Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini

32 reviews

dramagirl2003's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

it was sad *cue cartoon sad face*, but just like the places i've cried in public, which I read earlier this year, it was enlightening to read some of the reasons why people stay in abusive relationships. I'm rooting for alethea to grow in her non-toxic friendships and become her own woman

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Incest

Minor: Death, Gun violence, Racism, and Vomit

I count sexual content as consentual sex

siobhanward's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This is a book where you should absolutely check the triggers before reading - other reviewers and sites have detailed info on what to expect.

This was a short, but strong work. While the dual timelines felt a bit disjointed at first, as things came together the use of the two timelines became a powerful storytelling tool. I really appreciated that Alethea was not a broken or hopeless character. She was strong and independent and forging her own way, while still lifting others up around her. Too often in these kinds of stories do authors allow their characters to become totally defeated with everything happening to them outside of their control. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Death, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Incest, and Murder

Moderate: Gun violence

gellyreads's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

So this book was hard to read for multiple reasons, but I feel like it was worth reading. It was dark, harrowing, but also uplifting and about how the human spirit can overcome and survive. Who we are and how our identities are shaped by our past and our trauma. (Although I do wish the English hadn't been so broken, especially since she was a reader).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Miscarriage, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Incest, and Domestic abuse

sidekicksam's review against another edition

Written almost entirely in Trinidadian Creole, this book follows the life of Alethea, known to some also as Miss Allie or Girlie. About to turn 40, she is in a relationship with a violent man, but comes before the choice of where she wants to go with her life. As we go deeper into the story, more troubling secrets from her past become unveiled, but how will she deal with them? 

I don't want to waste too many words on this review because I'm having a hard time finding the right ones to describe how amazed, inspired and surprised I was about this book. Exploring themes of domestic abuse, generational trauma, colonialism, colorism and friendship, Allen-Agostini writes beautifully and engagingly. She could've written the story over 1.000 pages and I still would have wanted more, but that made it all the more amazing that she did it in less than 250 and it still made me feel so engrossed in the main character and her story. 

Highly recommend. Go read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Infertility, Emotional abuse, Rape, Death of parent, Death, Racism, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Violence, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Gun violence, Grief, Alcohol, and Incest

gobby_gilbert's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Abortion, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Death, and Classism

dreamersmind's review

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Traumatic story with hopeful feelings at the end. Moral: you are not alone and change is possible. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Infertility, Death, Alcoholism, Rape, and Pedophilia

t33_'s review

dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

WOW.
Sad, intense, empowering, womanhood, emotional. I don’t think I’ve ever read something like this before but I am glad that I have. My God, this book was something else! I barely write reviews and I don’t give many books 5 stars but this story was impeccable. 

10/10 across the board! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Infertility, Death, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Incest, and Emotional abuse

kefeshe's review

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Absolutely stunning writing but it was intense! That's the best way I could describe it, everything this woman experiences is laid out beautifully in all its ugly detail. I've not read many Trini authors, but it's was lovely to read the familiar accent, foods and  places throughout! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

Moderate: Death and Gun violence

Minor: Incest

dallastodd's review

challenging dark funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Infertility and Miscarriage

drapetomaniac's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Gun violence, Rape, Child abuse, Death, and Sexual assault