---

I don’t want to suggest that I’ve become a lazy reader but I definitely have become accustomed to reading books that with under 300 pages. It happened in lockdown and wasn’t help by the book club I joined. We only chose books with about 250 pages, so I totally embraced it. Nowadays, books with over 300 pages just seem so long to me. I know that they aren’t but it’s just that mental block I have to get over. I was definitely excited to read Butter but it just seemed to big. In reality, it’s only about 450 pages long but I didn’t think I’d ever get through it. So, I went down the audiobook route. I thought it would be the easiest way to do it. Thankfully, it was a really easy book to listen to and it wasn’t difficult to finish in time.

I’m a really easy person to please. Few pleasures in life can compare to a slice of crunchy toast slathered with creamy salted butter. This one simple ingredient has the power to make a huge impact on a dish and I’ve never understood people who cut it out of their lives. So, I was already slightly invested in this book. A bright yellow book that champions butter was difficult to ignore. The fact that it was also based on a true crime story just made me even more keen. Combining thriller with gourmet cooking and gender stereotypes? It just sounded like my kind of book.

I didn’t know anything about the real case that inspired this book beforehand. I wanted to read it with fresh eyes and not be tainted by the real-life comparison. I’m not sure whether that was the right way to go but I think it helped me. It allowed me to go in without any expectations and just see the whole thing play out. Not knowing anything about the real Kanae Kijima meant that I was able to view the fictional Manako Kajii with fresh eyes. I could form my own opinions about her and about her guilt. Yes, I was missing a bit of context but it allowed me to go in without any preconceptions and try to figure her out as we spent more time with her.

It also meant that I was able to understand the themes of the book as they came about. This is more than just a true crime novel. It’s also a discussion of gender disparity. It breaks apart the Japanese standards of beauty for women and the strict gender roles. As in real life, the woman at the heart of this case was constantly body-shamed during her trial. The media targeted her weight and her love of food as a reason to turn against her. It’s something that Rika Machida has to fight against. Rika is a Tokyo-based journalist who hopes to become the first woman to make the editorial desk. She thinks Kijima is the key to her success and tries everything to gain a scoop. This involves getting close to her and trying to emulate elements of her life.

The closer that Rika gets, the stronger her connection with Kijima gets. It’s an interesting relationship as it gives Rika the chance to see an alternative lifestyle. The more time she spends with Kijima, the more Rika sees that the life she’s always lived isn’t necessarily the right one. She starts to see the injustice surrounding women and the contradictions they face. Kijima portrays a sense of insolence and revolution. She doesn’t want to work as hard as society wants but wants to indulge in her greatest love. An indulgence that Rika starts to share. The more Rika eats the more she understands what Kijima has faced. The lines begin to blur and it all gets a bit dangerous.

Butter is an incredible and fascinating read. It celebrates a love of food and manages to say something about society. I will say that there are moments when it feels a bit slow and it gets caught up in everything. Still, it’s worth the effort and the ending really is cathartic. This was one that I had high hopes for and it absolutely met them. The way this book indulges in the food side is incredible. The descriptions of various meals are an absolute delight. These moments stand out and appeal to all your senses. This is one book I won’t forget quickly.