I’m thrilled to welcome Margaret Dilloway to Diary of an Eccentric today to talk about her debut novel, How to Be an American Housewife (read my review). How to Be an American Housewife is the story of a Japanese woman who married an American GI shortly after World War II and moved to the United States, much to the chagrin of her younger brother, Taro. Years later, Shoko is sick and needs her daughter, Sue, to travel to Japan to make amends with Taro, whom she hasn’t spoken to in decades.
Dilloway based the novel on her mother’s experiences, and while this is explained in more detail in an author’s note at the back of the book, I want to thank her for taking time out of her busy schedule to share some of the story with my readers. Please give a warm welcome to Margaret Dilloway:
My existence has always amazed me. When I think about the difference in the World War II childhoods of my parents — my father growing up the son of a coal miner in rural Pennsylvania, my mother growing up in southern Japan — the chances of me being born are mind-bogglingly small. My parents married in 1958, at a time when interracial marriage was not widely accepted and in fact illegal in many places.
I wanted to incorporate some of my mother’s experiences and the point-of-view of someone like my mother, who is the Shoko character in the book. What expectations would a Japanese mother have for her half-Caucasian daughter? And then, to flip the coin, what is it like to be born an American, into a relatively comfortable life, with a Japanese mother and have those expectations on you?
In the novel, there are many small true moments borne of my mother’s life, and of my life. The general plot, however, I made up. Making the book fiction allowed me to have a bit more psychological distance between me and the themes I wanted to explore.
Thanks, Margaret! I wish you much success and look forward to reading more of your work in the future.
For those of you interested in reading How to Be an American Housewife, the publisher is offering a copy to one lucky reader. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post, include your e-mail address, and tell me your favorite book about mother-daughter relationships or Japanese culture. Because the publisher is shipping the book, this giveaway is open to readers with U.S. and Canada addresses only. This giveaway ends Sunday, August 8, 2010, at 11:59 p.m. EST. The winner will be chosen randomly.
**Please note that this giveaway is now closed**
Thanks to TLC Book Tours for allowing me to participate in the blog tour for How to Be an American Housewife. Click here to check out the other tour dates.
Disclosure: I am an Amazon associate.
© 2010 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
no need to enter me…but thanks for the insight into the book.
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I have this book on my shelf (no need to enter me either). Can’t wait to get to it!
Jill =)
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I’ve read lots of books about mother/daughter relationships but am drawing a blank this morning (too early, LOL!), so I’ll tell you about the most recent book I read about Japanese culture. Not that long ago I read “If You Follow Me” by Malena Watrous, about an American living in Japan, and found the cultural differences fascinating! I especially loved their laws about garbage and waste, they’re a very conservative culture and it’s something that I think we should strive for!
I would love to read this book. Every time I read a new review (there have been a lot lately!) I want to read it even more!
jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com
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Oh my gosh, I’m dying to get my hands on a copy of this book. I loved Hero Mama by Karen Spears Zacharias. It’s the story of Karen’s relationship with her mother after her father was killed in Vietnam. The book has actually been re-titled now and I can’t remember it’s new name. Please enter me. milou2ster(at)gmail.com
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What a great guest post…I am really looking forward to reading this book. No need to enter me as I have one for review at home.
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thanks for the guest post!
I would love to be entered to win a copy of this book especially after reading all the great reviews. My favorite mother/daughter book was probably The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan.
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[…] is open to US and Canadian residents and you must enter HERE by August 8 to […]
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No need to enter me — I posted this on win a book for you.
http://winabook.westofmars.com/2010/07/29/how-to-be-an-american-housewife-by-margaret-dilloway-2/
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Hmm…I think that my favorite Japanese culture book is Memoirs of a Geisha. Probably Joy Luck Club for mom/daughter relationships…I bet you’ll get those for both answers a lot!
Thanks for the contest!
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Oh no… now that I think of it. I think the only book I’ve read involving Japanese culture is Memoirs of a Geisha. Better fix that… =)
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I loved Memoirs of a Geisha! I can’t recall any others I have read offhand.
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Our book club read & discussed ‘Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet’ by Jamie Ford. It’s a wonderful book about a Japanese father-son relationship during WWII.
ruthiekb72@yahoo.com
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This book sounds wonderful. My favorite mother/daughter relationship comes from the Into the Wilderness series by Sara Donati. Elizabeth’s relationship with her step-daughter Hannah is beautiful. Thanks for the giveaway. This book has been on my wish list.
lcbrower(at)cableone(dot)net
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I have heard so many good reviews about this book.
I think my favorite fiction book was Memoirs of a Geisha, particularly because it was written by a man but from the point of view of a geisha.
However, Letters from Iwa Jima the memoir of stories that Clint Eastwood made into a movie blew me away. Especially since I had also read Flags of Our Fathers prior to that.
tekeygirl at gmail dot com
Thanks for the contest opportunity.
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Favorite book about Japanese culture is Shogun- an oldie but goodie. I lived in Japan for 5 years and would love to have this one.
tbranco AT hughes DOT net
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Oh, I really want to read this book!
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Great post. I’ve heard such good things about this book 🙂
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Hello I cannot believe the summer is already into August. Please enter me I want this book on my shelf.
thank you
How are you liking wordpress? What made you change?
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Yes I know I a replying to to myself-I forgot the second half. I cannot remember the title but I read a book last year about a Japanese female spy that I loved. I read another book that took place during the war. Sorry I cannot remember the names.
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I remembered One of them is call The Samurai’s Garden.
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Probably The Joy Luck Club. Thanks for the contest! 🙂
misusedinnocence@aol.com
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This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered and/or publicized the giveaway, and thanks for all the book recommendations! The winner will be chosen randomly and announced shortly.
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