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melodyseestrees'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
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Addiction, Gun violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
annalu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Drug use, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual violence, Grief, and Suicide attempt
casira'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: Addiction, Child abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Car accident, Outing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Lesbophobia and Colonisation
anaisqsn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Incest, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual content, Dementia, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Animal death, Drug use, Homophobia, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, and Alcohol
emma_b_rhodes'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
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Body shaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Murder, Outing, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Racism, Colonisation, and Classism
theroadjones's review
5.0
Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy
between_2worlds'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
What a triumph of a book! Thank you Francesca Ekwuyasi for gifting us this family.
The Adejide family were lonely people orbiting around each other while desperately wanting to reach out to one another but dared not to. Those actions or inactions hurt them so much that they walked through life feeling as if they were alone and they turned to other people that could possibly provide them with some reprieve if only temporary. It still hurts to read this but in a good way. It reminded me why I want to belong and how loneliness can be heavy and all consuming. I think about Kambi who literally lived for her children and I don't know if that's a good thing because she lived but she wasn't really present and caused harm to her children. I think about Banji, a man so devouted to loving his wife and his children that his own family thought he was under a spell. I think about all the people who the Adejide sisters allowed in their orbit and how some left with many scars while others were left with such memories. I think about Timi, Salome, Hachim, Wolfie and so many more.
On my third reread and I only realized that the book starts and ends with Kambirinachi. It starts and ends with life🥹.
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Grief
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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Islamophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
2treads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book! I loved it. The sibling relationship, the incorporation of Yoruba culture, the food, the pain, the tears, the beginning of healing; I was here for it all.
Stories that are told from multiple personal perspectives and in different voices have always been favourites. They expand the narrative and add layers to the story-telling atmosphere and what the author is trying to achieve; develop complex characters and elevate as well as add depth to interactions. It also serves to get and keep the reader engaged in the story.
In Butter, Honey, Pig, Bread, Ekwuyasi has weaved rich, descriptive prose in with simple and clear writing, from which evolves an evocative, interesting, and affecting story of two generations of women- mother and twin daughters- and their entwined, strained, damaged yet beautiful relationship. There were also times throughout the book when the prose became more, drawing a wealth of emotion with the depth of relation of person and experience.
Ekwuyasi uses letters and memories to introduce, build, and ground her characters on the page, and as we read further and further in, we see them grow and learn what caused the rift that pushed these sisters apart and what will bring them back together. As each sister shares their lives with us, pursuing dreams, careers, and companionship, we get to see how they individually reacted to and dealt with a trauma that was perpetrated on one sister, yet became shared emotionally and mentally, and led to the deterioration of their connection. The eventual explosion that accompanies the brewing confrontation is equally painful and necessary. Wounds of hurt and betrayal can never be healed unless the door is opened and the injured parties reveal the truth and depth of their pain. The narrative flow portrays the shattering of a precious bond, the rippling and cascading effects, and the resulting scars, which lead to the development of unhealthy habits in an attempt to cope.
Both sisters turned to damaging manifestations of their identity in an attempt to move their psyches as far as possible from what they endured, instead of working towards healing, finding, and returning to self; whether it was developing an eating disorder, holding unto society's biased norms of body image, using casual sex, liquor, and drugs as measures of survival. Not realizing that these habits were preventing them from thriving. I loved that Ekwuyasi explored a topic that many women and girls face, alone or within a family, and just how far-reaching and affecting trauma can be to an individual's relationships, not only with others, but with themselves.
It was so very easy to sink into this story, becoming immersed and invested in the reconciliation that I hoped was coming, without even knowing if it would be rewarding. The tension and reluctance that each sister exhibited as they were once again in each other's orbit was communicated so clearly and understandably. Their development and realizations as they fully face what had separated them and what it had led to do; their losses, friendships, relationships and the moments of levity and trifling family drama, which everyone can relate to. The inclusion of an Igbo belief added another layer to this family and the tale of their mother and her life as it was influenced by her Kin. It was so creative and definitely deepened the layering of the events that unfolded.
I also loved the infusion of food culture into this story; it fit so seamlessly into the storyline that it was impeccable. There is such power and meaning in food and what it can do for the restoration of individuals and relationships.
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Addiction, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
ce_read's review against another edition
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Vomit, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Outing, Abandonment, and Dysphoria
Minor: Animal death