Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

5 reviews

saraavowlerr's review

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Child death, Death, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Cursing, Grief, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault

kshertz's review

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

What a windy twisty story of ancestory. I really enjoyed learning all about cubby and bunny and gibs. It was heartbreaking when she had to marry little man. I enjoyed the mystery and putting it all together. I did get tired of all the nicknames and changing of names but it kept me reading nonetheless. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent, Rape, Abandonment, Addiction, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Murder, Slavery, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

annabulkowski's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Dysphoria, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Death, Cancer, Biphobia, Addiction, Rape, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Xenophobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Suicide, Slavery, Outing, Murder, Homophobia, Cursing, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Classism, Child death, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Self harm, Racism, and Misogyny

julianh's review

adventurous emotional inspiring 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Classism, Grief, Racism, Alcoholism, and Colonisation

Minor: Homophobia

toofondofbooks_'s review

dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

5.0

I had the privilege of reading this book early through book of the month and I'm so happy that I chose it. From the first few chapters, I had a feeling that this would be a 5 star read. A lot of times when I think that, I turn out to be wrong, but I was delighted to find that this time, I was right. This book begins with the death of Eleanor Bennett, the family matriarch, who has left a voice recording for her two children Benny and Byron that reveals secrets that stretch all the way back to the Caribbean, where Eleanor originated.

This book was so beautifully written. I tabbed a ton of quotes that I absolutely loved throughout, and often had to close the book so that I could gather my thoughts before opening it up again. I think this book does such a good job at capturing grief, and different types of it. The grief you feel when things are unresolved with a loved one who is gone, the grief of losing someone you were close to, and even the grief you can feel for someone who is still alive, but you're not speaking with. I also liked how it carried the theme of food being a piece of home, a piece of your heritage, to the point where Eleanor Bennett's Black Cake became a character in the story itself.

As for the plot, it was really fun trying to connect the different stories together as everything fell into place, and I loved the parallels that were drawn between different characters in tragic but also heartwarming ways.

This has nothing to do with my feelings on this book, but I wrote in my journal: "Every character in this book needs therapy" and I stand by that!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, Murder, Death, Grief, Racism, Violence, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Trafficking, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Police brutality, Medical content, Pedophilia, and Cancer

Minor: Sexual content