It is our great pleasure to reveal Butter by Asako Yuzuki and translated by Polly Barton as the Waterstones Book of the Year 2024, and Ross Montgomery's I Am Rebel as our Children's Book of the Year 2024.
Asako Yuzuki’s utterly unique novel has become a bestselling phenomenon fuelled by the passionate recommendations of our booksellers. Loosely based on the real-life case of the Konkatsu Killer, Butter dives deep into the sexism and misogyny of contemporary Japan through the suspenseful relationship between a murderous cook and her increasingly star-struck journalist interrogator. Buoyed by a crisp translation by Polly Barton, Butter is a heady, delicious stew of literary ideas to savour.
'Butter is the ultimate word of mouth sensation, a deliciously rich treat of a novel which quickly established itself as the most talked about book of the year. Weaving tense mystery with blistering social commentary and skewering the media’s obsession with true crime, fans of fiction of all kinds will devour Butter. As well as its brilliant storytelling and elegant translation, Butter is a true publishing masterclass which raises the bar for book design. We are thrilled to name Butter our Book of the Year.'
Bea Carvalho, Head of Books
'Butter is the ultimate word of mouth sensation, a deliciously rich treat of a novel which weaves tense mystery with blistering social commentary. As well as its brilliant storytelling and elegant translation, Butter is a true publishing masterclass which raises the bar for book design. We are thrilled to name Butter our Book of the Year.'
Bea Carvalho, Head of Books
A timeless animal story in the grand tradition of War Horse, Watership Down and Charlotte’s Web, Ross Montgomery’s enthralling novel has been clutched tightly to our booksellers’ hearts ever since publication. Telling the moving and exciting tale of a dog who follows his master to war, I Am Rebel boasts a cast of unforgettable animal characters caught up in the senselessness of conflict, yet navigating their way through with courage, heart and humour.
'At a time when children’s literacy and reading for pleasure should be at the top of everyone’s agenda, I Am Rebel stands out as the perfect book to press into the hands of children and the adults who care for them. It is a book to remind adults of the joy and wonder to be found in children’s books, and to help young readers discover a love of reading. Firmly rooted in the traditions of the classics like all the best comfort reads, yet wholeheartedly, originally itself, I Am Rebel is above all a brilliantly fun, gripping adventure which showcases the very best of children’s storytelling. Rebel is the ultimate good boy, our dog of the year: we can’t wait to introduce him and his human Tom to readers young and old everywhere.'
Bea Carvalho, Head of Books
'Firmly rooted in the traditions of the classics like all the best comfort reads, yet wholeheartedly, originally itself, I Am Rebel is above all a brilliantly fun, gripping adventure which showcases the very best of children’s storytelling. Rebel is the ultimate good boy, our dog of the year: we can’t wait to introduce him and his human Tom to readers young and old everywhere.'
Bea Carvalho, Head of Books
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