"Still, the consternation that her weight gain had elicited in the people around her seemed to be extreme. The changes to her body hadn't caused them any trouble, and yet people's reactions were critical, even fearful."

In a nutshell, Butter is intriguing and has lots and lots of layers. The story follows Rika, a journalist who becomes fascinated and obsessed with the life of convicted serial killer, Manako Kajii. Rika retraces Manako's footsteps by recreating the food that Manako served her partners before they died. Butter is significant to all these recipes and by gorging on butter-rich dishes, Rika ends up gaining weight and is judged and body-shamed by those around her, hence opening up the debate about female body image. Not only does she gain weight, but her whole outlook on life and the way that she perceives things and relationships changes as well.

Through Riko's meetings with Manako Kajii at a detention centre, Kajii proves to be manipulative and a psychological power play ensues. Kajii's character has been based after the real-life serial killer Kanae Kijima.

There are plenty of people around Riko who lend to the story - the most important being her best friend Reiko.
I did find Butter to be quite a long read and it could have definitely done with being shorter in parts. Having said that, Butter certainly was an interesting read.

Rika is a thirty-something journalist, living a quiet life in Tokyo. She encounters Mankato Kajii through her work. A convicted serial killer awaiting a retrial for the murders of three former lovers that she may/may not have committed.

Over the course of a series of interviews in her Detention Centre, Rika becomes increasingly fascinated by Kajii. She is a slippery character: enigmatic, vulnerable and deeply manipulative. However, does this mean that she is a murderer?

The themes of the novel are powerful: body image, the role of women in society, friendship, desire, status and our relationship with food. Yuzuki also gives us a number of unctuous passages about food, cooking, our tastebuds. This is a good read that keeps you guessing to the end.

Absolutely brilliant. Such a compelling story with incredible detail on institutional misogyny permeating life and work places. I thought the gradual changes in Rika’s behaviour as a result of her meetings with Kajii were so eerie. Thank you to 4th estate for the proof!

I recently dove into "Butter" by Asako Yuzuki, giving it a solid 4 stars. Right off the bat, this book feeds right into the current craze for foodie literature, and let me tell you, it does not disappoint. Every dish mentioned, from tarako pasta to kamo seiro, had me hitting up Google and daydreaming about a culinary adventure in Japan. Yuzuki has a knack for making even the simplest rice with soy sauce and butter seem like a gourmet experience.

At the heart of the story is Kajii, a convicted serial killer with a taste for older men and a high-life that ends in their mysterious deaths. Her comparison to Holly Golightly is intriguing, though her traditional views on women's roles are bound to raise some eyebrows. Enter Rika, a journalist who spends a year visiting Kajii in the Detention Center, crafting an expose that ultimately transforms her life. Watching Rika's journey and evolution throughout the novel was a highlight for me.

However, it's worth mentioning that the story does drag a bit towards the end. A little tightening could have kept the pacing more consistent. Overall, "Butter" is a deliciously intriguing read that blends food, crime, and personal growth in a way that's both engaging and thought-provoking. If you're a food lover with a taste for complex characters and twisty plots, this book might just be your next favorite read.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book ahead of its release!

Butter is a dark and compelling story following journalist Rika as she develops a kinship with serial killer Kajii, who is in prison for murdering lonely businessmen after seducing them with her cooking. I found this book to be really original and fascinating, although at times it did lose me a bit and certain parts of the book were a lot stronger than others. Overall though, I enjoyed this read and loved diving into this tale of loneliness, food, crime, and womanhood.

A cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer and the journalist intent on cracking her case - this book should have held me in it's thrall but sadly I found it very slow and the translations were clunky. Based on a true story, the killer, Manako Kajii, is in the Tokyo Detention Centre awaiting her fate and refusing to speak to the press. Fascinated by food and supposedly seducing men with her cooking Kajii's interest in sparked when journalist Rika asks her for a recipe. Rika at this point has little interest in food but she finds herself reeled in by Kajii much in the same way as the victims were.
Having lived and worked in Japan many of the references in this book were familiar to me and I've enjoyed many other works by Japanese authors. However I didn't warm to Rika and was disconnected from the other characters. From the tag lines I was expecting more of a thriller but the book was packed with a lot of introspection and philosophical thinking. I found the strong anti feminism and negative body vibes extremely alarming - a very western viewpoint, I know, but this book is being read in the west too.
Rather than drawing me in the constant grand descriptions of food became less sensual and rather cloying, a case of less would have been more for me.
In short I enjoyed the cultural references, but the book was overly long and drawn out and I finished it with a sense of relief.
With thanks to Netgalley and 4th Estate for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

This absolutely wasn't what I expected - this is all about Rika, her sense of self, her relationships... the so-called serial killer is a feature of her self-discovery, as she finds out what is important to her, what she wants from her life, work and relationships - and her discovery of food, including butter (this definitely whetted my literal appetites - I do need to eat some rice with butter and soy sauce!).
It's also an interesting view of Japanese culture too - of gender roles and expectations.

Absolutely loved this! What an enticing pair of characters: an accused murderer and accomplished home cook who reportedly seduced with food, and the journalist charged with reporting her story who has never even baked a cake! Touching on topics such as Japanese society’s perception of the ideal female body, culinary arts, seduction, and all the while revealing the truth one prison visit at a time - a truly brilliant read.

Butter had a vociferous appetite and provided the goods to satisfy any reader craving a complex culinary delight of a book.

This is such a stunning book. The prose is excellent and totally captivating, with the descriptions of food stimulating your every sense. It is about the preparation of food and the love that represents, as well as the various emotions we might associate with a certain meal or type of food. However, this is also very much a story about appetites in a wider sense, sometimes spilling over into obsession and indulgence There is a wonderful exploration of desires and being able to pursue your own until you are fulfilled. This is particuarly highlighted in Japanese culture with Yuzuki depicting on page the societal attitudes towards women, their expected roles and their desires, though it rings true within a wider context as well. It is startling, surprising and such a spectacular read.

The way Rika is shamed for eating, for gaining the slightest bit of weight but also for wanting more from her life. It forces this dichotomy of work or family, not allowing for any nuance within this conversation. It is also so aesthetics driven, with an intriguing throughline about appearances and male appetites. I thought it was a fascinating and different take on the male gaze, focused through a specific cultural understanding. It was difficult to read at times and also explores complicity within the patriarchal system from women, upholding these outdated stereotypes and assumptions. There are some subtle methods through which this is challenged and that final scene filled my heart with hope, like the most delicious and comforting meal. Rika’s trajectory over the course of the book is brilliant to witness and ran very close to home for me.

Butter was delectable reading, whetting my appetite for a character focused and deeply fascinating story that combines murder, patriarchy, appetites and finding a path to who you are.

Butter, by Asako Yuzuki, takes as its basis, a macabre true story, a female serial killer. This is not simply a straightforward crime novel - it takes time to delve into the psyche of its characters, Kaji the killer and Rika, the investigative journalist tasked with finding out if the story is true.

There are some wonderful descriptions of food here - it plays heavily in the story - and the story ticks along at a fair pace. It was engrossing, chilling and mouth-watering all at once! A unique combination.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.

Manako Kajii is a convicted serial killer. She’d seduced three men by cooking them gourmet food and then killed them off, one by one. Or did she? There is a degree of ambiguity surrounding the circumstances of each death. Perhaps she’s just been unlucky and the deaths were actually caused by suicide, accident or misadventure? A retrial is scheduled and it’s the talk of Tokyo. Manako is remaining tight lipped and is refusing visitors, but one woman - journalist Rika Machida - is determined to speak to her, to wheedle out Manako’s account of events.

Inspired by a real case, that of a 34 year old woman labelled The Konatsu Killer, this story is part murder mystery, part cookery book. Manako is portrayed as a somewhat portly woman (something highly unusual and also, it seems, socially unacceptable in Japan), someone who is unrepentantly fond of eating lavishly prepared dishes. So in order to ingratiate herself to Manako, or at least pique her interest, Rika starts to correspond with her on the subject of food. Eventually, she manages to get permission to visit her in prison and a relationship of sorts is developed.

There are other characters close to Rika here too, but really it's this central relationship between the journalist and the convicted killer that’s at the heart of the story. In the course of the weeks that follow Rika’s interest in cooking - and eating - accelerates to the point that she too begins to gain weight. Several people comment on this, none positively. There is a good deal of detail here on food preparation, cooking and the experience of eating the painstakingly assembled dishes. In truth, I began to find this all a little monotonous. But what did interest me was the associated impacts of these events on Rika’s life: the way she was perceived by and treated by others around her.

There are features of Japanese culture covered here that I was hitherto blind to, or at least somewhat dismissive of. These include what seems to be institutional misogyny in the workplace and a work ethic that is collectivist, in the sense that each worker forms ‘a family’ with their colleagues and anything less than total commitment to the cause is deemed to demonstrate of a lack of loyalty. Manners matter a great deal and adherence to unwritten standards of behaviour are paramount. I found this to be an absolute education. I liked some elements and wished we employed more of these in my own country, but others I found to be strange and disturbingly controlling.

In the end, I thought the story rather petered out, without coming to a definitive or rounded ending. The lessons learned by Rika, and to a lesser extent some of her friends, being the only real points of focus. I think the book could have done with some serious editing (less on the food) and also more rounded summary of how things played out at its conclusion. That said, there’s a certain quality to the writing and in particular the way in which characters are developed and portrayed that I found engaging. Overall, it’s a three star rating for me.

Butter is a book about hunger - hunger for food, friendship, love, acceptance and connection. It is also a book about seeking recognition and gender equality.
The creation and consumption of food is a key theme of this book, which is representative of far more than just cooking and eating. Food is a means of engagement, manipulation and coercion. The serial murders which the central character is accused of committing are almost secondary to this key theme.
The characters are unique, interesting, diverse and sometimes disturbing.
This was an enjoyable read, but a little slow and drawn out at times. Thanks to 4th Estate, the author and NetGalley for the ARC.

3.5 stars rounded up. Thank you to NetGalley and 4th Estate for the ARC. Loosely based on a true story this is a translation of a Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook/serial killer and the female journalist trying to get to the truth of the allegations and the story behind them. On the whole I enjoyed the story, although I felt it was over-long and the story and writing could have been tightened up and cut down without losing anything of the pace, narrative and character development. Not as hard-hitting or critical of misogyny and patriarchy as I was hoping/expecting, this is still an interesting portrayal of the pressure, particularly for women, to look and behave a certain way and achieve exhausting standards of appearance and career progression. Possibly the most developed and lovingly portrayed character in the novel was food itself - the descriptions will make you ravenous!

Given the subject matter of a female serial killer I was a little hesitant as it isn’t a topic that I feel comfortable reading. However I must say that I am glad I have read this book. The food descriptions are really interesting. The characters are too. It seemed quite something that Rika the journalist, paid so much attention to what Kajii (woman accused of killing three men) told her to do. Such as eating a certain dish after having sex (in the early morning).

Journalist on a weekly creates national sensation by interviewing an alleged female serial killer in jail ... she breaks through the killer's reserve (or so she thinks) and is influenced herself by Kanji's seductive culinary methods. The journalist's life changes are what intrigues x the author, along with detailed explorations of food preparation... the cultist aspect of food, eating it, and assembling to do so for a Japanese woman gives book an intriguing ambiance throughout. I was drawn into focusing on recipes too .. sometimes for first time .. maybe I even picked up some ideas too from mythical (fictional) Madame who is guru for so many women in this novel. Curious novel, but you are dragged along in direction you didn't expect .. not really a murder mystery, then, more about fulfillment as Japanese woman.

Rika and Reiko have been friends since university. Rika is now a journalist on a weekly magazine and Reiko has given up her job to concentrate on starting a family with her husband.
Rika wants to interview Manako Kajii, a woman who is currently in the detention centre having been convicted on killing three men. She is not the typical Tokyo woman as she is fatter than the standard skinny female.
Having found a way to get to see her, Riko is led on a series of experiences, all food based and suggested by Kajii. Over the course of the weeks, Rika puts on weight but starts to accept herself and feel comfortable in her skin.
The book is more about relationships and learning to love yourself and the value of friendship.
It was very interesting.

Being honest, I picked this up purely for the cover. It looks weird, I love Japan and the bloody fingertips intrigued me so much. Whilst this wasn't anything like I thought it would be, it was a fantastic read. I thought it would be more focused on Manako and the murders. However, it's definitely much more a story of Rika and her finding her calling in life. It's emotional, funny and overall a wonderful read. A word of warning, I would make sure you have some butter in the house before reading this. I have never craved butter so much in my life! The way Asako Yuzuki talks about food is so breath-taking.

Savour This Carefully…
Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre having been convicted of the killings of several men. She is labelled a serial killer. She is also a startlingly good chef. It is alleged that she seduced all of the men that were killed with her incredible culinary skills. Kajii refuses to talk - until one particularly astute journalist makes contact with her and asks for a recipe. Inspired by an incredible true story, this intriguing slow burn and deliciously crafted tale is at once immersive and disturbing whilst delving deep into the depths of female relationships, obsession and the human psyche. Savour this carefully,

I ultimately found the concept of Butter much more engaging than the end result - some books can be hard to get into, but i initially found this absorbing before gradually finding it more and more of a struggle to pick up. It’s a really interesting principle - the female journalist having to prove herself and act like a man, before becoming ?obsessed? with the convicted killer and developing a love of food. The passages describing the food are rich and sensuous, but the story they hang on wasn’t as much fun as I initially wanted it to be - less killer, and more the nature of female relationships in modern Japan. Which could be interesting, but just wasn’t working for me in the end. My own fault I feel - an author hasn’t failed for not giving me what I want! I did wonder if the translation was perhaps an issue as the dialogue didn’t ring true and kept taking me out of the narrative.

I should start by saying I'm biased because I love a translated novel, I love Japanese literature, and 'true crime' is my thing. All of that means that 'Butter' bodes well, right? Right. This is a novel that's inspired by real events. Kajii, the serial killer is someone who sweeps up protagonist, Rika, and what is most interesting is the way in which Japanese women are portrayed as totally opposed to everything Japanese culture expects of them. Excellent. There is a sense of transformation, of Rika, as she, OK, *obsesses* over Kajii and her wrong-doings. BUT, it's not a quick read, this novel, it requires concentration, and sometimes some back-tracking of the reading process. I'm always unsure whose work translated novels are, and I wonder how much the translation changed or affected the original text. I'll never know. What I do know is that there are some delicious twists, and it's worth the journey. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy.