Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini

187 reviews

emeralddoha's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Incest, and Domestic abuse

leereseite's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-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

3.75

A very intense Story about a woman who refused for a long time to acknowledge her past traumas and she was shaped by her past. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

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

nokvi's review

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

Amazing book written completely in trini dialect. The Bread the Devil Knead takes us into an deep dive into Trinidadian life as we go thru the motions with Alethea as she deals with the demons of her past and present. Abuse from her childhood has followed her into adulthood till that is all she knows. And the lightheart manner via which these heavy topics are delivered is an icing on the cake as it is reflective of how someone in the situation may view the matter.

No notes 10/10

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Infidelity, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Incest, and Adult/minor relationship

katyhargreads's review

challenging reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Racial slurs

annalu's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Murder

sleepybunnyreading's review

This book feels like it has the making of a compelling piece honestly, I'm sure I would have loved it at another time but the dialect of this book and general themes were not what I needed to read at this moment in time. Honestly, it did put me in a bit of a reading slump but that's probably just me being in the wrong place. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Violence

abbie_'s review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.25

I’ve read quite a few books this year that focus on domestic violence towards women and girls (Tomorrow I Become a Woman, Too Much Lip, How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House) and of these I think The Bread the Devil Knead is the one best written. You can’t really say ‘favourite’ with such harrowing reads, but of the books tackling these topics I’ve read lately, Allen-Agostini has penned the most memorable.

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Written entirely in Trinidadian Creole, the book is narrated by Alethea, a 40-year-old manager of a clothing boutique who usually fends off friendships from other women. Her live-in boyfriend Leo beats her regularly, and Allie is fiercely determined to keep her affairs private. But when a woman is murdered by her lover in front of Allie’s shop and a chance encounter reunites her with her adopted brother, Allie is forced to reassess her life.

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Allen-Agostini makes use of past and present chapters so we get a well-rounded view of all the events that have shaped Allie’s life. And please be warned that these events are some of the toughest you will read about - childhood r*pe, inc*st, physical abuse. Allie’s voice is so distinct and enjoyable (not in content!!) to read that you cannot help but root for her. I loved that after years of not allowing anyone into her interior life, she starts to open up to female friendships. Her relationship with her brother Colin was also a welcome relief from the trauma of her life.

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I think it’s obvious that the author is also a stand-up comedian, because despite the heaviness of the content, there’s a lightness to it through Allie’s humour. The ending is also incredibly cathartic, so although I’d recommend this one with caution, just know that there is some hope at the end!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Child death, Rape, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Murder, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Incest, and Gun violence

vera_cologne's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

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

4.0

That was a hard read. I definitely recommend checking the content warnings. I am glad that I read it though, it was very intense and gripping. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Domestic abuse, Incest, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Violence, and Miscarriage

tinkamasala's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse