Reviews tagging 'Infertility'

Butter Honey Pig Bread by francesca ekwuyasi

6 reviews

axel_p's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

OMG, I absolutely loved this book.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Drug use, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Miscarriage, Lesbophobia, Infertility, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Homophobia, Death, Bullying, Classism, Grief, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Addiction, Body shaming, Suicide attempt, Racism, Fatphobia, Alcoholism, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Islamophobia, Infidelity, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

elizlizabeth's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

It's a very cinematic book, you can imagine the characters and situations being adapted to screen in a very enriching way. The narration voice is real good in conveying bias and immersing you in the head of each character, the downside in my opinion were the dialogues as they felt too snappy and light in a way that took out from the story. In the same vein, some passages especially on Taiye's story were too concerned with getting woke points for the sake of it; it would've been nice to see the "social justice warrior" aspect play a more active part on the story rather than have it be an accessory in the background. I liked the ending (? it isn't particularly happy but I wouldn't say it was tear-wrenching which was nice given the trend in contemporary lit lately.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Homophobia, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Car accident, Infertility, Rape, and Addiction

themillennialjareads's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

5.0

"I am more massive than you can fathom"


Imagine being mothered by an ethereal being from another realm who chose to create roots on earth regardless of the consequences of a life she wasn't supposed to have. Kambirinachi's character pulled me in, tugging at vague memories of the Bhagavad Gita, the first time I remember asking questions of what is and what happens to the soul, spirit, body and mind. As someone who's fascinated by cultures and religions, of course those were the first places I went in my questioning.


This story reminded of the impermanence and fragility of humanity and how much we don't know. How much we can barely imagine but believe in.


Is any of *THIS* really determined by us? What comes after? Should we fear or welcome it?


I was fascinated by how Kambirinachi spoke of the body as a cage, with so many inhibitions and that's outside of the things (like size, expectations, shame, fear, crimes, desires...) that we as humans attach to and impose on bodies. Almost every religion has different ideas about what happens and what should happen to the body after life. Which parts of ourselves go with it and which parts survive? Which parts are our true essence? Is it our soul or our mind or our spirit? Or are they all one and the same?


"Death is not, in fact, a dreary, hooded, scythe-bearing bore. She is a doorway personified, vibrant and hilarious, quite whimsical, actually. But she takes her job very seriously, more diligently than the tides that pulls back the ocean's skirts."


I can see why this novel is loved. This author expresses herself so phenomenally, it's impossible not to pause while reading to better take in what's being said. I'm still not over it, I need to read more from her. It's definitely a favorite of the year, it's a perfect combination of some of my favourite things.


Many beings, melodies and voices guided this family across continents and to the very end. Taiye's adventures and pleasures were absolutely delicious and my heart broke for both her and Kehinde. What's the point of being a twin without the full experience? The parallel experiences gave me what I wanted, they were unstoppable, pushing through all the trauma and resistance. I found myself wanting to get to Kehinde's chapters faster, maybe it's the first person narrative that made it so alluring and seem so much more personal or maybe because she was the one with more vivid, somewhat reliable memories. Taiye struggled with suppressed and repressed memories and we see the fracture that aided in expanding. Even inherited traits and gifts moved through the family without each line knowing because of the disconnect and silence. But despite everything, the ending met us beautifully and there was nothing else but a feeling of peace for the characters. I almost forget they are not real.


I can't possibly fit everything I need to say here. If you're late to the party like me go read this book for the new year, it's a gift

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage

Moderate: Sexual assault, Death, Pedophilia, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Homophobia, Infertility, and Abandonment

peachani's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Death of parent, Homophobia, Incest, Infertility, Murder, Outing, Infidelity, Pedophilia, and Sexual content

Moderate: Pregnancy, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Fatphobia, Grief, Rape, Body shaming, Car accident, Drug use, Dysphoria, Racism, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Dementia, Biphobia, Bullying, Vomit, Blood, Infertility, and Ableism

laratboulos's review

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Body shaming, Sexual violence, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, and Fatphobia

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Child abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Infertility

oliverlang's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

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

5.0

This book was very easy to get lost in reading. A lot of tough topics were covered so there are several TWs I've tagged (Rape, Miscarriages, Conversion Therapy, Homophobia with Religion to name a few).

There are very detailed descriptions of animal slaughter with the intent to eat which I wish were less graphic and sometimes I felt some aspects of the magical-realism could have been done without.

Also seemed like there were niche words shoehorned in there that the author just really wanted to use but was unsure of how to use them in a sentence? 

Other than those few things, I did really enjoy this beautifully queer book and I'll miss reading it and seeing the relationships unfold.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Eating disorder, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit