Scan barcode
A review by bookishlibrarian
Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder by Asako Yuzuki
3.0
I think the subtitle does a disservice to the book and its readers. This is not a salacious or suspenseful read, as the title might indicate; instead, it is a much more introspective one. Rika is a journalist fascinated by a female serial killer, Manako Kajii, awaiting a retrial. Kajii gained infamy by luring men on dating sites through her lavish meals, draining their funds, only to have them die under mysterious circumstances (based on a real-life serial killer in Japan). Rika's attempts at an interview are rebuffed until her friend convinces her to talk about food and recipes with Kajii.
As Rika and Kajii develop an uneasy relationship built around food (Kajii often implores Rika to experience a meal or flavor she no longer can under detention, so Rika can vicariously describe it to her), Rika herself is also changed. There are a lot of threads about expectations placed on women (body image, relationships, caretaking), self-image, and the role food plays in our lives.
As Rika and Kajii develop an uneasy relationship built around food (Kajii often implores Rika to experience a meal or flavor she no longer can under detention, so Rika can vicariously describe it to her), Rika herself is also changed. There are a lot of threads about expectations placed on women (body image, relationships, caretaking), self-image, and the role food plays in our lives.