axel_p's review
- 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
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
headinthepages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I absolutely loved the characters and the way their stories intertwined. I loved their complex relationships with each other and themselves, and the secondary characters were brilliant.
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Drug use, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Child abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Homophobia, Medical content, Miscarriage, Vomit, Sexual content, and Suicide
tina94's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Miscarriage, Rape, Gun violence, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Addiction, Homophobia, Alcohol, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Suicide and Body shaming
peachani's review against another edition
- 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
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
lizzie24601's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Spoiler
As such, Kambirinachi's ending felt so sudden. She JUST reconciled with her daughters and IMMEDIATELY wants to die??? Huh???Graphic: Sexual assault, Grief, and Rape
Moderate: Drug use, Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy, Bullying, Child death, Infidelity, Murder, Outing, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pedophilia
nodogsonthemoon's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Homophobia, and Outing
rachaelbeau's review against another edition
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Miscarriage and Death of parent
nicolaparty's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Murder, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Infidelity
kelly_e's review
- 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
Author: Francesca Ekwuyasi
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5
Pub Date: Oct. 1 2020
T H R E E • W O R D S
Delicious • Familial • Inspiring
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Spanning three continents and many years, Butter Honey Pig Bread tells the story of mother, Kambirinachi, and her twin daughters, Kehinde and Taiye. In the wake of two life-altering experiences - the violent death of their husband and father, and a traumatic childhood experience for Kehinde, - the women drift apart. Weighed down by guilt and resentment life takes each of them in different directions. A decade later, the women reunite in Lagos and are forced to face the wounds of the past in order to move forward. This is a tale of love and loss, of grief and healing, and above all of family and forgiveness.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Butter Honey Big Bread is a beautifully written debut novel that explores our choices and their consequences, intertwining flawlessly the pleasurable roles of both food and sex in our lives. The fully fleshed out character development, the complex relationships, and the intelligent and emotive writing make this one of the most powerful books I've ever read. From the very start, the story takes you on an immersive journey, offering a fascinating glimpse into Nigerian culture and tradition, contrasted with Western culture and customs. Through alternative perspectives, this novel also explores queer identity, the long-lasting effects of sexual trauma, and a family torn apart. Although the plot is quite slow to develop, I suspect this was the intention by the supremely talented first-time author. The use of food throughout the story is something unique, and demonstrates the importance food plays in every aspect of our lives, a language of love and connection. It is certainly heavy on content, but that is what makes it a realistic and pleasurable read. Francesca Ekwuyasi has gained a fan, and I cannot wait to read what she writes next. My advice is that you don't want to miss this one!
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers of mother/daughter relationships and family sagas
• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie fans
• Foodies
• Book clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"She used to be much sweeter, softer, kinder, but it's impossible to go through that particular brand of hell and stay untouched."
"But one cannot abandon oneself, try try try as one might."
"The kind of kinship established due to a common sadness, shared loneliness that becomes bearable through laughter and food and the good company of one who understands."
"And that was her principal vice, wasn't it? Desiring to be entirely consumed by any and every moment that quenched the hungry howling loneliness that sat curled down down inside herself. If she could climb down the throat of an orgasm and rest, eternal, in its belly, and if she could sink into and be sealed beneath every delicious bite of every delightful thing - oh, how she would, she would, she would. But life pushes forth, persistently, the afterglow of even the most transcendent climax will fade, every tasty thing is digested and turns to shit. Mundanity is persistent. Periods must be dealt with, blood rots, dishes must be done, everything tarnishes and ends. It's just that beginnings are so seductive, the promise of possibilities."
"These alive bodies... so adept at turning even the most precious things into vices."
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Murder, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Moderate: Abortion, Death, and Grief
stillbirth, overdoseoliverlang's review against another edition
- 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
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.
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