WINNER OF WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS DEBUT NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2025 THE NUMBER 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK 'A full-fat, Michelin-starred treat' THE SUNDAY TIMES 'I have been glued to Asako Yuzuki's new novel Butter' NIGEL SLATER 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, and translated by Polly Barton. There are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine. Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre 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. 'Compelling, delightfully weird' PANDORA SYKES 'Luscious ... I devoured this' IMOGEN CRIMP 'A salty morsel with one hell of a bite' ALICE SLATER 'Unputdownable, breathtakingly original' ERIN KELLY 'Nothing short of ingenious' INEWS 'Ambitious and unsettling' GUARDIAN 'It isn't entirely clear whether to read the novel or devour it' OBSERVER
Asako Yuzuki
Asako Yuzuki was a Japanese novelist and poet known for her minimalist writing style and poignant exploration of human emotions. Her most notable works include "The River of Time" and "The Sound of Silence," which delve into themes of love, loss, and memory with lyrical prose and subtle symbolism. Yuzuki's works have had a significant impact on Japanese literature, inspiring a new generation of writers to explore the complexities of the human experience. Her most famous work, "The River of Time," is considered a modern classic in Japanese literature for its nuanced portrayal of relationships and the passage of time. Yuzuki's contributions to the literary genre have solidified her as a master storyteller with a unique voice that continues to resonate with readers worldwide.
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