How to Be an American Housewife

A Novel

De: Margaret Dilloway

Narrado por: Laural Merlington, Emily Durante

How to Be an American Housewife is a novel about mothers and daughters and the pull of tradition. It tells the story of Shoko, a Japanese woman who married an American GI, and her grown daughter, Sue, a divorced mother whose life as an American housewife hasn't been what she'd expected. When illness prevents Shoko from traveling to Japan, she asks Sue to go in her place. The trip reveals family secrets that change their lives in dramatic and unforeseen ways.

Offering an entertaining glimpse into American and Japanese family lives and their potent aspirations, this is a warm and engaging novel full of unexpected insight.

©2010 Margaret Dilloway (P)2010 Tantor

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Dilloway splits her narrative gracefully between mother and daughter (giving Shoko the first half, Sue the second), making a beautifully realized whole." (Publishers Weekly)

Well told tale!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you like family sagas this one is right up there. If you enjoy Oriental tales, this is for you.

What about Laural Merlington and Emily Durante ’s performance did you like?

Accents were great.

How to be an American Housewife

Would you consider the audio edition of How to Be an American Housewife to be better than the print version?

Yes

What was one of the most memorable moments of How to Be an American Housewife?

I enjoyed the entire book. Having served in the Navy and stationed in Japan I enjoyed memories - that her descriptions of japan and japanese culture evoked.

Have you listened to any of Laural Merlington and Emily Durante ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I haven't but now would consider reading more their books.

Fun Reading

What did you love best about How to Be an American Housewife?

This was a fun book to read, full of laughs. It had a great story line. There was the sad side of life along with the fun side of life. A peek at an "outsider" views America.

Any additional comments?

I loved this book.

Excellent - Good prose, great story!

If you could sum up How to Be an American Housewife in three words, what would they be?

Good generational read

Who was your favorite character and why?

The elder mother - I really like her perspective

What about Laural Merlington and Emily Durante ’s performance did you like?

Laural did a fabulous job of negotiating the non-native English that the mom speaks, and the internal dialogue that she thinks. Emily did a nice job of conveying the younger woman's ernestness

I truly enjoyed this one!

What did you love best about How to Be an American Housewife?

The mother daughter relationship was so touching.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The mother. She helps one see the complexity of people... you can't judge a book by it's cover. This goes for our own parents and grandparents too.

Have you listened to any of Laural Merlington and Emily Durante ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Made me want to call my mother

What did you love best about How to Be an American Housewife?

I have always loved the Aisian culture and history. I loved the details about the mother's life in Japan and her culture. I could easily visualize her village and her as a child. I love books that I don't have to strain to visualize the settings.

What other book might you compare How to Be an American Housewife to and why?

This book would compare to just about any of Amy Tan's books. It put me in mind of either The Joy Luck Club or The Bone Setter's Daughter which are two of my favorite books.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Sue and Helena got to Japan for the first time in their life

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were too many moments that moved me to mention. The entire book gave me this overwhelming feeling of missing my mother. My mother passed away many years ago. I listened to this story of a mother who had so many things to tell her daughter before she died and each time she tried it always came out as a criticism or sounding like she was disappointed in her daughter. I found myself wondering if this is how my mother felt in the remaining months of her life. This book really hit home for me. I think many mothers and daughters will be moved by this book.

Simple and Beautiful

What did you like best about this story?

The characters were real, easy to connect with even if you haven't lived through what they have. They make you care, enough so that I teared up.

Which character – as performed by Laural Merlington and Emily Durante – was your favorite?

by far the second half with Helena and Sue. I adored the first half as well but there was just something about the mother daughter dynamic of them that made me smile.

Any additional comments?

Mature and enchanting. I am a very picky listener and this is to my liking.

I Loved Shoko

This was an easy read that kept me interested but some of the wording in Sue’s section read corny in areas. I loved Shoko. She was a strong and interesting character. She was a real woman full of love, good intentions, mistakes and redemption. As a San Diegian I wanted to love the book. I’m still glad I read the book.

Different aftermath perspective of Vitenam War

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely enlightening.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The American housewife had an honest approach and sense of humor.

What does Laural Merlington and Emily Durante bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Their wit.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Ask a survivor's wife...

All Women Must Listen

What did you love best about How to Be an American Housewife?

The story captures not just emigrant mothers and American daughters, but all mother daughter relationship. The author did a great deal of research with the military aspect of the story, she used the correct terminologies. She also did a great job capturing the essence of all mother daughter issues.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It was predictable.

What about Laural Merlington and Emily Durante ’s performance did you like?

The voice contrast and the accent was a great transition tool. I liked their performance.

If you could rename How to Be an American Housewife, what would you call it?

I wouldn't the title works.

Any additional comments?

Though the main character was Japanese I think the typical emigrant military wife could appreciate this book. I think it is hard to be a military wife but even harder to be foreign to our culture and way of life.