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grunbean's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a book that you will devour. Yes, that is an intended pun.
The use of food in telling this story pulls you in, and I struggled to put it down. I also struggled to stop my mouth from watering! I’ve seen some comments on the slower parts being too filler like. For me, every page has a kind of story of its own. I don’t think there’s a word in this book that is accidental, or coincidental. The translation is written beautifully. This with the story makes this a book I think I’ll return to again!
I would be curious to discuss this at a book club, as I find myself wondering Kaiji is a murderer. I think she is.
The use of food in telling this story pulls you in, and I struggled to put it down. I also struggled to stop my mouth from watering! I’ve seen some comments on the slower parts being too filler like. For me, every page has a kind of story of its own. I don’t think there’s a word in this book that is accidental, or coincidental. The translation is written beautifully. This with the story makes this a book I think I’ll return to again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Body shaming, Misogyny, Fatphobia, and Grief
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Blood, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Murder, Pedophilia, and Injury/Injury detail
kimib79's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book started off strong and then just dragged on and on. It could have been 300 pages or perhaps fewer. Her married friend is bat crap crazy, fyi.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Minor: Blood, Fatphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Suicide, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Grief, and Toxic friendship
aventurinewand's review
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Fatphobia
Moderate: Sexual assault
woodsybookworm's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
🧈 Butter 🧈
Rating: 🧈🧈🧈🧈🧈
5 Sticks of yellowy emulsified goodness 😋
I have not read a book about food that's made me quite literally drool while reading since Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto. This book was a love letter to the culinary arts. I had to pause at one point to make a batch of cookies just to stop from salivating 🤤
The story follows Rika, a young journalist looking to become the first woman in her office to gain an official writer's seat with her paper. Rika decides her best bet for a career making story would be to gain an exclusive interview with serial killer Manako Kajii, a gourmand mistress accused of killing three of her patron lovers and defrauding many more.
Rika writes to the convicted serial killer, on the advice of her closest friend Reiko, asking for advice on recipes - Kajii's excellent cooking skills being a major factor in the downfall of her supposed victims. That simple letter snowballs into an unlikely friendship and perhaps a mutual obsession. But who is really in control - the interviewer or the interviewee?
This novel blends food with questions of class and gender politics that are relatable not only to those in Japan but to women around the world. Unique yet relatable characters fill the story and Asako Yuzuki's prose was utterly (udder-ly? Lol 🐄) investing.
This book made me homesick for Japan - the country, my friends, the food. Any book that brings out that kind of reaction in me, that nostalgia, is going to be a five star read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Blood, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault
sakisreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I WAS (AND AM) OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK. I am going to make it my entire personality for a month 🙂↔️
The sheer misogyny in Japan was evident throughout this book and made me angry (but not surprised).
Relationships wise…I’m not going to lie, Rika finding herself better away from Makoto got me excited 😂 I also LOVED Reiko’s borderline queer love for Rika 🏳️🌈 Say gay!
I also thoroughly understood how Rika could be pulled into Manako Kajii’s charms; there was something inherently interesting and inviting about her 😳 I obviously didn’t agree with her politics but felt myself feeling sorry for her and sympathising with her!
A truly 5 star read for me, thank you ✨ Off to do lots of research into the true story 🙊
The sheer misogyny in Japan was evident throughout this book and made me angry (but not surprised).
Relationships wise…
I also thoroughly understood how Rika could be pulled into Manako Kajii’s charms; there was something inherently interesting and inviting about her 😳 I obviously didn’t agree with her politics but felt myself feeling sorry for her and sympathising with her!
A truly 5 star read for me, thank you ✨ Off to do lots of research into the true story 🙊
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Grief, and Toxic relationship
ly_didi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Eating disorder
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