A review by femmenova
Butter Honey Pig Bread by francesca ekwuyasi

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I just finished reading this book and my god. I am a mess in a pool of tears. This book opened a wound, poured salt all over it, closed it back, and told me I am capable of healing. I cannot possibly give it anything lower than 5 stars because oh my goodness, the character study is impeccable. The sociopolitical background of Halifax, Nigeria, London were all flashed out to inform the readers and enable us to see the world beyond just the characters. That is one of my favorite parts of contemporary writing, truly. It took me a while to read the book because of how heavy and realistic it just felt, this author is certainly remarkable. I cannot wait to read more of her books in the future. I regret not purchasing it but I will, eventually. Ugh, ugly crying aside, this book made me so hungry! I will always be a little envious that being in SEAsia means that we don't really have much of the Catalan or Nigerian food described in this book. Ugh, I guess I'll just have to whip a dish out somehow magically... I don't know we'll see. Nay, we'll do. 

I would say that I don't think this book would be for everybody, especially if you are really sensitive to sexual assault by a family member (graphic mention once, inferred multiple times), attempted suicide (off-screen), addiction with drugs, and alcohol. Some of the descriptions can be considered exposition dump, though I view it as immersive writing. The three POVs at the start could be quite difficult to grasp as we are jumping through different time periods of their life. The ending of the book might feel a little rushed and out of nowhere, though the hints of tension were crafted in the story. I guess - if you're looking for a book of resolutions, this isn't it. This is mess, this is betrayal, this is grief, this is forgiveness, this is family trying their best to address their hurt. 
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