My Year of Meat

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At first glance, a novel exposing the unethical practices of the American meat industry may not top your reading list, but Ruth Ozeki's debut is worth a second look. The protagonist, Jane Takagi-Little, is a Japanese-American documentary filmmaker who, like Ozeki, is invited to work on a Japanese television show aimed at promoting beef consumption. The show, My American Wife!, is designed to suggest that prime rib equals a perfect family, with a list of desirable traits including attractiveness, delicious meat recipes, and an obedient family. Initially, Jane sees the project as a dream, traveling across the U.S. to film different families, with an emphasis on bizarre meat recipes. However, as she learns more about the beef industry’s use of synthetic oestrogens on cattle, she decides to sabotage the show. Meanwhile, in Tokyo, Akiko Ueno endures a dull life with her brutish husband, who oversees the show’s advertising. After watching one of Jane's subversive episodes featuring a vegetarian couple, Akiko reaches out, and the two women conspire to expose the meat industry's hazardous practices. With romance, humor, intrigue, and a powerful message, this is a book that even a vegetarian would love.