We meet Shoko and her American husband Charlie in their retirement years. Shoko is Japanese born, but married Charlie at the end of the war. She survived the bombing of Nagasaki, but her heart has been affected. As her future is not certain, she decides it is time to deal with the past at last. In the first part of the book, through flashbacks and memories, we learn of Shoko's childhood, her dreams, her secrets and what reality, her parents and society dictated she must do.
She is estranged from her brother Taro, having neither seen nor spoken to him
for the 50 years she has lived in the States. Unable to make the trip, she asks her daughter Sue to make the trip for her. Sue agrees and takes along her teenage daughter Helena. Their trip is the focus of the second part of the book.
Every chapter in the book is prefaced by an excerpt from a fictional book called 'How to Be an American Housewife'. Some of the excerpts are downright funny, but some are heartbreaking. An early one reads -
"When you marry and integrate with Americans, it is only natural not to have friends. Most American women will dislike you. Perhaps looking for other Japanese women will be possible, but probably not. Expect to be alone much of the time. Children help relieve this melancholy."
Shoko's life in America is very much different - the food, the language, the customs and so much more. With political sentiment running high, she is never really accepted. Shoko stays true to herself though, coming up with some truly memorable lines...
"I kept my head high and said Hello! It didn't matter whether peple said hello back or not. I was holding up my end. What they did was their own business."
Shoko's son Mike and daughter Sue also find acceptance difficult as they are 'mixed.' Charlie is truly a 'good guy' though. I wish more of his feelings and thoughts had been explored as well as those of Mike.
But the true focus of the book is the relationship between mothers and daughters - Shoko and her mother, Shoko and Sue, Sue and Helena. Shoko did not agree with the path laid out for her but acquiesced to her parent's wishes. Sue finally has the opportunity to discover and explore her heritage. As the youngest generation, Helena shines with her acceptance of everyone and everything.
Dilloway's personal story is what made this debut novel such a poignant read. Dilloway's own mother was a Japanese war bride who did pass away from heart related illness. The fictionalized how to manual is based upon a book her father gave her mother to help her with her new life. I wonder how much of Sue is from Margaret's own life. An impressive debut from a new voice - I look forward to her next novel.
This would be a great selection for a book club. A reading guide is already done for you. You can find Margaret on Twitter and on her blog. Margaret is on tour with TLC Book Tours this month - check out the other stops.
And I have a copy to giveaway!! Simply comment to be entered. Open to Canada and the US, no po boxes please. Ends Sat. Aug 7th at 6 pm EST.
This would be a great selection for a book club. A reading guide is already done for you. You can find Margaret on Twitter and on her blog. Margaret is on tour with TLC Book Tours this month - check out the other stops.
And I have a copy to giveaway!! Simply comment to be entered. Open to Canada and the US, no po boxes please. Ends Sat. Aug 7th at 6 pm EST.
91 comments:
I love this kind of story but dont enter me as I am overseas. This sounds a really interesting book.
This sounds good. Please enter me.
This book looks fantastic! Thank you!!!
Very nice review, Luanne. I don't need to be entered in the contest as I have a copy of this book, but I'm looking forward to reading it even more now.
This book sounds fascinating - I enjoy mother/daughter stories, and stories about war brides. Thanks for the giveaway.
lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com
I love stories that allow me to explore a different culture, so I would love to be entered to win this one!
jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com
This does sound like an amazing book and I would love a chance to read it.
Margay1122(at)aol(dot)com
This sounds fabulous! You have to have very deep love for someone to leave your culture and join them in theirs. Please enter me. milou2ster(at)gmail.com
this sounds really interesting!
Luanne great review. I have this down on my wishlist and would love to enter this contest please include me.
cindysloveofbooksATgmailDOTcom
Sounds awesome! Please enter me.
littleone AT shaw DOT ca
Hi Luanne, terrific review! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
I read this book on vacation last week and just loved it-probably my favorite book of the year. I found myself moved to tears on more than one occasion. It held personal meaning for me as my stepdad is Japanese and the Shoko character reminded me so much of his mother, a woman I loved dearly who passed away recently.
Thank you so much for being on this tour! We truly appreciate it.
Great review. It certainly made me want to read the book. Thanks for the giveaway.
forwhlz at gmail dot com
This sounds like an amazing book to read on a hot summer day! Thanks for the chance!
freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca
It seems like my kind of book.
kzupancic[at]yahoo[dot]com
No need to enter me, babe. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.
Sounds like a wonderful book - please enter me.
Hi-- the author here. Thanks so much for reading and entering! Hope you enjoy the book. Feel free to stop by my website, ask me questions, friend me on Facebook. I'm also available for reading groups (thank goodness for Skype).
Hi-- the author here. Thanks so much for reading and entering! Hope you enjoy the book. Feel free to stop by my website, ask me questions, friend me on Facebook. I'm also available for reading groups (thank goodness for Skype).
The storyline sounds just so interesting, I would love to win it.
I really enjoyed the review.
cenya2 at hotmail dot com
What a nice review, it sounds like a book I'd really like to read. Thanks for the chance.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you for entering me. =)
tiredwkids at live dot com
This sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
Looks great. Please enter me.
I follow on gfc
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
This sounds like a really good book!
billiondollarprincesss@hotmail.com
This looks like a beautifully written book -I'd love a chance to read it!
baileythebookworm[at]gmail.com
Looks like a good one! Please enter me!
j.t.oldfield[at]gmail.com
No need to enter me, as I'm part of the tour. Just wanted to stop by and say I'm glad to see you enjoyed it. I'm really looking forward to reading it.
My husband and I are from different cultures so I always enjoy a book on this topic.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
This books sounds like it is a good read.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I'd love to be entered - this looks like a great summer read!
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow your blog with google friend connect
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com
This sounds interesting, thanks!
This sounds like an interesting book that I'd like to read. Please enter me in the giveaway.
abfantom at yahoo dot com
This sounds like a great read, and I agree it would be perfect for a book club. Please enter me in your giveaway!
candc320@gmail.com
I have been dying to read this book!
choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com
I love books like this one, they just suck me in and I don't want to get up from my cuddly reading spot.
Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
georgiabloom316 at gmail dot com
This is a book I would find very interesting! Thanks.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Please enter me in the contest. Thank you!
peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sounds good! Please count me in. Thank you!
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
Would love to read this.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com
This one looks really good. Please enter me in the giveaway.
justpeachy36@yahoo.com
This storey sound sweet in a way
tjfirth@yahoo.com
Even today there are cultural differences and, in some places, barriers that are difficult to overcome (on both sides of the globe). "How to be an American Housewife" sounds like a very interesting study of this phenomenom.
I love reading about women from other cultures!
smchester at gmail dot com
You're right, this does sound like my book club would like this one.
Please enter me,thanks
ruthiekb72@yahoo.com
I'd like to enter, please.
ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca
I would love to read How to Be an American Housewife -- it reminds me of my parents' story :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com
This story sounds riveting. I don't think I could ever read enough stories about mothers & daughters. The cover is so pretty too!
Thank you!
~ Amy
Aimala127@gmail.com
I would absolutely love to read this. It sounds incredible. Thanks for hosting this! =)
misusedinnocence@aol.com
I would like to be entered. Thanks!
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance.
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
A book about assimilation (or not) is bound to be interesting.
This sounds very moving as it's based on the author's family.
Count me in, please.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Looks so good. Thanks for the giveaway.
s.mickelson at gmail dot com
This sounds like the kind of book I would enjoy reading.
kerrie@mayansfamily.com
Great Giveaway!!
vidishamun@gmail.com
Please enter me
hawkes(at)citlink.net
Please enter me in the giveaway. "How to Be an American Housewife" sounds intriguing. Thanks! 006andaHalf
laurielamb@comcast.net
This sounds like something I would enjoy reading. Enter me please.
Please enter me. I'd like to win this one!
meredithfl at gmail dot com
Sounds fantastic! Please enter me.
jchaborek[at]hotmail[dot]com
Sounds good! I would love to read it!
Please enter me. Thank you!
alittlepieceofheaven777(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thank you for the entry :D
Interesting sounding book. Thanks for the chance
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
Thanks for the chance to win this - you make it sound like a very good book to read!
janicecrespo@gmail.com
i love multigenerational stories...please count me in for this one...
k_sunshine1977 at yahoo dot com
My kind of book!
jednc @ hotmail . com
Sounds like a good book!
girlygirljess52207@yahoo.com
Sounds like a great book! Very interesting look at culture : )
-Becky
beckyspoolstra at gmail.com
Sounds like a great read!
shawnac68@hotmail.com
Sounds like a very interesting read.
sounds like the kind of book my friend and i like to read and shair
Thanks for the great review! I would love to be entered to read this book :) thanks again
Please count me in.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Looking like a good book. Please enter me. Enjoyed your review. Thanks for the chance to win!
lknott@partnercom.net
I'd love to read this-thanks!
Sounds like a read designed to help us examine our own faults and prejudices, to help us see things from another's perspective. Thanks!
Sign me up to win and to read it during book club! Sounds like a good one.
It sounds like a most interesting book. I want to read it. garrettsambo@aol.com
Wow, I want to know..
Diane Baum esldiane@gmail.com
klp1965@myfairpoint.net
Thank you for the Great giveaway please count me in :)
I would love to read this!
Sounds great! Count me in!
krista_megan@yahoo.com
This looks entertaining
This sounds like a wonderful book!
Oh, I'd love to read this book. Thanks :)
i would love to read this
susansmoaks at gmail dot com
I would like to read this!
theyyyguy@yahoo.com
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