Asako Yuzuki

A highly fresh and original novel following a journalist in contemporary Japan as she investigates a serial killer convicted of luring wealthy men in with her cooking classes only to seduce, murder, and rob them, and a gripping exploration of misogyny, obsession, and the pleasures and pressures of food Journalist Rika Machida is facing an unusual assignment: she is tapped to investigate serial killer Manako Kajii, notorious for drawing rich men in with her pricey cooking classes, only to murder them and move on to the next. Kajii refuses to cooperate with the press until Rika writes her a letter asking for her beef stew recipe, a correspondence and ongoing series of conversations between the two women that sees Rika transforming as she becomes closer to Kajii, taking on some of her confidence and strength but also some of her deadly intention. Game on. Set in 2011, when dairy product shortages across Japan made butter a hot commodity, Butter depicts a vivid, panoramic view of contemporary Japan as seen through a diverse cast of Japanese women. An endlessly entertaining and sharply insightful look at the relationships between women and how they engage and challenge one another, revealing the many contradictions and complexities in the process, Asako Yuzuki's novel is filled with intoxicating descriptions of food and the body that also looks deeply at its connection to the sinister, criminal, and taboo, its enduring power and delight.

A Novel of Food and Murder

Butter

aywen

As it grazed her cheeks, she smelled the scent of spring. It came as a shock to her that the warmer season was finally arriving, kicking away the cold, dry wind. And there she’d been, until a few minutes ago, thinking that nothing would change, that she couldn’t change a thing. Even without her lifting a finger, the world would keep on changing. The fact stunned her. Even without her trying, the people around her would form connections, intertwine in complex ways, and keep on growing, like the roots, leaves and stems of a plant. She felt as though she could see their rich green spreading out behind her eyelids.

clara

Lindy

In principle, all women should give themselves permission to demand good treatment, but the world made doing so profoundly difficult.

Clark Louis

Jemima Scott

‘Nobody has to be fully satisfied by just one thing, and nor do they have to aim to be like everyone else. It's plenty if people can enjoy things a good amount, and be satisfied with their life overall.’

‘I don't think I'm a lazy person, necessarily, but I'm not confident that I can maintain the effort needed to keep you and the rest of the world happy twenty-four-seven. I'm not young any more, and I don't want to give myself up to other people for their consumption. I want to decide how I work and interact with other people based on what I think really matters.’

‘When the world is this unfair and unfriendly, people want to do the things that give them satisfaction, that fortify and protect them. It doesn't necessarily require money - just time and innovation.’

Gemma McCarthy

she hadn't passed a single bookshop that looked as if it had been there forever, or in fact any shop that appeared to be owned by an individual and not a corporation. There was not the slightest whiff of culture or history 

Her recent experience  at Reiko's had reminded Rika of just how much comfort te thoughtfulness and home-made food of another person could bring to a tired body and dried-up heart.

Rika found herself rapt by Kaji's speech. In a diferent way fom Reiko, Kajii opened up a new world to her, expanding her perspective.

“humans just need rice, don’t they”

Stas

Food and fashion the things that women were supposed to have a particular fondness for - had always left Rika indifferent. At her height, though, it was easy for her to look stocky, and she took care that her weight never exceeded 50 kilos. 

Butter quotes

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