Strange and disgusting but also a very interesting insight into Japanese society and values. It was very readable and I finished it in a day.

This was such an interesting book and felt really original. I knew very little going into it except that it was meant to be very gods and I was not disappointed! The characters were complex and flawed but I find myself rooting for them. It was also a really good exploration of ideas around gender, misogyny, beauty standards as well as, of course, food. It was interested seeing these things were viewed in Japanese culture but it also felt applicable to other cultures. 

Reviewing this book without mentioning the descriptions of food would be a mistake as they were absolutely incredible. I think this is the first time a book has described food so clearly and perfectly to the point that I have needed to try it myself! I am especially impressed that these descriptions remained so vivid through translation. (And to anyone who has read the book and is wondering: yes, rice with soy sauce and butter is divine.) 

One issue I have with this book is I didn't feel like there was a clear plotline throughout the book. Despite being longer then I think was necessary, I still felt like there were things that needed to be fully resolved. Butter read like a book that was trying to tell me something, and either through my fault or the book's, I don't quite know what is was. I did feel there were sections that were unnecessary or because tedious. 

Overall, Butter was a really enjoyable and thought provoking book which just could have done with being 100 pages shorter!

I can see why this is a classic. It's well written and very powerful for a short story. 

I find short story collections really hard to review, especially with books like this one when I had very different opinions of different stories, so I have reviewed the all individualy.

Build a Body Like Mine: 5/5
I found this one really interesting and gross in the way that you want from horror! It set a good time for the start of the collection.
The Problem Solver: 2/5
I get what it was trying to do but I don't think it was written interestingly.
She's Always Hungry: 4/5
Such good world building in a short story! Really good combination of mythology and folklore with societal issues.
The Shadow Over Little Chitaly: 4/5 Just really funny!
Hollow Bones: 1/5
I can't really review this fairly because most of the time I just can't stand sci-fi!
Goth GF: 5/5 
This was one of the most entertaining to read but also makes you think.
Extinction Event: 4/5
This might be the exception to my hatred of sci fi! 
Nightstalkers: 3/5 
It wasn't quite boring but it wasn't gripping or thought provoking in the way some of the others were.
Shake Well: 5/5
This was so good! Good character development for a short story, and similarly to BABLM it was gross in the best way!
The King: 5/5
This was a wtf did I just read kind of story. Horrifying and hilarious!
Company Man: 4/5
I can see why it was last as I think it closed the book well and felt like it leant more serious than other stories.

Overall I really liked this collection and want to read everything else Eliza Clark has published! It funny and entertaining but quite dark and sometimes gross. I particularly liked the body horror and the stories which were a clear commentary on issues such as gender oppression. 
Even the stories I didn't like as much didn't take away from my overall enjoyment as they weren't terrible just a bit dull!

I enjoyed this book much more than I expected to! The writing was much easier to follow than it often is with books written a while ago. The plotline was somewhat predictable but  that is likely not the fault of the book as since this books publication it has inspired many other works so the plotline has become quite common. Despite this, I never felt bored. I liked all the characters including the books antagonist and overall would really recommend this short book!

Jesus Christ. 

 just so so good