Episode 6: Butter, Murder, and the Seduction of Stew

In this episode of Confessions of a Book Hoarder, Denise dives into the rich symbolism of food in literature and its feminist dimensions. Talking about Asako Yuzuki’s Butter she explores how appetite, cooking, and meals become metaphors for women’s agency, rebellion, and identity.Listeners will discover how food in novels is never just about sustenance — it’s about power, memory, and desire. Denise reflects on Rika Machida’s journey in Butter, contrasts it with Manako Kajii’s unapologetic indulgence, and situates both within a wider feminist tradition that includes Like Water for Chocolate, The Joy Luck Club and more This episode is a warm, witty, and thought-provoking exploration of how literature uses food to challenge gender norms and celebrate women’s voices.