How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway
Published by: Putnam
Published on: August 5, 2010
Page Count: 288
Genre: Women’s Fiction
My Reading Format: ARC sen to me by the publisher to make it possible for me to participate in this book tour
Available Formats: Hardcover and eBook
Today it is my great pleasure to be Margaret Dilloway’s host on his TLC Book Tour for her novel, How to Be an American Housewife.
I have a lot of fun working as a tour host for TLC Book Tours. They always have great books and authors on tour. Check out their website for more information on this tour and the others that they are hosting.
My Review
Shoko came to age in during and just after World War II. It was a difficult time to be a young, unmarried woman in Japan, even if you weren’t a restless soul like she was. She wanted to go to college, but that was both culturally and financially impossible. Instead, she took a job in order to support her bother Taro’s college education. Her experiences there, along with her father’s advise, eventually lead her to taking an American GI for a husband. It is what led up to this decision and her brother’s hatred for America and Americans that put a divide between them stronger than the vast ocean between Japan and America. 40 years later, Shoko’s health is very poor and she wants to make amends with the brother she’s not been in contact with since she left Japan. With few resources available to her, she turns her daughter, Suiko – or Sue – for help.
How to Be an American Housewife has two narrators, Shoko and Sue. However, a majority of the novel is told from Shoko’s perspective. Most chapters and sections begin with an excerpt from a book that Shoko used to assimilate into her new life in the United States which is also called “How to Be an American Housewife.” This structure appealed to me. First, it demonstrated how women are unique, but are tied together by their family relationships. Each woman’s story is different, yet dependent. Second, the pieces of advise for new Japanese brides heading to America was very interesting, both in its perspective of American life post-World War II and the comparisons and similarities between the two cultures. In many ways I would need a similar book if I were to awaken as a housewife back then. I wonder in what ways ”How to Be an American Housewife” would be different if it were written today and how it would be the same.
I truly appreciated how this novel is filled with good people. All human beings are flawed, but not many are just plain evil. People make decisions based upon their life experiences to date and, so long as they are willing, can always change and grow. Shoko’s husband Charlie is a good man, even if he didn’t live up to Shoko’s expectations. Over time she grew to love and accept him just as he did her. Charlie’s philosophy on the past being the past made it possible for Shoko to reach out to Taro whether she realized that or not. It was pleasant to have Charlie there to be her rock when other novels may have made him be another hurdle.
Margaret Dilloway’s novel is about family, relationships and the never ending need for forgiveness. Both Shoko and Sue are interesting characters on their own, but together illustrate the complexities of any mother-daughter relationship. There is definitely a cultural divide between Shoko and Sue, but isn’t there one between all mothers and daughters to some extent? My daughters are in early elementary school and I catch glimpses of the “you just don’t understand” years that are to come.
How to Be an American Housewife is insightful and entertaining. It made me think about how relations between Japan and the United States have improved after what we did to each other during the war. Was it that people on both sides value forgiveness? Economic necessity? All or none of the above? Things feel so much different between Americans and the Middle East now. Will that eventually change as well? At the same time, I enjoyed visiting Japan and listening to Shoko’s stories about her life. Although I would have liked to have seen how Charlie and Taro would have interacted together so long after their first confrontation, How to Be an American Housewife was a satisfying read. It was light enough to be relaxing without being shallow and forgettable.
Margaret Dilloway’s TLC Book Tour Stops
You know what I thought about this novel. Why not see what other bloggers have to say?
Monday, July 12th: Luxury Reading
Tuesday, July 13th: A Bookworm’s World
Wednesday, July 14th: Simply Stacie
Friday, July 16th: Peeking Between the Pages
Monday, July 19th: Life of a Busy Wife
Tuesday, July 20th: At Home with Books
Wednesday, July 21: The Book Faery
Thursday, July 22: Brunette on a Budget
Friday, July 23rd: Bookalicious
Tuesday, July 27: Rundpinne
Wednesday, July 28th: Books, Movies, and Chinese Food
Thursday, July 29th: Diary of an Eccentric
Friday, July 30th: Bookgirl’s Nightstand
Monday, August 2nd: Savvy Verse and Wit
Tuesday, August 3rd: Redlady’s Reading Room
Wednesday, August 4th: The Brain Lair
Thursday, August 5th: Crazy About Books
I’m looking forward to reading my copy of this book. The cover is lovely and it sounds like the content will be to my taste. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Great review! I’ve also often thought about how quickly our relationship with Japan changed after the war. It proves it can happen, as you were suggesting with the Middle East!
I love light and relaxing with a little substance so this sounds fantastic to me.
Sounds like a heartfelt book with enough depth and history to really draw you in. Excellent review.
Excellent review; so thorough! I’m glad you enjoyed the book. You made some excellent points- I esp. liked what you said about how the author made Charlie a good man- a rock and not a hurdle. So true. How many books have we all read where there is just one obstacle after another?? I’m glad he stayed by her and loved her (their) son too.
I loved this book.. read it while on vacation and it was just the perfect thing for me after reading something else that was quite deep and literary, plus I had a personal connection to the subject matter so it really affected me!
Thank you so much for being on the tour and for always being so wonderful!
I think I might have to give this a go. I’ve seen other reviews that varied a bit, but I love this subject matter!
This one looks great, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed this one because I just received it for review last week. I can’t wait to read it!
Oughta be against the law for a writer to look that cute.
Thanks for the great review! I hope you all enjoy it.
What you said about the novel being filled with “good people” brought a smile to my face. It’s nice to read a book where people are essentially good once in a while.
I haven’t read this one yet but that one comment you made stood out. Had to say something about it
Absolutely loved this one! Easily one of my favorite reads of the year. I agree that it would have been nice to see Taro and Charlie reunite — and I wish the ending had been a bit longer. But it was definitely a satisfying book, and I was glad to get some closure from the storyline.
I really enjoyed this book, too. And I like how you mention that the book is full of good people. I liked and disliked each of them here and there, and I like how the author made them authentic, flaws and all.
I hope it’s okay to link to your review on War Through the Generations.
[...] July 22: Brunette on a BudgetFriday, July 23rd: BookaliciousMonday, July 26: The Literate HousewifeTuesday, July 27: RundpinneWednesday, July 28th: Books, Movies, and Chinese FoodThursday, July [...]