Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - Butter Honey Pig Bread

I wasn't connecting with the characters like I wanted to. Maybe if I was reading instead of listening to the book it would have hit different, but 1/3 of the way in and there has been almost no plot. So more of a slow, episodic, picture painting kind of story than a plot driven one

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mitchteri's review

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challenging emotional reflective 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

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headinthepages's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This is such a beautifully written book, one you luxuriate in and savour for every word, sentence and page.

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.

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themillennialjareads's review

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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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