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

reflective 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

1.0

Regardless of the subtitle on the cover (A novel of food and murder), this is NOT a crime novel or mystery. It is a tedious work of contemporary literary fiction, which is a genre I rarely ever enjoy reading. I might be less harsh, if I didn't feel deliberately misled. This is a story of a journalist learning about herself, gaining confidence and personal power through experiences with food inspired by the female serial killer she interviews. I switched to audiobook after finding it impossible to force myself to pick up the print copy and I detested the audiobook narration on top of everything else. If it hadn't been a group read, I would have bailed. As it is, I'm kind of sorry I didn't.