logo

37 pages 1 hour read

All I Asking for Is My Body

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1975

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Milton Murayama

All I Asking for Is My Body

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1975
Book Details
Pages

120

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Hawaii • 1930s

Publication Year

1975

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

15-18 years

Lexile Level

820L

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

All I Asking for Is My Body, by Milton Murayama, is a fictionalized autobiography set in the 1930s on a Hawaiian sugar cane plantation, narrated by Kiyoshi Oyama, the American son of Japanese immigrants. The novel contrasts Japanese filial responsibilities with American individualism and addresses the difficulties faced by Japanese Americans at the onset of World War II. The story includes sensitive topics such as familial expectations, the burden of debt, and living conditions during wartime.

Challenging

Melancholic

Contemplative

Gritty

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.2

772 ratings

69%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Milton Murayama’s All I Asking for Is My Body is praised for its authentic portrayal of Japanese American life in Hawaii during the early 20th century. Readers commend its raw, honest language and compelling characters. However, some critics note the narrative's brevity limits deeper character exploration. Overall, it is a vivid and impactful read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read All I Asking for Is My Body?

Readers who appreciate All I Asking for Is My Body by Milton Murayama will likely enjoy literature that explores ethnic identity, family dynamics, and socioeconomic struggles. Fans of Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club or Maxine Hong Kingston’s The Woman Warrior may find similar thematic richness and cultural depth in Murayama’s work.

4.2

772 ratings

69%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

120

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Hawaii • 1930s

Publication Year

1975

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

15-18 years

Lexile Level

820L

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.