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#Tokyo
review
rachaich
Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki
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Pickpick

Not what the blurb suggests, or is much more nuanced anyway.
Whilst àn account of her relationship with Kajji, it's also her own journey of self awareness, misogyny and culture and how women fall into that. Her developing friendships which blossom through shared occasions.
Too long in places but a very good and worthy read.

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Night_Reader
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Pickpick

3.5/5 🌟

This Japanese novel is anything but cozy. It follows a young woman, pregnant out of wedlock, facing her parents' disapproval and surviving an abusive, alcoholic father. Her journey through childbirth, work struggles, and finding childcare is raw and challenging.

It started strong, but by the end, my interest had faded.

BarbaraBB I felt the same 2w
15 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
sarahbarnes
Strange Weather in Tokyo | Hiromi Kawakami
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Pickpick

A slightly bittersweet story of companionship and love. Written in the quirky, quiet style that I love about Japanese fiction. Great descriptions of food and lots of great non sequiturs and frank dialogue. And a lovely story as well. I really enjoyed it. Book 2 for #10BeforeTheEnd.

BarbaraBB This was a fun read. Beautiful photo too 🩷 3w
sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB 🩵 It really was. I‘m excited that she has a new book out, which sounds really different from her others I‘ve read. 3w
ChaoticMissAdventures ✅ great job! 3w
See All 6 Comments
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes that sounds like a book we‘d like! And like a possible ToB longlisted one 😀 3w
sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB I agree! 😁 3w
30 likes3 stack adds6 comments
blurb
BookNAround
Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki
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I started this 4 months ago for #camplitsy but set it aside. I‘m picking it back up in hopes of finishing it this time. And yes, I know it was not universally appreciated by the readers back then but I am nothing if not contrary, so here‘s hoping I enjoy it!

TheBookHippie 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😅😵‍💫 1mo
BarbaraJean I didn‘t necessarily enjoy it, but I found it fascinating!! Hope it‘s a good read for you! 1mo
BarbaraBB I liked it! 1mo
See All 9 Comments
CogsOfEncouragement I‘m really appreciated this one. Enjoy! 1mo
Bookwormjillk I liked this one! 1mo
mcctrish I‘m glad I read it and it has to be finished to be appreciated imo 1mo
dabbe I just finished a couple of weeks ago for #camplitsy! 😂 1mo
kspenmoll I was ambivalent at first but I ended up liking the book, glad I read it. 1mo
Suet624 I liked it. Of course I‘m now trying to remember how it ended. 4w
60 likes9 comments
review
andrew61
Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki
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Pickpick

My irl group discussed this bk this evening. Great discussion of a story that explores cultural expectations of women, weight, + food in Japan. Told by reporter Rika, who interviews Kajii, apparent female serial killer of older men. Kajii is a gloriously manipulative character who twists Rika + her best friend Reiko round + round. A fascinating look at Japan, a country I'd love to visit. Overlong, no murders, but enjoyable + grt for a bk grp

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Readerann
Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki
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Mehso-so

I know this is based on true events, but I was never more than casually interested in how the story would unfold. I had the feeling some of the translation was a little awkward. I‘m also sure I would have enjoyed it more if I were a foodie. 😊

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TheEllieMo
Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki
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Pickpick

I feel like I‘ve been on a bit of a rollercoaster ride with this book. At times, the level of detail was infuriating, I found the behaviour of the main character, Rika, difficult to understand, and I was expecting to give it a low score, but by the end, I felt a connection with Rika. I loved the book, and I‘ve got lots of ideas for simple food involving butter that I can make when I get home from work!

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Night_Reader
Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki
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Pickpick

3/5 🌟

A journalist seeks an exclusive interview with a woman on trial for the murder of three men. Did she commit the crime or not? I loved the premise, the writing, and the themes of gender roles and body image. However, the book was too lengthy. It would have been a much better book if it had been more concise.

17 likes1 stack add
review
LeftyDv
The Thief | Fuminori Nakamura
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Pickpick

Symbolism permeates this book about a thief who is reckoning with his past and his future all at one time. The dark underworld of Japan is its own character - bristling with dread and unquenched desires. Are we to trust the narrative of the thief? Or has he metaphorically stolen something from us as we distract ourselves in the tale? Nakamura leaves it open-ended enough for us to decide for ourselves.

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dabbe
Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki
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Mehso-so

It only took me almost 3 months, but I finally finished this, #CampLitsy! I thought of quitting many times, but something inside of me wanted to finish. Learning about the culture and delicious descriptions re: food was what made me want to finish. The story itself dragged on way too long, and I found most of the characters unlikable, especially Kajii, the so-called serial killer who is set to go on trial. Too much telling and not enough showing.

kspenmoll Like your “ too much telling and not enough showing.” This book took me some time to get through too- very unlikeable characters. 3mo
dabbe @kspenmoll That's probably the one thing I would tell students over and over re: their writing: “Show, don't tell!“ 😂 3mo
Texreader Excellent review. But I loved this book—I thought it was a such a good description about how women focus so much on their weight and what other people think about them. I loved how the main character came into her own and was happy with that. But yes, the serial killer was awful and some descriptions were just gross 3mo
dabbe @Texreader Agree 💯. There were parts I loved (like what you described), but overall, it fell flat for me. It tended to feel like it was going on and on and on, and I wanted Rika to figure herself out more quickly! 😂 2mo
Texreader @dabbe I agree!! 2mo
66 likes5 comments