I laughed out loud several times while reading this memoir, in the funny parts
at the beginning, when Lisa finds herself puzzled and unable to understand
the language and her surroundings in her temporary new home, Japan.
A newly married and relatively spoilt 30 year old woman, a J.A.P. (Jewish-American Princess), the author negotiates her way around her
temporary home in Nagoya, Japan, finding out she has to do housework
she had never had to do back in L.A. - laundry with a vengeful,
outmoded washing machine, cooking at home, taking public transportation,
going shopping without knowing the language, and finding friends
among adults and even among schoolgirls who scream with excitement every time they see her - the Meg Ryan look-alike and possible celebrity.
Lisa makes it amusing, and later finds that adjusting to living in a foreign country changes her a bit and even strengthens her relationship with her husband Peter. Her advice to anyone who has a chance to live abroad for a while - do it!
A fun read. I finished in two sittings : Japan Took the J.A.P. Out of Me by Lisa Fineberg Cook
Thanks to Simon & Schuster for a review copy of this book.
I must read this!! I was an exchange student in Japan 1987....this sounds fun!
ReplyDeleteStaci: Would love to know how much "culture shock" you had, if any.
ReplyDeleteGood advice, as we found when we moved here.
ReplyDeleteSo, was this a memoir? It sounds pretty good. I haven't read much before about Japan. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteSue
Liked your review... I did the review too, a litlle while back, here it is:
ReplyDeletehttp://sumanam.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/japan-took-the-j-a-p-out-of-me-by-lisa-f-cook-my-review/
and thanks for being my follower at masalabowl, though i have changed the whole look of the site and from today I will be blogging there everyday as well........
This sounds like a really fun read! Maybe a fun gift for someone travelling to Japan.
ReplyDelete