I Would Meet You Anywhere

A Memoir (Machete)

By: Susan Kiyo Ito

Narrated by: Kathleen Li

Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Growing up with adoptive nisei parents, Susan Kiyo Ito knew only that her birth mother was Japanese American and her father White. But finding and meeting her birth mother in her early 20s was only the beginning of her search for answers, history, and identity. Though the two share a physical likeness, an affinity for ice cream, and a relationship that sometimes even feels familial, there is an ever-present tension between them, as a decades-long tug-of-war pits her birth mother’s desire for anonymity against Ito’s need to know her origins, to see and be seen. Along the way, Ito grapples with her own reproductive choices, the legacy of the Japanese American incarceration experience during World War II, and the true meaning of family. An account of love, what it’s like to feel neither here nor there, and one writer’s quest for the missing pieces that might make her feel whole, I Would Meet You Anywhere is the stirring culmination of Ito’s decision to embrace her right to know and tell her own story.

©2023 Ohio State University Press (P)2023 Susan Kiyo Ito

Brave & Beautiful

Susan Kiyo Ito's story as a biracial domestic adoptee raised in a Japanese American family is a heartfelt and necessary addition to both Adoptee and Asian American Lit. With much relatability and grace, she bravely portrays her ongoing adoptee journey through grief and gratitude while navigating themes of identity, secrecy, and rejection. She generously shares the complexities of loving and being loved by her adoptive parents while coping with loss and detachment from her roots. Her writing style is so wonderfully honest and real that you feel like you're right there with her each step of the way. I wanted to hug her through the rough moments and cheer with glee through her more tender times. While these stories can be rife with triggers and hard on emotions, I felt she took care with the pacing and craft in ways that never left me too overwhelmed. As a fellow community member, I've always adored her and now I appreciate her even more. The heart she poured into this work is a tremendous gift and I'm honored to have had the chance to take it in.

An unforgettable journey into Adoption

A touching and heart rending adopt a memoir that draws the reader in an emotional, powerful and resonant way.
Exquisite

Incredible, compelling memoir. A must-read!

"I Would Meet You Anywhere" by Susan Kiyo Ito is a poignant memoir that intricately weaves together the threads of love, loss, and self-discovery. Ito's prose is both lyrical and raw, inviting readers into the intimate corridors of her life.

Ito masterfully transcends the traditional boundaries of the memoir, offering readers a captivating exploration of not just adoption, but the complex relationships of mothers and daughters, generational trauma and the intricate interplay of women's reproductive choices across generations.

Ito's narrative skillfully unfolds, revealing the delicate tapestry of her own journey while seamlessly intertwining it within the broader context of being a half-white, half-Japanese American and what that has meant during the last 7 decades.

Ito masterfully navigates the complexities of identity, interweaving her personal story with a broader reflection on the evolution of societal perspectives on motherhood and the poignant struggles faced by women through the ages

Through the lens of her experiences, she navigates the complexities of Mother-daughter relationships and the universal quest for meaning.

Beyond adoption, she delves into the complexities of the "sandwich generation," navigating the challenges of simultaneously caring for aging parents and raising a family. "I Would Meet You Anywhere" stands as a luminous testament to the universal themes of family, choice, and the intricate threads that connect us through generations. Susan Kiyo Ito's narrative prowess shines brightly, creating a work that is both timeless and timely.

Lovely and heart-wrenching

This was a really well written adoption memoir, full of the complexities of relationship that exist within adoption. I wasn’t sure about the narrow when I first started listening but grew to really enjoy her voice for this story. It was at turns heart-warming and heart-wrenching. A thoroughly enjoyable listen.

A life of discovery and acceptance

I found this to be a simple, touching memoir about Susan‘s journey of soft discovery. Along the way, I learned a lot about the Japanese American experience and perspectives of adopt I hadn’t ever considered. I love that she became an activist campaigning for the rights of adoptees, and an artist, discovering her expression and culture through many mediums.

The through line of the story of longing for more connection with her mom was deeply touching.

There’s a lot of bravery here.

Different perspective of adoption

Susan’s telling of her adoption discovery journey gave me an entirely new perspective of adoption told from her lifelong struggle. I gained the understanding that a person can live a fulfilling, challenging and rewarding life and yet always wonder ‘where am I from?.’ Such irony that half the answer is one place. I am happy this memoir is published. Every time I see a paper crane, I think of Susan Ito.

Such a lovely memoir

I always enjoy memoirs that go deeper and show me something about both the author's story and the also complexity of different human experiences. I Would Meet You Anywhere by Susan Kiyo Ito was a beautifully written story about how the author’s life was shaped by adoption, the search for her roots, and exploring her identity as a biracial Japanese adoptee. I enjoyed this audiobook and found myself really hearing the author’s voice through the narration. It was such a lovely book.

Within a few chapters, I found myself thoroughly immersed in this story and unable to put the book down until I got to the end. Susan Kiyo Ito’s search for her roots – and ultimately for acceptance and belonging – drew the reader in and provided gentle insight into the struggles of adoptees. Ito wrote with empathy and compassion about the struggles and limitations of others in her story, while also allowing us to see the deep pain the choices of others caused for her. The author provided historical context for both adoption and the circumstances of Japanese Americans that changed the trajectory of her entire life and those of her family members. She also provided perspective on how her own life was impacted as a woman by access to reproductive healthcare, motherhood and as a caregiver. It felt so timely to read this book right now.

Even as someone who was not adopted, I found so many ways to relate to this story and am grateful that Ito was willing to share her journey with us. I Would Meet You Anywhere was a beautifully crafted story that gently drew the reader into the complexity of emotions and experiences around adoption, identity, family and belonging.

Excellent, intensely emotional

The author’s vulnerabilities, excellent writing, and compelling story, combined with the depth of her self-reflection, makes this a an outstanding book, not just for adoptees and adoptive or birth parents, but for anyone who has ever loved a child or parent. Strongly recommend it!

Wonderful story and so heartfelt.

I very much enjoyed this book and hearing Susan’s story. It was really unique to hear about an Asian domestic adoption and how that was for her growing up navigating both families. It read so easily for such an emotional topic and I finished it in one day.

Love the story, but not this performance

I really enjoyed reading this book in hard copy. The story is honest and moving, and the author’s voice comes through clearly. However, I found this narrator’s voice robotic and offputting. I couldn’t finish the audiobook version.