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Title details for Butter by Asako Yuzuki - Available

Butter

A Novel of Food and Murder

by Asako Yuzuki
Hanako Footman
Audiobook
8 of 15 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
8 of 15 copies available

The cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer, and the journalist intent on cracking her case, inspired by a true story

There are two things that I simply cannot tolerate: feminists and margarine.

Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in the Tokyo Detention House convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, whom she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation's imagination, but Kajii refuses to speak with the press, entertaining no visitors. That is until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew, and Kajii can't resist writing back.

Rika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a master class in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii, but it seems that Rika might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body. Do she and Kajii have more in common than she once thought?

Inspired by the real case of a convicted con woman and serial killer—the "Konkatsu Killer"—Asako Yuzuki's Butter is a vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance, and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    April 16, 2024

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780063236431
      • File size: 495400 KB
      • Duration: 17:12:04

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      February 12, 2024
      Yuzuki draws on the real-life crimes of the Konkatsu Killer in early-aughts Japan for her delectable English-language debut. Journalist Rika Machida conducts a series of prison interviews with convicted serial killer Manako Kajii, a former food blogger who used her exquisite cooking to seduce lonely men. Manako, who maintains her innocence, is a coveted and elusive subject, whom Rika has managed to land through flattery, having requested the prisoner’s recipe for her famous beef stew. As the two talk about food, Rika falls under a similar spell as Manako’s victims, neglecting her work, friends, and figure as she seeks out more delicious flavors under Manako’s tutelage. As Rika gains weight, her misogynistic colleagues shun her, claiming she doesn’t respect herself and therefore isn’t deserving of their respect. Her weight gain also draws ire from her boyfriend. Yuzuki takes a thrilling look into female relationships, revealing the complex nature of modern-day social conventions pertaining to a woman’s appearance and her place in the home, and enriching the proceedings with mouthwatering descriptions of food. Like the meals Yuzuki describes, this leaves the reader satiated. Agent: Stephen Edwards, RCW Literary.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Hanako Footman brings gravitas and humor to this psychologically insightful novel based on the true crime of a gourmet cook/con woman/serial killer. Using a clever ploy, journalist Rika secures a meeting with taciturn Manako Kajii in her Tokyo jail cell. Imprisoned for the deaths of three wealthy businessmen, Kajii refuses to talk about her case but willingly talks about food, especially the joys of butter. Descriptions of mouthwatering Japanese dishes fill their meetings. Footman's performance makes it impossible to look away as Rika's life undergoes dramatic shifts and she loses her sense of self. Rife with stunning social commentary, misogyny, fat shaming, and the transformative power of food, Yuzuki's lush writing and Footman's artful delivery make this audiobook a sensual pleasure. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      Starred review from August 9, 2024

      A journalist and a convicted serial killer form an obsessive relationship based on food and secrets. The killer, Manako Kajii, baffles the nation because she's "not attractive" but was able to lure multiple men via her cooking. Though Kajii refuses contact with others, she and journalist Rika Machida develop a bond. Rika becomes Kajii's pupil in the pleasures of eating, embarking on her own journey through misogyny and fatphobia, underwritten with a current of delight. As Rika's confidence grows, she wonders if Kajii is truly guilty, but her friends wonder if Rika is losing herself to a murderer's influence. Hanako Footman narrates this emotionally tense, character-driven novel. Footman's immense skill with character voices makes each character recognizable and distinct. When Rika is introspective, which is often, Footman performs so engagingly that the boundary between narrator and character disappears. The food descriptions are as important as the plot and are performed as such. Meals sound delectable or intimidating as the story demands, but listeners can't be faulted for growing hungry even when murder is discussed. VERDICT Yuzuki's English-language debut is a hard-to-categorize but riveting listen that may appeal to fans of Kanae Minato's Penance or Natsuo Kirino's Out.--Matthew Galloway

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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