My Year of Meats

Why does the scene on page 63, featuring Bobby Martinez and his pig, Supper, cause Akiko to cry? What past experiences, influences, and associations cause Akiko to have this reaction?

Using the relationships depicted in the novel as well as the portrayal of marriage on My American Wife! discuss what the novel has to say about the institution of marriage, including the differences between the concept of marriage in Japan and the United States.

How does sexism shape the path of Jane’s and Akiko’s lives?

In what ways do photography and film influence contemporary life in the U.S.? What does My Year of Meats suggest about the connection between media and life?

How is global capitalism depicted in the novel?

Jane and Akiko are the novel’s primary protagonists, but male characters play an important role as well. How does Ozeki present masculinity in My Year of Meats? 

Jane’s relationship with her mother is not demonstrably affectionate, yet there are several instance of strong maternal figures in My Year of Meats. How is motherhood depicted in the novel? 

My Year of Meats was published in 1999. Choose one of its main topics—global capitalism, the meat industry, media—and discuss how it is still relevant. What has changed and what has stayed the same?