BUTTER CHAPTERS 1-4

Okayyyy, what a roller coaster! Are you kidding me? It was a low start for me. As I kept on reading; visualizing the food and moments of indulgence from Rika made me drool a little bit. I’m a day time reader and as lunch time approached, all I wanted was a bowl of hot rice, with the drizzle of soy sauce and that cold slice of butter on top to melt in my mouth. I want to know what that tastes, and feels like.

Let’s talk Rika, what’s my take you may ask? Rita reminds me of that immigrant kid growing up in a household of expectations set by the social norms of the world and asian parents. Rika reminds me of myself. Hungry for success, but also hungry for new experiences that changes her world. Dramatically alters her universe, by trying new foods and dishes that excite. You only live once, why not eat what you want right and taste great food! As she enjoys her taste buds and starts to have excitement in life, unwarranted opinions fill in. They see Rika having too much fun. And that’s the asian side of the culture sometimes. 

I remember going back home to the Philippines in 2015 and haven’t seen family in quite some time. I see my aunt for the first time and as many people can relate; “Bry, you have gained weight” hahaha. Tita Miam, I love you but good gracious imagine if I said that about you lolol. Can you imagine? I would be in a fight for decades. Tita Miam, helped raised me; I would never say that though. 

I love the inside battle that Rika has in her head. Always cautious and strategic in her moves in life. I slowly am beginning to think Rika is turning into a serial killer with these small experiences she is having with food and her relationships with Reiko, Makoto, her family, co-worker, etc. ohhh and of course Manako Kajii!

You ever meet some that just loves food? Like love loves food. Always has snacks in their pockets, always knows where all the good food to eat are. Knows where to get certain products in the most odd places. And know people that make the best foods. I know a few, and after reading this first couple of chapters of Butter; they could be the next Kajii. 

Do you really think Kajii committed those crimes? Taking out all those men with her cooking? To be fair, I would love to taste her cooking and also eat at the restaurants she frequented. I find it quite interesting how Kajii is very feminine and accepts the role of being a woman in the world, but in actually she controls the narrative. She is very strategic in the way she moves. A genius in the way she operates in this world. I kind of admire the way she sticks up for Rika during her experiences of men. I can’t say I like Kajii because you know she is a serial killer or atleast is awaiting trial, but I do appreciate her character in this novel. I actually want to know more about her, and understand her perspective from her personally. 

My perspective of butter has drastically changed. I grew up on a bucket of margarine because they said it was healthier to consume. It looked weird in that bucket. I remember it still, the good ol’ Country Crock. Put that on everything. But now, I indulge on that good Amish butter. I will be making the switch to French Butter! I’ll take any recommendations.