BUTTER

This international and award winning story by Asako Yuzuki is our Book of the Moment but also a Wild Card choice because it was the ultimate marmite read in our book club - but a novel that everyone is talking about! There were those of us who loved it and couldn’t put the book down, and those of us who struggled with the concept. But all this makes for lively discussion in your book club to make your own mind up.

“What’s so wrong about coating barren flavourless reality in oodles of melted butter and seasoning it with condiments and spices? That’s my way of getting by in life, which has come about quite naturally.”

Rika is a rising journalist for Shūmei Weekly in Tokyo. She conforms to the stereotypical young Japanese woman, she is lean, hard- working and in a steady but unexciting relationship. All this changes when her best friend Reiko suggests she tries to get an interview with Manako Kajii, who is awaiting her retrial for poisoning three of her past lovers. Kajii is somewhat of a celebrity as no concrete evidence links her to these men’s death other than she was the last person to see them alive. In every case however, she won over a lonely man’s heart by looking after them and particularly cooking them sumptuous delicious meals, butter being a key and important ingredient. Imprisoned in Tokyo Detention House, she refuses to be interviewed by anyone, but Rika perseveres. The turning point being when Rika asks Kajii for her recipe for beef stew. This follows on with Rika agreeing to visit the restaurants Kajii used to frequent and then learn to cook the food she prepared for her lovers, each time reporting back to Kajii in the Detention House. However, in trying to get to the truth and determine Kajii’s guilt, Rika becomes caught up in her web and all the values she previously held high change. As she foregoes her slim body, and embraces Kajii’s liberal world in order to try and discover the truth, will she too succumb to the same fate or will it give her a freedom she has never experienced before?

Gluttony and sexual freedom are contrary to the traditional, conforming and often reserved Japanese image. Yuzuki draws you into Kajii’s world with her elaborate yet delicate descriptions of the food Raji starts to devour, describing the colour, texture, taste in intricate detail. Her portrayal of Rika and her friend Reiko challenge the traditions of the female body image and their role within Japanese society. The problem with the story is that for some of us the characters weren’t likeable and as Rika puts on more and more weight, it can make for an uncomfortable read. But there’s no denying it’s an original and extraordinary piece of writing.

‘Butter’ was Waterstones Book of the Year 2024. But, it's make your own mind up time!