Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini

21 reviews

waybeyondblue's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Incest

Moderate: Sexual content, Infidelity, Gun violence, Death, Rape, and Violence

Minor: Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Blood

pyronautphea's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Death, Incest, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Violence, Child abuse, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Miscarriage and Alcoholism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

loesm's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Death of parent, Child abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexism, Racism, and Murder

Minor: Alcoholism

ghiblies's review against another edition

5.0

I finished The Bread the Devil Knead with the full belief that it is one of the most important books I'll ever read in my life. Narrated in rhythmic Trinidadian Creole, Alethea is a vibrant and extremely memorable character to spend time with. She has lived her life suffering abuse after abuse, experienced the worst cruelty imaginable, and yet she carries herself with a spirit that is never defeated. It fills me with indescribable sorrow to say that I was able to draw more comparisons than I ever want to be able to, between Alethea's experiences and those of one of my closest family members. What has gone unsaid between us for a lifetime, Lisa Allen-Agostini has given to me in this book and I am endlessly grateful.

In the book's acknowledgements Lisa says, "Brutality is an inescapable inheritance of humanity. But so is love. As terribly as we can be hurt, so deeply can we be healed. And we cannot stand alone." And I can think of no better way to describe this book, this is the very essence of Alethea's painful, but optimistic story. This book has burned itself into my heart where I know it will stay for the rest of my life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexual violence, and Rape

Moderate: Miscarriage

laurataylor's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual content, Abortion, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

naraya's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• 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: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Murder, Incest, Infertility, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

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

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

daniellekat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.25

Incredibly powerful and raw, while still being witty and realistic. The writing was outstanding and I loved the use of Trini Creole throughout.
If you have this on your tbr I strongly recommend you look at all the content warnings (not just the summary). I don’t think I was prepared enough for some of the challenging content and that definitely affected my rating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Toxic relationship, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, Infidelity, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism, Racial slurs, and Gun violence

Minor: Body shaming

chaoticmissadventures's review

4.0

Heartbreaking, hopeful, and engrossing.  I was rooting for Alethea from the get go, and while most of the book was hard, her journey is one of strength, resilience, and light. I am also in love with this cover. 
I am so glad this was on the Women's Prize List for 2022, I would not have found it on my own.  I do wonder why they have chosen for 2 years in a row Caribbean authors/books that center domestic violence. I am hoping this is not the only exposure that people following this list get of Caribbean women writers.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Incest, and Infidelity