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.
Download and start listening now!
"Shoko is one of my favorite characters ever. I would read any story she would tell. Bravo, Margaret Dilloway. "
— Lynn (5 out of 5 stars)
Margaret Dilloway is wise and ironic. She has created wonderful characters who never, in spite of hardships, stop finding ways to love each other.
— Luanne Rice, author of The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners" Started out as an excellent read but lost momentum half way - predictable ending, with all loose end neatly tied up so there's no surprises or suspense. Could have done a better job "
— Junaida, 4/27/2011" I liked it - it was well written, easy and fun to read and the story was interesting, except it was a little too neatly wrapped up at the end, in my opinion. "
— Stephanie, 4/26/2011" Just okay. Nothing spectacular but kept my attention. "
— Patty, 3/30/2011" I liked this book a lot! "
— Kathleen, 3/30/2011Margaret Dilloway grew up in San Diego, California, the daughter of a Japanese mother and an American father. A writer since she could wield a pencil, she dabbled in other art forms as well, majoring in studio art at Scripps College. After college, she worked as contributing editor for two weekly newspapers and did some online writing and mystery shopping to bring in income while she watched over her three kids and worked on her fiction.
Laural Merlington is an audiobook narrator with over two hundred titles to her credit and a winner of multiple Earphones Awards. An Audie Award nominee, she has also directed over one hundred audiobooks. She has performed and directed for thirty years in theaters throughout the country. In addition to her extensive theater and voice-over work, she teaches college in her home state of Michigan.