie: it fosters their unhealthy relationship). It also is too harsh on Akiko's stomach and makes her sick all of the time. Honestly I don't know how Ruth Ozeki wishes her readers to view this symbol by the end of her novel. It seems to have picked up quite a negative connotation by the end of the story. My tendency would be to brush it off as something negative and undesirable. That's just my opinion.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I would definitely recommend it.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
"Happiness" Alternate Ending
This is my alternate ending to Wil Fergusen's novel "Happiness." My ending picks up after chapter fifty-one. At this point, Edwin de Valu is typing Jack McGreary's story "How to be Miserable" as the author dictates it to him.
"How to be Miserable" did not quite catch on as Edwin had predicted. His initial hopes for a revival of misery, controversy, and grumpiness were beginning to fade. Traces of the book's influence could be seen every now and then. Occasionally, one could walk down the street and hear a faint whisper of sarcasm or a snide comment. Edwin was particularly overjoyed one morning, on his way to Panderic Inc., to find a young teenage girl arguing with her mother over a pair of stilettos that she wanted. Eventually, Edwin began to live for those moments, those precious moments of conflict and unrest. Although the world was not nearly perfect, (or shall I say, it WAS nearly perfect), Edwin's life seemed to be taking a turn for the better. Both Jack McGreary and Harry Lopez appeared on television in a desperate attempt to quench the spreading happiness craze. Mr. Ethics was in a 7-Eleven convenience store where he was recognized by the store clerk from a Wanted poster. As swiftly as he escaped, the cookey old doctor was wisked back into his cell. Mr. Mead, the pompous old man, retained his job at Panderic. He still ordered Edwin around, still combed his remaining whisps of greying hair over his shining bald scalp, and still seemed unsatisfied with the success of his company.
Little of this mattered to Edwin. On what he would refer to later as the "best day of his life," Edwin stumbled into work with his dress shirt wrinkled and a hang-over unlike any he had experienced before to find a note placed on his desk. The envelop, teetering atop a stack of slush-pile worthy manuscripts and junk mail, was addressed to Edwin in curvy, familiar handwriting. Most importantly, it was marked with a crayola red lipstick print- a kiss Edwin had been dreaming of for months. He slashed open the top of the envelop, heart pounding, and began to read:
At this, Edwin was taken aback. He had been dreaming about a letter like this for many months. Now that it had come, he didn't quite know what to think. Sitting down, he began to write his response.
The following morning, Edwin walked down to the post office. Letter in hand, he sauntered up to the drop-off bin. He lifted its lid and gingerly slid the letter inside. Then, he walked away, not looking back. On to Panderic Inc. he trudged. He still had his own manuscript "Die Baby-Boomers, Die!" that needed some editing. That book, he had a feeling, was going to be a tremendous, best-selling hit.
"How to be Miserable" did not quite catch on as Edwin had predicted. His initial hopes for a revival of misery, controversy, and grumpiness were beginning to fade. Traces of the book's influence could be seen every now and then. Occasionally, one could walk down the street and hear a faint whisper of sarcasm or a snide comment. Edwin was particularly overjoyed one morning, on his way to Panderic Inc., to find a young teenage girl arguing with her mother over a pair of stilettos that she wanted. Eventually, Edwin began to live for those moments, those precious moments of conflict and unrest. Although the world was not nearly perfect, (or shall I say, it WAS nearly perfect), Edwin's life seemed to be taking a turn for the better. Both Jack McGreary and Harry Lopez appeared on television in a desperate attempt to quench the spreading happiness craze. Mr. Ethics was in a 7-Eleven convenience store where he was recognized by the store clerk from a Wanted poster. As swiftly as he escaped, the cookey old doctor was wisked back into his cell. Mr. Mead, the pompous old man, retained his job at Panderic. He still ordered Edwin around, still combed his remaining whisps of greying hair over his shining bald scalp, and still seemed unsatisfied with the success of his company.
Little of this mattered to Edwin. On what he would refer to later as the "best day of his life," Edwin stumbled into work with his dress shirt wrinkled and a hang-over unlike any he had experienced before to find a note placed on his desk. The envelop, teetering atop a stack of slush-pile worthy manuscripts and junk mail, was addressed to Edwin in curvy, familiar handwriting. Most importantly, it was marked with a crayola red lipstick print- a kiss Edwin had been dreaming of for months. He slashed open the top of the envelop, heart pounding, and began to read:
Dear Edwin,
I cannot express to you how many versions of this letter are crumpled up
in my garbage can. I hope that this attempt will serve its purpose.
The last time that you saw me, I rejected your offer. You wished me to join you
on your journey, to run away and escape this joyful mess-of-a-world. I said no, rejected
you and fled on my own quest for everlasting bliss. I have only now come to
realize that the very thing I was searching for was in you all along. I cannot say that
I love you Edwin, because I still don't know if what I feel is truely love.
All I can say is that I need to find out. I need to explore our relationship further.
I want to give us a chance, and I'm hoping that you do too.
Sincerely,
May
The following morning, Edwin walked down to the post office. Letter in hand, he sauntered up to the drop-off bin. He lifted its lid and gingerly slid the letter inside. Then, he walked away, not looking back. On to Panderic Inc. he trudged. He still had his own manuscript "Die Baby-Boomers, Die!" that needed some editing. That book, he had a feeling, was going to be a tremendous, best-selling hit.
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