Reviews with content warning for Domestic abuse - The Bread the Devil Knead

This book is beautiful and horrific, it was both easy to read and one of the hardest things I've ever read. It tells the story of a light-skinned Trinidadian woman who is suffering domestic abuse, and unpacking a life of abuse starting as a small child.

Over the course of the book, she discovers that she is the child of incest, and her uncle who is also her father, also raped her throughout her childhood and impregnated her.

I'm so heartbroken by this story, it's so horrific and yet it didn't strike me as gratuitous in its violence, abuse and atrocity. It served a purpose in telling a story about a woman who struggles through and tried to process and accept such a difficult past. I also loved that the narration of the book was in Trinidadian Creole. I thought it was so rhythmic, so reading this book felt like being underwater and just processing the words. So many of the adjectives that I wasn't familiar with still felt like such perfect descriptors. This book is a hard read, and has graphic descriptions of

physical abuse, child sexual abuse and incest

, but was still well worth the read. I would highly recommend, but only if you're feeling emotionally stable - this book is one giant trigger warning and content wise a very difficult and heavy read.

Content Warnings

roxodee's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

More depressing than enjoyable.

Content Warnings

lngoo's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

3.75

A unique book, different from anything I’ve read before. At times it felt repetitive but I’m not sure if that’s the difficult subject matter. Because of the subject matter, it’s hard to say I enjoyed it, but I’m glad I read it and appreciated it.

Content Warnings

cappuzino's review

Go to review page

dark emotional funny hopeful 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

4.25

Content Warnings

drapetomaniac's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Content Warnings

giraffeluver02's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional sad

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

4.25

Content Warnings

vnessa_angelina's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative 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? It's complicated

4.25

Truly a mesmerising story that sucked you right in.

Alethea, a victim of domestic and sexual abuse, is a character you can’t help but root for. Having had to defend herself since young at the same time mothering her baby brother (and everything else in between) only to land an abusive partner, this is a tale of self-reflection, uncovering where you came from, making change for yourself and explored the whole notion of how such relationship is processed by the victim and through the eyes of those around them.

Alethea naturally & consciously try to blend into the background and many points through the book, found buoyancy in gratitude and seeking beauty in life through words and poignant colours in things. I suppose it’s sort of a coping mechanism when you have to go home to not just such home but also a very haunting family history. I thought that was a painful showcase of hope and survival.

A story well told and everyone wanting insight into the topic should give this a go!

Content Warnings

jadew2000's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-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

Content Warnings

More...