A review by shafnut
Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder by Asako Yuzuki

4.0

great food writing - descriptions of recipes, cooking and textures of food, and the memories associated with food - a sense of nostalgia and also trauma). the misogynistic ways in which men expect food prepared from their wives and daughters - throwing tantrums (Rika’s father & grandfather, kaiji and the men that she murdered) so well done. 

 

Kajii seems to have contradictory ideas of misogyny? on one hand she thinks there are men who dont look for a skinny woman but at the same time believes that women should not want to overpower men? Her delusions of grandeur/of reality were very eye opening. 

 

i think there was a part of me that was expecting to be marveled by Kajii’s world - to be changed in some way, but I guess I didnt. I dont know if its the third person writing but i felt a sense of detachment from Rika’s suffering compared to the things that Reiko goes through. 

 

Some really interesting portrayals of relationships and the blurring of romantic & platonic friendships