Scan barcode
ariparip's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
TL;DR: extremely slow; horny, but not in the fun way; dark and descriptive, inching towards profundity without ever getting there.
I was so excited to read this book and was so disappointed. It is extremely slow. The audiobook is only 5 hours and I listened on 1.25 speed but it still took me over a month to finish. I kept reading thinking the pace might pick up and because I was interested in the characters, but the prose was flowery without real substance.
I was so excited to read this book and was so disappointed. It is extremely slow. The audiobook is only 5 hours and I listened on 1.25 speed but it still took me over a month to finish. I kept reading thinking the pace might pick up and because I was interested in the characters, but the prose was flowery without real substance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, Sexual content, Murder, Death, Body horror, and Toxic friendship
capacitorofflux's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The character of Violet reminded me a lot of Indigo from “The Last Tale of The Flower Bride” which reads similarly to this. Despite being a short book, most of the first half or even the first 2/3 seems unnecessary.
A chilling, mad tale based on a real life event.
A chilling, mad tale based on a real life event.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Blood, Gore, and Body horror
Moderate: Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
ciwanski's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book definitely is not for everyone. I’m not quite sure it was for me. The writing was good, the writing style and plot were not my favorite. This would make a good A24 movie for sure though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Infidelity
erisouls's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
If you enjoyed reading Bitter Orange you will enjoy this book. It felt strangely similar at times. I liked it enough to read it all in one sitting but I wouldn’t pick it up again, nor do I think I would tell anyone else to read it.
I was incredibly disappointed that Violet and Élodie never hooked up. I realize that thematically, the ending made sense, however I was crushed hearing how cruel they were to her. Perhaps I am the gullible one for thinking they were ever interested.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Body horror, Death, Sexual content, Abandonment, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
agameofbooksblog's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"Cursed Bread" by Sophie Mackintosh receives a three-star rating from me. The book presents an intriguing narrative structure, with the main character's story unfolding through a series of letters written to her lover. However, in the audiobook format, this storytelling approach can become confusing at times. The absence of visual cues or clear distinctions between the letters makes it challenging to follow the progression of events, leading to some confusion.
The core of the story revolves around the town of Pont-Saint-Esprit during a period of collective madness and hallucinations. Mackintosh explores the historical context of a mysterious illness that swept through the town, with some attributing it to spoiled bread while others suspect covert government experiments. The blurring of reality and hallucinations adds a sense of heightened tension and paranoia to the narrative. Although the book is well-written, it is likely more suited for reading in its physical form, where the reader can better navigate the shifting perspectives and keep track of the timeline.
The core of the story revolves around the town of Pont-Saint-Esprit during a period of collective madness and hallucinations. Mackintosh explores the historical context of a mysterious illness that swept through the town, with some attributing it to spoiled bread while others suspect covert government experiments. The blurring of reality and hallucinations adds a sense of heightened tension and paranoia to the narrative. Although the book is well-written, it is likely more suited for reading in its physical form, where the reader can better navigate the shifting perspectives and keep track of the timeline.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
callmeamelia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
bronzeageholly's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There were incredibly sculpted moments in this book, but the majority of the pacing was not for me. Despite the short length, I found it difficult to keep going and often had to convince myself to come back to it with the thought that there might be another brilliantly written section coming up. I saw it described as a “fever” and I think that fits it perfectly - the highs and lows of temperature.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes beautifully crafted characters who it’s hard to wholly like or hate.
The main character experiences a lot of obsessive thoughts around sex, bodies, eating, and violence, and I would not recommend this book to anyone who might find this triggering.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes beautifully crafted characters who it’s hard to wholly like or hate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
charliecc's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Taut, sensual, dark. Like a fever dream. Confusing and claustrophobic. But brilliant.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Death, Animal death, and Sexual content
savvylit's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"Nobody, at the beginning, believes they will debase themselves for love. Nobody believes in anything else but joy."
Cursed Bread is a tale of violent obsession and the narrow line between hatred and love. Narrator Elodie is infatuated with Violet, a wealthy housewife who recently moved to town. Neglected by her own husband, Elodie focuses all of her sexual frustration into her obsession with Violet. As she and Violet get closer, Elodie covets every aspect of Violet's life, eventually hoping to become her.
Sophie Mackintosh is undoubtedly an incredibly talented writer. Her ability to create settings and characters is evocative and dreamlike. Cursed Bread, as a story, had a strong start with its unsettling and unreliable obsession narrative. Yet, as it progressed, I felt that something was missing. The entire narrative alludes to and builds towards a climax based on a real-life mystery. But the execution of that climax was rushed. I know that we, the readers, were only ever able to know as much as Elodie herself. However, the vagueness of the characters' motivations ultimately left me somewhat unsatisfied.
Thank you @netgalley and @doubledaybooks for the advanced reader copy of Cursed Bread in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Cursed Bread is a tale of violent obsession and the narrow line between hatred and love. Narrator Elodie is infatuated with Violet, a wealthy housewife who recently moved to town. Neglected by her own husband, Elodie focuses all of her sexual frustration into her obsession with Violet. As she and Violet get closer, Elodie covets every aspect of Violet's life, eventually hoping to become her.
Sophie Mackintosh is undoubtedly an incredibly talented writer. Her ability to create settings and characters is evocative and dreamlike. Cursed Bread, as a story, had a strong start with its unsettling and unreliable obsession narrative. Yet, as it progressed, I felt that something was missing. The entire narrative alludes to and builds towards a climax based on a real-life mystery. But the execution of that climax was rushed. I know that we, the readers, were only ever able to know as much as Elodie herself. However, the vagueness of the characters' motivations ultimately left me somewhat unsatisfied.
Thank you @netgalley and @doubledaybooks for the advanced reader copy of Cursed Bread in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Animal death, Stalking, and Sexual content
feebles640's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Animal death, Blood, Toxic friendship, Death, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse and Drug use