Karen Chisholm
REVIEW
Butter, Asako Yuzuki
Reviewed By
Friday, September 13, 2024
I (tried) listening to this much acclaimed Japanese book, which is very much focused on cooking and food, with a sideline inspired by the true story of a convicted con woman and serial killer. An unusual sort of a story, it's all a long slow build up, which hints at, but doesn't necessarily provide any indepth commentary on, the position and treatment of women in Japanese society.
Those later aspects, had they been concentrated on a lot more, might have provided some connection for this listener with the central journalist character, and the serial killer at the heart of the narrative, unfortunately the build up was so slow, and the byways and side subjects so gently distracting, it was way too easy to lose my way.
The narrator was good, the story had potential definitely, but all too often I found it had been long periods of time when I simply wasn't taking in anything. I'd be off thinking about other things too easily. Not being opposed to a long slow build up, and being a bit of a fan of Japanese fiction normally, I am hoping this is just not the book to attempt to listen to - and would be better if I actually read the text. So I've not given up on BUTTER, but in the audio format, it was a DNF.
BOOK DETAILS
BOOK INFORMATION
BLURB
The cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer and the journalist intent on cracking her case, inspired by a true story.
There are two things that I can simply not: feminists and margarine
Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation’s imagination but Kajii refuses to speak with the press, entertaining no visitors. That is, until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew and Kajii can’t resist writing back.
Rika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii but it seems that she might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body, might she and Kaji have more in common than she once thought?
Inspired by the real case of the convicted con woman and serial killer, "The Konkatsu Killer", Asako Yuzuki’s Butter is a vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.
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