Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini

32 reviews

rebekah_florence's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

“And I not dead. I still here. And people love me.”  The Bread the Devil Knead’s Aletheia is a character that, throughout reading the novel, reminded me of The Color Purple’s Celie.  I like that the Allen-Agostini splits of especially heavy chapters of text by interspersing chapters of flashbacks from Alethea’s childhood.  I could see that she’s truly been fighting and burdened her whole life.  When Aletheia has moments of happiness, I wished that those could continue forever.  I felt, however, that I didn’t get to know Alethea that well.  Perhaps that was intentional, as we know that it’s difficult for her to have her own life, but I longed to feel more connected to the character.  This was not only my first Carribean author, but also my first book written in Trinidadian Creole.  I’m inspired to read more books in dialect, and further, learn more about various Caribbean cultures.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Blood, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism

mganallirt's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

sophieennis's review

dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Toxic relationship, and Violence

myparisbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Rape, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders

janaycleaver's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Incest

Moderate: Miscarriage, Racism, and Death

tina94's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Alcohol, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Incest, Infertility, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, and Sexual content

Moderate: Racism

monty_mo's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Incest, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Death

carlyalynnsia's review

challenging sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Sexual violence, and Violence

thewordsdevourer's review

challenging dark medium-paced

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

3.75

The Bread the Devil Knead is an immensely immersive yet subtly meaty book that would've undoubtedly gotten 4 stars if only I wasn't depressed reading abt the main character Alethea's surprisingly dark and challenging trials.

This novel is unique, I think, in its complex and deep-layered portrayal of an abusive relationship where the female victim can actually afford to leave w/o her life falling apart a lil. But she doesnt, and her reasons - or rather lifelong trauma-rooted conditioning - for not doing so unearth a whole can of worms that are truly disturbing. I feel for the main character while also being frustrated at times.

A lot of important issues - some rampant in Trinidadian society - are also tackled, such as racism, colorism, female identity outside of motherhood, misogyny, and ofc intergenerational abuse and trauma, and Allen-Agostini does so w/o making it overwhelming. Another thing I enjoy is Alethea's distinctive voice that can be both unintentionally dark and funny; it def makes the story even more memorable.

Overall, this is a novel riveting in both its darkness and glimmers of light. It manages to keep me glued to the pg in dread, and that's def sth.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Murder, and Death of parent

Minor: Abortion and Infertility

pr3rn4's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Rape, Pedophilia, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Sexism, Racism, Incest, Misogyny, and Grief