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A review by hayleyjames24
Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder by Asako Yuzuki
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Trigger warning for a LOT of weight talk and fatphobia, the MC gains 10kg and everyone is horrified at how fat she is…
I really wanted to like this book but it was so bloody long for no reason. It just felt like it went on foreverrrrrrr.
Could’ve EASILY been 100/200 pages shorter. There was no reason for it to be this long.
I just didn’t really connect with the characters and they didn’t really grow and change, or when I felt like they were about to have an epiphany it just never went anywhere?? And they left a few plot points just hanging and never went back to it. I wish I connected with the characters more, I just didn’t really feel anything for any of them tbh. And felt like they kept making decisions that the author had already shown us is against what they would usually make. Kajii was probably my fave character cos i felt she actually had depth.
Considering this is based on a true story I wish it was more mysterious and more thrilling, this was very slice of life with a bit of mystery and it just didn’t keep me hooked.
It did hit on really important themes of adult friendships, depression and asking for help, how people use food as a crutch to “heal” from trauma, how society views women (both from a feminist perspective and from the male/not like other girls perspective)
Really enjoyed a little insight into the publishing industry and how they get tip offs etc.
Felt like this translated book always had a sense of second degree. Everything is written very matter of fact and it’s not entirely immersive. Although the descriptions of food were tender and delicious and full of so much depth and love.
I think if I want reading it for bookclub I would’ve DNFd it! It just went on for too long with not a lot happening and I usually do enjoy that but this time it just didn’t do it for me
The ending was very sweet and wholesome though, did really love that. The budding relationship between shinoi and his daughter had me feeling soft
I really wanted to like this book but it was so bloody long for no reason. It just felt like it went on foreverrrrrrr.
Could’ve EASILY been 100/200 pages shorter. There was no reason for it to be this long.
I just didn’t really connect with the characters and they didn’t really grow and change, or when I felt like they were about to have an epiphany it just never went anywhere?? And they left a few plot points just hanging and never went back to it. I wish I connected with the characters more, I just didn’t really feel anything for any of them tbh. And felt like they kept making decisions that the author had already shown us is against what they would usually make. Kajii was probably my fave character cos i felt she actually had depth.
Considering this is based on a true story I wish it was more mysterious and more thrilling, this was very slice of life with a bit of mystery and it just didn’t keep me hooked.
It did hit on really important themes of adult friendships, depression and asking for help, how people use food as a crutch to “heal” from trauma, how society views women (both from a feminist perspective and from the male/not like other girls perspective)
Really enjoyed a little insight into the publishing industry and how they get tip offs etc.
Felt like this translated book always had a sense of second degree. Everything is written very matter of fact and it’s not entirely immersive. Although the descriptions of food were tender and delicious and full of so much depth and love.
I think if I want reading it for bookclub I would’ve DNFd it! It just went on for too long with not a lot happening and I usually do enjoy that but this time it just didn’t do it for me
The ending was very sweet and wholesome though, did really love that. The budding relationship between shinoi and his daughter had me feeling soft