Sophie Mackintosh’s ‘Cursed Bread’ is hypnotic and intoxicating in its prose. This novel is best consumed in one sitting but is impossible to put down regardless. However, it simply wasn’t the type of book I find myself engaging with, nor did it leave a lasting impression on me.

Its structure made it impossible for me to connect to the characters, or grab onto anything at all even. Perhaps this is the point, as ‘Cursed Bread’ primarily concerns itself with madness, but my experience reading ‘Cursed Bread’ didn’t feel all too rewarding.

Sophie Mackintosh’s debut “The Water Cure” used a feminist dystopian treatment of toxic masculinity taken to its literal conclusion, as the starting point for an exposition-light ambiguity-heavy image-filled dark-fairy-tale-inspired meditation – and in my view merited its Booker longlisting.

Her second novel “Blue Ticket” also used a feminist dystopia (a more conventional one relating to societal imposed fertility) which in this case was the commencement of a kind of pregnancy-journal road trip novel, which for me was a little less successful.

Both retained the author’s fragmentary and elliptical way of creating impression, and that signature style carries over to this novel which is in many ways very different - in its ostensibly historic setting (1951 Southern France), its examination of a real-life incident (the titular “Le Pain Maudit” mass poisoning in the small town of Pont-Saint-Esprit) and in its feverish and erotic style.

The novel is narrated by Elodie – the wife of the local baker, who despite having moved to the town on her marriage many years ago still feels something of an outsider, and who is also increasingly frustrated by her husband’s lack of sexual attention and by the ordinary life which he (and the other townfolk – particularly the women with who she shares gossip during their weekly communal laundry sessions) seem to settle for (or even embrace).

Into this mix a glamorous and different new couple enter the town – an ambassador (who quickly gains the trust of the town’s men, particularly with his generosity with buying drinks) and his wife Violet (whose aloofness and difference draw the curiosity but also mistrust of the town’s women). Elodie is slowly drawn into their world and starts to see something of their relationship which seems marked by S&M practices as well as veiled references to the danger of Violet eating the town’s bread.

The story itself is written some year or two later by Elodie, now staying in a “convalescent place by the sea” where she reflects on the past events both by conventional first party, past tense narrative and (in alternating sections) in letter addressed directly to Violet. She also alludes to being visited from time to time by policemen still trying to understand what happened.

In terms of the events themselves, they are shrouded in a rather feverish dream like narrative, the hallucinations experienced at the end by the town’s inhabitants (both in reality and this story) seemingly spreading their air of ambiguity across the earlier scenes – and it is notable that some key events (a boy who deliberately leaps into rather than over a bonfire during a festival, a man who hurls himself at and eventually through a stained glass window in a church service) occur seemingly before the poisoning.

Overall while still enjoying the author’s elliptical impressions, her move into a more sexually charged gothic style did not suit me so well..

My thanks to Random House, UK Vintage for an ARC via NetGalley

Once again, Sophie Mackintosh excels in building a thick atmosphere in no time at all. This short novel is full of tensions, longing and fears.

Set in a small French village just after the First World War, our narrator is Elodie - a baker's wife who lives a dull, unfulfilled (in every way) life. Soon a mysterious young couple arrives - the ambassador and his wife Violet. They begin to integrate into village life and soon Elodie becomes obsessed with both of them. We build to a dramatic denouement which Elodie looks back on in alternating chapters through unsent letters to Violet.

Memory is a big theme here - early on it becomes clear that our narrator is unreliable and is not sure of her memories, even admitting to altering facts in some instances. Characters tell differing versions of the same story throughout the book and you can feel the ground shifting beneath you as you catch snippet of these untruths - never quite sure what is happening and where we're headed.

The story opens well, setting the scene and building tension, and the final sections are satisfyingly dramatic. The problem is in the middle section, where the whole thing loses momentum and starts to drag. We could have done with a little more narrative drive to justify the extra length.

Overall, an interesting, quick read that could have been a bit tighter.

I’ve really enjoyed mackintosh’s previous books, but I’m afraid I found this style over substance. Fortunately it’s a remarkably stylish and entertaining triumph of style, but i was left underwhelmed - I had hoped ot would all come together for me at the end but sadly it didn’t quite click for me and i found the final section hallucinatory but unconvincing.

Others will get more- do check it out as it’s worth the ride even if the destination isn’t for you!

“ if you eat the bread, you’ll die… ”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

elodie is the baker’s wife. stuck in a plain, unfulfilling life, she becomes obsessed with the new couple in town. especially violet, the ambassador’s wife. however, since they moved in, strange thing have started happening…

cursed bread by sophie mackintosh is an absolute fever dream of a novel, with absolutely beautiful writing, dark secrets, and a horror waiting to be committed.

in three words: hallucinogenic, unsettling, addictive. 🕯️

if you liked eric larocca’s books, i recommend you give this one a try! cursed bread is released on the 2nd of march, so make sure you preorder it if you’re interested! 🍞

Booker Prize-nominated author, Sophie Mackintosh’s “Cursed Bread”, based on a real-life unsolved mystery, tells the story of Elodie, a modest, staid woman who finds herself smitten by a mysterious, charismatic new couple who move into town: the Ambassador and his acerbic wife, Violet.

Inexplicably consumed by the newcomers’ intriguing lifestyle and the stories they spin, she can’t help herself from stalking them, eavesdropping on their cryptic conversations, and pining to find a place in their lives.

Meanwhile, beneath the seemingly placid surface of daily life, bizarre things start to unfold: whether it be a group of horses found dead in a nearby field, carefully arranged like a sacrificial offering, or widows sighting their lost husbands walking along the moonlit river, having returned to reclaim them. As this disquieting hysteria grips the town, the reader is presented with a series of cleverly interspersed cryptic mental notes-to-self written by Elodie after the fact (addressed to Violet) which provide just enough insight to help us try and piece together what might be going on.

Despite being loosely inspired by the curious true case of mass poisoning in the French village of Pont-Saint-Esprit, which was originally believed to have been caused by “cursed bread” (“pain maudit”), MacKintosh uses this specific plot point as a springboard by which to provide a fascinating meditation on the myriad differences that exist between residents of small-town communities and life in the big city, and how the collision of these two worlds engenders envy, hatred, voyeurism and a long list of etceteras, all of which here spark unexpected desirous desires.

Mackintosh emphasises the prevalence of small-town gossip as the residents paint their own portrait of how the newly-arrived couple’s life really plays out behind closed doors. And the image they render between themselves serves the reader as a reminder of just how seamlessly our imagination and perspectives can evolve into realities over time, as the stories we tell ourselves – and each other – are passed on, distorted, and archived.

Whilst Violet is particularly reserved and prefers to keep to herself, she strikes up a curious relationship with Elodie, who, fascinated by how the other half lives, attends to both Violet and her husband’s beck and call; whilst Violet’s husband has no qualms when it comes to throwing himself headlong into village life, mixing with the locals in the local pub, albeit playing much more of a spectator role in the nightly banter.

Elodie’s new relationship – and her deteriorating relationship with her own husband – serves as the perfect springboard to shed light on her own and Violet’s respective marriages and how their lives up to that point have defined their conception of what marriage entails. This segues into an intriguing meditation on marriage and how married life transforms over time and how people’s perspectives, and memories, of their respective partners can change so dramatically with the passing of time.

But, regardless of all the aforementioned bonding, Elodie soon starts to suspect that there is something far more sinister afoot than the locals’ gossip might suggest; an unsettling notion that is buoyed brilliantly through Elodie’s aforementioned feverish and ambiguous flashbacks that make the book so irresistible; deftly peppered throughout the book to amass murder mystery tropes in the fold. This said, however, the book strays significantly away from pretty much any murder mystery books this reader has ever read as Mackintosh reinvents whodunit tropes in such an ingenious way that is sure to keep readers guessing, hungry to find out there Mackintosh’s meticulously placed trail of breadcrumbs leads to.

I absolutely loved The Water Cure and Blue Ticket by Sophie Mackintosh, so was excited about the opportunity to devour Cursed Bread.

Mackintosh has a power to evoke strong emotions in the reader, and Cursed Bread is no different. However, this title is more disorientating for the reader, with a slower pace that I found slightly frustrating at times.

I liked that the setting and time period is only subtly explored, which adds to the dreamlike state of the narrative and reflects the blurring of reality described by the main protagonist, Elodie. And although the book is great at building tenson and unsettling the reader, I personally wasn't a fan of the main plot. Something about it felt kind of overdone and repeitiive - less original than The Water Cure and Blue Ticket.

It wasn't until the end that I discovered Cursed Bread is loosely based on a true story, which I found fascinating, as it's such a strange and bizarre story. Upon learning that, however, I was left feeling slightly disappointed with Cursed Bread. I feel like there was missed potential, with too much time spent on the more - in my opinion - mundane aspects.

But that's just me. I'm a Mackintosh fan and will continue to read her future books, but for me, The Water Cure and Blue Ticket are better.

I loved The Water Cure and loved this even more. If you’re a fan of Sophie Mackintosh, you’ll love this! Her books are so dreamy and fantastical and this is no exception.

This is a tough book to review for me because on one hand I absolutely loved the atmosphere Mackintosh created throughout and the themes of lust, obsession and envy, but on the other hand it didn’t quite come together in terms of plot for me personally and I was left utterly confused by the end.

I did really enjoy the authors writing style and descriptions though so this book has definitely made me want to go and try her other books and although this wasn’t a new favourite for me, it’s one I’ll definitely still be recommending to others and can see other people loving!

Thank you to Penguin/ Hamish Hilton for the opportunity to review this book,

Sophie is an amazing writer you get sucked in to this world which feels almost sort of very real! it’s very hallucinatory, strange, exciting and creepy all at the same time.

I had never heard of the French village poisoning in 1951 so to read it in this beautifully written poetic retelling was something else.

I gave Cursed Bread a solid 4stars, it’s a story that I would definitely re-read, Sophie’s is extremely talented and her use of language is beautiful and I can’t say it enough!

The narrator’s obsession with another woman and her life completely captivated me, she was so obsessed with this other life that she couldn’t see what was going on in her own, I can’t express enough how much I enjoyed it I definitely recommend everyone to give it a read!

A lyrical and unsettling retelling of a real-life event. I would have preferred more of the 'curse' and folk horror angle than the protagonist's relationships, but the narrator's (unreliable) voice is done well.

A solid 3.5 star read. Mackintosh is an incredible writer and the voice of the narrator was compelling, weird and unsettling while still feeling approachable and intimate. I loved the uncanny nature of the story, how everything felt a bit unstuck in time, and while there were hints of the outside world, it ultimately felt like it's own little fairytale setting, which absolutely worked to the benefit of the story. Dark without being gratuitous, a total fever dream carried through by Mackintosh's strong and exact command of language. I would love to see this story adapted for the screen one day!

This was great! Very hallucinatory, heated, and strange. A lot in it about desire and shame. <i>Talented Mr. Ripley</i> vibe via the narrator's obsession with another woman. If I didn't know the historical context for this I might have found it confusing. Bravo to Sophie Mackintosh! One of the most brilliant and striking writers of our time. Such stark, strong, singular sentences. Definitely can see the influence of Deborah Levy in her work. Would 100% read this again. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

<i>"The perversity of having nothing left to lose is growing on me.

When you finally get your face into the dirt, it can feel like a relief.

Despite the fathomlessness of human desire I really wanted not much more than the kiss in the hollow of my throat, the dress unbuttoned with chivalry.

I was humiliated, but I wasn't dead yet.

The possibility of transformation, that destruction which can feel a lot like peace when it comes, was in me all along.

Isn't that what we are searching for when we debase ourselves for love, one moment of certainty in this strange and beautiful world.

There are bigger lives, uglier and lovelier lives to come."</i>

I'd not heard of the 1951 poisoning of a French village and so found this strange and unsettling reimagining totally beguiling and unique. I loved the build up of sexual tension throughout the novel & found the "reading journey" made even more enjoyable by the unreliable narrator. I found the book a little hard to read on Netgalley (formatting of the epistolary sections, etc.) so will def be looking to the physical copy for a better reading experience. Thanks for letting me read!

Bit too odd for me. I found the blurred line between fantasy and reality annoying in the end. The writer is obviously talented and her use of language beautiful and evocative.

Cursed Bread softly creeps towards its climax, building an atmosphere that feels oppressive and stifling. The switching perspectives of the two narratives is excellent in creating intrigue, I was constantly examining the earlier timeline because of allusions made in the epistolary narrative. Very enjoyable whilst being claustrophobic, insular.

It’s the 1950s & Elodie lives in a little French village & is married to the baker. She’s pretty bored & unfulfilled then a couple comes to town & she’s transfixed by them. This only serves to magnify her own longing for something more. also strange bad things are happening in the village. This is just the kind of weirdo book I like so I very much enjoyed it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin/Hamish Hamilton for the opportunity to review this book!

A strange, erotic and unsettling story that I absolutely adored from start to finish.

The writing is so fluid, I got completely swept up in its current and was unable to stop myself from drowning in this dark and unnerving story.

There are smatterings of horror throughout but this is mainly a character study. It’s quite heavy being inside Elodie’s head, she’s obsessive to the nth degree with dark and disturbing thoughts as well as plenty self-hatred but you can’t draw your eyes away!

Sophie Mackintosh is a master of words, I’ve enjoyed all her books so far and I can’t wait to read more in the future.

3.5 stars

For me there was a strange dream like quality to this book, part of which would be Dow to the beautiful writing, and part might just be down to me not being sure I fully understood it.
At times it was difficult to know what was real, and what was not.
What was obsession and what was madness.
Whatever it was, it made for an excellent read.
Strange and compelling.
I'm a big fan of strange.

I loved the erotic atmosphere of this but really wish I'd had more of an interpretational steer as to what was actually going on. There's little narrative thread to hold onto, and I frequently felt lost in a fog of words.

There are places where this reminded me of Joyce Carol Oates' 'gothic' novels where the uncanny erupts into a realist setting, at others this felt more hallucinogenic and dreamlike where 'reality' is unstable and mysterious, and what we read cannot be counted on with any security.

In the end, it was Mackintosh's writing which carried me through.
Gorgeous cover though!