Butter

A Novel of Food and Murder

De: Asako Yuzuki

Narrado por: Hanako Footman

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 simply cannot tolerate: feminists and margarine.

Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in the Tokyo Detention House convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, whom 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 master class in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii, but it seems that Rika might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body. Do she and Kajii have more in common than she once thought?

Inspired by the real case of a 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.

©2024 Asako Yuzuki (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Interesting look at societal pressure in Japan

Not sure what to make of this book. The first part is a sharp and interesting look at Japanese work culture and gender relations. The second part kind of drifts into a saccharine feel good story reminiscent of the Goonies where a group of misfits crowning achievement is cooking a turkey without getting food poisoning.

Story with Depth

The story brought me to a lot of reflection. I am a big foodie so I lived hearing about all the dishes and how the author blended it so well into what makes life

enjoyable, subtly feminist, read

amazing performance, it was so nice to listen to. the story is a slow burn for sure, with mild highs and lows, but it is consistent in its overall trajectory. there’s really not much about ‘murder’ as the book states but more so about self discovery and reflection.

Tale of female oppression and how indulgence is a form of liberation

The pacing at the end at times felt slow but i also took an edible before listening LOL. Loved the concept and the ending.

The universally complex interstice between males and females

The voice of this author was unique in describing the mundane ,and also the unusual connections between people and their awakening to themselves and their relationship to the many aspects of their personal contentment.

Interesting ideas but too much like a cooking blog

The book tackled many interesting subjects and touched on a lot of societal issues. I really liked that about the story. For me personally the lengthy food descriptions took away the fun. A lot of times I felt like was reading a cooking blog. I think if the story would be less descriptive and would focus on the characters and the main happenings, it would be a much easier and enjoyable read.

A Beautiful & Sensuous Telling

In prose like poetry, Yuzuki explores the feminine mystique in a story as sensual as French cuisine. The sometimes brutal (public shaming on social media), sometimes nuanced (concern” expressed by “friends”), external forces and catastrophic internal influences (ruminating, second-guessing) that shape women’s thoughts and behaviors are picked here like Rika’s scab. An extraordinary literary accomplishment!

17 hours of my life I won't get back

I bought this title after it was recommended by The New Yorker, and I am at a loss to understand why. The story is about food but not really about murder. I listened to the end hoping the ending would offer some redemption, but no. I like reading foreign fiction, but this one failed to offer much insight into Japanese culture.