Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini

8 reviews

sidekicksam's review against another edition

Written almost entirely in Trinidadian Creole, this book follows the life of Alethea, known to some also as Miss Allie or Girlie. About to turn 40, she is in a relationship with a violent man, but comes before the choice of where she wants to go with her life. As we go deeper into the story, more troubling secrets from her past become unveiled, but how will she deal with them? 

I don't want to waste too many words on this review because I'm having a hard time finding the right ones to describe how amazed, inspired and surprised I was about this book. Exploring themes of domestic abuse, generational trauma, colonialism, colorism and friendship, Allen-Agostini writes beautifully and engagingly. She could've written the story over 1.000 pages and I still would have wanted more, but that made it all the more amazing that she did it in less than 250 and it still made me feel so engrossed in the main character and her story. 

Highly recommend. Go read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Infertility, Emotional abuse, Rape, Death of parent, Death, Racism, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Violence, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Gun violence, Grief, Alcohol, and Incest

paochavezgt's review

dark emotional sad fast-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

3.25

Be careful if you choose to read this book. It can be very triggering. It is heart wrenching. 

This was an excruciating read. I feel physically and emotionally ill. By all means I understand how powerful her writing and storytelling is. There are certain topics and storylines I'm simply not able to digest properly. The dread that i feel for Ali is uncanny, I hope she gets to surround herself with kind women, from this point forward. Although, I do question wether a victim of abuse would still enjoy certain things from their abuser, I believe reading this experience as hard as it is, gives a voice to survivors. Not a feminist voice, if I might say.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Incest, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Violence, and Xenophobia

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. 

---

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

loesm's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

---

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

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

---

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

---

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

lianne_rooney's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Physical abuse, Infertility, Incest, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Pedophilia

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

---

Content Warnings

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

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