The best word I can use to describe this book is : texture. It just melts so well like a spoonful of honey. The prose is vivid! The descriptions are so rich, I could see them in the eye of my mind. What is this beauty that is Butter Honey Pig Bread? The writing is so good, it deprives me of a befitting description.

I found the concept of Obanje intriguing: a spirit which lived many lives and was bound to a body which simply accommodate all of itself. One thing though: I struggled to imagine the characters. This isn’t a failing of the book; the characters are emotionally complex and figuring out the title was such a delight for me; I was placing the puzzle pieces together and trying to draw meaning to this ambiguous title. Here’s what I think:

Butter Honey Pig Bread – each word represents the four sections of this book and its significance is mainly tied to Taiye, the older twin with whom the culinary narratives of this book belong.

Butter was focused on Taiye- our first introduction to it was when Taiye baked a cake to herald Kehinde’s homecoming.

Pig was written for Kehinde- it told of her life with a former lover, a chef, and her miscarriage that preceded the loss of this love.

Honey belonged to Taiye- it was based on her relationship with her father that sparked her loved for beekeeping and honey, and a significant female lover who liked teas.

Bread- a time of reconciliation and healing. While Taiye is baking Agege bread, a soft, dense and stretchy specialty in Nigeria, she receives an email which hints at reunion with a lost lover.

I found the concept of Obanje intriguing: a spirit which lived many lives and was bound to a body which simply accommodate all of itself.

One slightly irrelevant thing I enjoyed was how the twins called Kambirinachi, their mother, mami. It was just warm and intimate and just pleasant.

I just knew this book will end as it did- I’ll try to avoid spoilers but it was such a full circle moment that, despite ending with death, was satisfying. I had book hungover after reading this novel. I had to sit still with my thoughts, combing through them softly until I came to terms that this beautiful story is over.

I don’t think I can easily forget the story of Kambirinachi, Taiye and Kehinde. I loved this book, and I’m truly honored the author graced us with this body of work. I am glad the book community has lavishly praised this novel because it deserves it. We didn’t sleep on it, and everywhere I looked, people were reading it, recommended it, and reviewing it.