Scan barcode
bethniamh's reviews
219 reviews
Butter by Asako Yuzuki
4.0
Many thanks to NetGalley and 4th Estate for a digital ARC in exchange for a review.
I already had this book on my wishlist, so I was very excited to get an email inviting me to read the ARC. This book mostly lived up to my expectations; the plot shifted multiple times throughout, keeping me on my toes. I enjoyed how it related Rika's foodie journey to the wider story, and I particularly related to this aspect as someone who developed a love of cooking as an adult. I did feel like it could have benefitted from editing it down to make it slightly shorter, as the plot did drag a little in places, such as when Reiko went her own way after the trip to Niigata. There was also the odd passage where the names seemed to be mixed up, which is bound to happen when you have two characters with similar-sounding names; it was often hard to keep the two characters distinct in my mind, especially as they share many scenes together. However, overall, I really enjoyed the story and the prose, and would likely revisit this in the future.
I already had this book on my wishlist, so I was very excited to get an email inviting me to read the ARC. This book mostly lived up to my expectations; the plot shifted multiple times throughout, keeping me on my toes. I enjoyed how it related Rika's foodie journey to the wider story, and I particularly related to this aspect as someone who developed a love of cooking as an adult. I did feel like it could have benefitted from editing it down to make it slightly shorter, as the plot did drag a little in places, such as when Reiko went her own way after the trip to Niigata. There was also the odd passage where the names seemed to be mixed up, which is bound to happen when you have two characters with similar-sounding names; it was often hard to keep the two characters distinct in my mind, especially as they share many scenes together. However, overall, I really enjoyed the story and the prose, and would likely revisit this in the future.
Tiny Moons: A Year of Eating in Shanghai by Nina Mingya Powles
5.0
This was so beautifully written; I’ve never been to any of the places the writer mentions, but I could imagine the settings she describes so clearly. Made me think back to my own experiences living abroad and all the food I still miss.