Butter
Yuzuki, Asako "Butter" - 2017
Yuzuki, Asako "Butter" - 2017
#6Degrees is a monthly link-up hosted by Kate at Books Are My Favourite and Best. I love the idea. Thank you, Kate. See more about this challenge, its history, further books and how I found this here.
The starter book this month is "Butter" (バター, Batā) by Asako Yuzuki.
We can't have all read the same books, so, as it happens so often, I have not read it. But here is the description:
"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 can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.
Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Center convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who 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 masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii but it seems that she might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body, might she and Kaji have more in common than she once thought?
Inspired by the real case of the 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."
Now, food is a subject we have all read about at some point or the other, sometimes it is even linked to a crime. Therefore, this month I will stick to the topic.
We can't have all read the same books, so, as it happens so often, I have not read it. But here is the description:
"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 can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.
Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Center convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who 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 masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii but it seems that she might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body, might she and Kaji have more in common than she once thought?
Inspired by the real case of the 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."
Now, food is a subject we have all read about at some point or the other, sometimes it is even linked to a crime. Therefore, this month I will stick to the topic.
Ali, Monica "In the Kitchen" - 2008
Buruma, Ian "Murder in Amsterdam: The Death of Theo Van Gogh and the Limits of Tolerance" (NL: Dood van en gezonde roker) - 2006
Christie, Agatha "Murder on the Orient Express" (Hercule Poirot #10) - 1934
Buruma, Ian "Murder in Amsterdam: The Death of Theo Van Gogh and the Limits of Tolerance" (NL: Dood van en gezonde roker) - 2006
Christie, Agatha "Murder on the Orient Express" (Hercule Poirot #10) - 1934
Koch, Herman "The Dinner" (NL: Het diner) - 2009
📚📚📚
I didn't like all of them but absolutely loved the last one. And, of course, they all have something in common, murder, food, mostly both.
Nice!
ReplyDeleteI have so much enjoyed this one by Agatha Christie!
https://wordsandpeace.com/2024/06/01/six-degrees-of-separation-from-murder-to-informer/
Thanks, Emma. That's one of the best. I also love all the tv adaptations.
DeleteGood choices. I loved Crawdads too. Have you seen the film?
ReplyDeleteHere's mine for this month. https://portobellobookblog.com/2024/06/01/6degrees-of-separation-june-2024-from-butter-by-asako-yuzuki-to-summer-at-the-ice-cream-cafe-by-jo-thomas/
Thanks, Joanne. Yes, I have seen the film and I thought it was brilliant. Not often, that I say that after having read the book
DeleteMurder on the Orient Express remains on my TBR, which makes me feel pretty terrible because Agatha Christie is one of my favorite writers of all time.
ReplyDeleteShe has written so much, Sarah, it's no wonder you haven't read it all. But it is such a beautiful story, I'm sure you get to read it one day.
Delete