Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini

33 reviews

marthaos's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.0

I really enjoyed this book, which though it tackled some very dark issues, did so with a lightness of touch that made it very readable. It is told in Trinidadian Creole which greatly enhanced the storytelling bringing characters and setting to life.

It tells the story of Alathea, manager of a clothing store, who is regularly beaten and abused by her “lover” Leo. Alathea, who comes across as a strong, independent woman, nonetheless just seems to accept this as part of her lot, and as the book unfolds, we learn how these patterns of abuse originated in her childhood and seemed to perpetuate into her adult years, despite running away, despite finding new lovers….

Leo, who can oscillate between doling out horribly cruel beatings and violent sex, and displaying tender and kind love, is extremely unpredictable and we learn in the story how Alathea fears him, dreads going home, yet just seems to accept it. When colleague Tamika sees some of her bruises and learns what she is putting up with, it sets the story in motion, putting pressure on Alathea to question why this is acceptable. Is there another way?

As the story unfolds, we learn a lot about Alathea’s childhood through her brother, Carl, who later became a priest. Alathea had always enjoyed a close relationship with him until she cut off all ties when she ran from home. Carl is now eager to rebuild this relationship and to help Alathea claim her life back. 

As events come to a head in the Festival of Flames, we see that there are no winners in such toxic environments. We see that the victim can become so trapped and vulnerable that they see no way out and worst of all they feel so degraded that they feel unworthy of anything different.

Overall this was a very well written book and a well-told story. That such a difficult subject matter could be explored without the storytelling or the voices sinking down with the weight of it showed Agostini’s skill as a writer. Without shying away from the realities of this protagonist’s experience or in any way detracting from the horror of such daily violence and its consequences, she keeps the story moving forward, the dialogue hugely adding to the narrative, sparkling with beautiful Trinidadian idioms, she brings the characters to life and mostly offers a strong message of hope even in the midst of such pain.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racism, and Sexual violence

alexiconic's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.75

Original and beautiful, a truly heart wrenching exploration of the life of someone who has achieved a lot, but had to come from hell to do so (picking up some distorted habits and thoughts along the way). Some elements were just a little too much for me, but I wasn’t nearly as put off as I would have expected if you had told me about it before. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Incest, Infidelity, Murder, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Violence, Addiction, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Death of parent, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Rape, and Toxic relationship

josaphina's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Incest, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Racism

emmaasummerss's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

3.75

never quite read anything like this but it did take me a while to get into. the plot twist also disgusted me which I know is the correct response but I don’t know how I feel about it. it was overall a powerful read though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Incest, Violence, Racism, Vomit, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

avinawood's review

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

Read all content warnings before moving forward

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Racism, Infertility, and Miscarriage

Minor: Alcohol, Colonisation, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

mirireads's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Incest, Rape, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Grief, Murder, Infidelity, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Racism, and Classism

Minor: Infertility, Excrement, Death of parent, Drug use, Miscarriage, Blood, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Stalking, and Vomit

collie98's review

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Gore, Murder, Gun violence, Infertility, and Infidelity

stuffinmybrainhole's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Miscarriage, Infertility, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Racism, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Incest, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Murder, Grief, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Alcohol

writingcaia's review against another edition

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

4.75

A book about poverty, violence, sexual violence, and growing out with the stain of a dark past that carries the main character, Alethea, into a life of being abused by her partners, and hiding from herself that the current one might very well kill her one day. 
Still, from the painful pit of that life she is emerging, even when she does not see it so, even when she almost believes she can never have better, and with the rekindling of old friendships and new friendships, a new hope, new opportunities, and darker revelations come to light, and Alethea finally finds her truth and herself.
This is not an easy read, but I find that regrettably it reflects a tale of so many women raised in extreme poverty surrounded by lies and abuse, made to feel worthless, abused as if their bodies are usable, but it happily also shows how hope and love can still be born amidst it all and change those women’s lives.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Gun violence and Racism

cobyisilliterate's review against another edition

emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Incest

Moderate: Miscarriage

Minor: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Racial slurs