Reviews

“There are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.” This was a quote from the infamous gourmet cook Manako Kajii as she sat in Tokyo Detention Centre while being convicted of serial murdering her past partners. Ambitious journalist Rika Machida was determined to earn Kajii’s trust to be the only press she would speak to, via gastronomic exchange. Inspired by the real case of the convicted con woman and serial killer, "The Konkatsu Killer", this was a vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.

First of all, even though this was translated into English, the storytelling style played in my mind like one of those Japanese TV drama series I grew up with, giving me a sense of nostalgia.

I loved all the critical commentaries on women’s bodies, the cycles they went through and how people responded to them - weight fluctuations, regular period, and sensory lust caused by either food or sensual reasons. While it sounded harsh, a lot of the responses Rika received when she gained weight was sadly quite relateable to me, growing up within Asian culture.

The mind games and psychological power plays between Kaji and Rika were riveting to follow. I kept guessing where the story would go, and who would ‘win’. Rika’s analysis and exploration on her thoughts, career aspirations, and ambitions really captivated me, and I found myself agreeing with her observations in places.

And let’s not forget the food aspect in the book. The various mentions of cooking and butter made me salivating throughout. The symbolism and metaphor were definitely not lost on me.

All in all, a great satire full of social commentaries on Asian culture that got me in the heart. I loved it.

(Thanks to HarperCollins Australia for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)

georgiahb's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

4.0

gmd_84's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

heathclifff's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

not quiet as exciting as i expected, but a nice eventful read, if not a little overexplained.

al_jpacho's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I really enjoyed this book. I originally thought it would be an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery, but it delves deeper into themes of relationships, culture, body image, and food. I think the book offers an interesting take on human behaviour through the lens of food, looking at societal norms and expectations, particularly around women's roles and identities in Japanese culture.

There are very vivid descriptions of food throughout the book, which left me pretty hungry. Beyond just evoking hunger, I think that these depictions served as an extended metaphor for the characters' deepest desires and secrets? I think the author also did a good job at not just exploring the characters' psychological nuances but also critiquing societal pressures and how the media can have a strong influence on public perception.

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