Name: Jessie Kronke's review of Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh
Item: Cursed Bread
Author: Jessie Kronke

Sophie Mackintosh

WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION NOMINEE • Best Book of the Month: The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Book Riot, CrimeReads • An elegant and hypnotic new novel of obsession that centers on the real unsolved mystery of the 1951 mass poisoning of a French village, by the Booker Prize–nominated author of The Water Cure "Intoxicating, sumptuous, and savage.”—Alexandra Kleeman, acclaimed author of Something New Under the Sun Still reeling in the aftermath of the deadliest war the world had ever seen, the small town of Pont-Saint-Esprit collectively lost its mind. Some historians believe the mysterious illness and violent hallucinations were caused by spoiled bread; others claim it was the result of covert government testing on the local population. In that town lived a woman named Elodie. She was the baker’s wife: a plain, unremarkable person who yearned to transcend her dull existence. So when a charismatic new couple arrived in town, the forceful ambassador and his sharp-toothed wife, Violet, Elodie was quickly drawn into their orbit. Thus began a dangerous game of cat and mouse--but who was the predator and on whom did they prey? Audacious and mesmerizing, Cursed Bread is a fevered confession, an entry into memory’s hall of mirrors, and an erotic fable of transformation. Sophie Mackintosh spins a darkly gleaming tale of a town gripped by hysteria, envy like poison in the blood, and desire that burns and consumes.

A Novel

Cursed Bread

bitter delight

For the most part I found the style interesting, though there was not much substance 

Jessie Kronke

George

don't listen to tiktokers, saying this is good

armoni mayes

i feel like if i read this one more time i’d be smarter

Amna A.

** spoiler alert **
           I dont think I can say much about this book without giving away a major plot point. I personally don't think it's a spoiler since it's hinted at in the book's title. Just a heads up. I'm pretty sure I would've stopped reading this book if I didn't know that this book is a fictional retelling of a mysterious mass poisoning in a french village - mentioned in the book under the author's notes. But beyond the intrigue around this incident (which unfolds in the last 10% of the book), I found the book painstakingly slow with ambiguous details. Dream-like details, so bizzare that I wondered if they had any significance at all. But I guess it corresponds with the book's overarching theme of blinding obsession and desire. The main characters, the village baker and especially his wife, obsess over another couple to the extent of being unknowingly complicit in poisoning the town's only supply of bread. "The world is only ever one breach away from being unpeeled entirely, one tragedy, one glimpse behind the curtain." The tragedy here being the mass poisoning, pushing the main character to snap out of her obsessive trance and either see things for what they are or lose touch with reality. That last part is left vague and up for interpretation.

bitter delight &
Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh

Reviews

Join the club

bitter delight &Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh

Reviews

Join the club

bitter delight &
Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh