Butter

Butter by Asako Yuzuki ? Waterstones book of the year for 2024. What can I say? It's going to be one that divides opinion, certainly.

It's a dark, disturbing, and utterly captivating exploration of obsession, desire, and the blurred lines between love and cruelty. I didn't love any character, but I did grow to feel empathy towards Rika as the book progressed. It's art in a work of (semi) fiction. The writing is exquisite, both poetic and unsettling. Yuzuki masterfully builds suspense, slowly unraveling the layers of her characters' complex and twisted psyches.

I found myself constantly shifting between repulsion and fascination. There were moments of beauty and tenderness intertwined with acts of grotesque violence. I questioned my own enjoyment while simultaneously being drawn deeper into the story.

I can understand that people may be dismayed by the lack of "thrills" for a book about a serial killer. But it's so much more. The feminist angle cannot, and should not, be ignored. It's a lens into how the world still views women - not just in the east, but globally.

Ultimately, "love" won. Butter is a powerful and unforgettable novel that will stay with me long after I've turned the final page. It's a testament to the power of storytelling and the unsettling beauty of the human condition.

For me, an astounding first read of the year.