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A review by liamliayaum
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content warnings: assault, death, murder, poisoning, pregnancy, racism, rape, sexism, sexual assault
In the wake of Eleanor Bennett's death, her children see each other for the first time in eight years to review material to which her lawyer, Mr. Charles Mitch, was given strict instructions to follow. Bryon and Benny soon find out it is a voice recording detailing the story of their ma's tumultuous and secret past. While Byron and Benny have their own differences to work through, they come to realize that they never really knew their ma and that even their father didn't know the extent of their ma's secrets. Will Byron and Benny be able to follow their ma's last wishes?
This novel was lyrical, a wild ride, dense, and filled with a heap of commentary on a vast array of issues. It was a discussion of identity, of family, of choices, and how all three interlock into twists, hills, and valleys that is the story of life. It was a slow burn with multiple narrators and changing tenses, which sometimes led to confusion. The jarring jumping of past to present and present to past multiple times within a scene/chapter made the story difficult to follow at times. The short chapters also added to the difficulty. This is the kind of book that needs to be read in quick succession, else confusion awaits.
The characters seemed to blur together after a while, especially with so many having "B" names. Benny seemed to be the most real character to me due to her relationship with her parents. Her parents tried to give her the world they wanted for her and when she went outside of that perfectly constructed path, it was an affront to them that caused a rift in the entire family. But Benny just wanted to be herself, to pursue her passion in cooking or art and be with whomever she wanted and unfortunately, her parents couldn't understand her bisexuality.
All in all, this was a delightful book that tackled many issues. Perhaps there could have been a focus on a handful instead of a wide plethora to give the story more clarity. The richness of the narratives surrounding the Caribbean, the UK, then the United States were wonderful. And how, in the end, everything always seems to come down to food.
In the wake of Eleanor Bennett's death, her children see each other for the first time in eight years to review material to which her lawyer, Mr. Charles Mitch, was given strict instructions to follow. Bryon and Benny soon find out it is a voice recording detailing the story of their ma's tumultuous and secret past. While Byron and Benny have their own differences to work through, they come to realize that they never really knew their ma and that even their father didn't know the extent of their ma's secrets. Will Byron and Benny be able to follow their ma's last wishes?
This novel was lyrical, a wild ride, dense, and filled with a heap of commentary on a vast array of issues. It was a discussion of identity, of family, of choices, and how all three interlock into twists, hills, and valleys that is the story of life. It was a slow burn with multiple narrators and changing tenses, which sometimes led to confusion. The jarring jumping of past to present and present to past multiple times within a scene/chapter made the story difficult to follow at times. The short chapters also added to the difficulty. This is the kind of book that needs to be read in quick succession, else confusion awaits.
The characters seemed to blur together after a while, especially with so many having "B" names. Benny seemed to be the most real character to me due to her relationship with her parents. Her parents tried to give her the world they wanted for her and when she went outside of that perfectly constructed path, it was an affront to them that caused a rift in the entire family. But Benny just wanted to be herself, to pursue her passion in cooking or art and be with whomever she wanted and unfortunately, her parents couldn't understand her bisexuality.
All in all, this was a delightful book that tackled many issues. Perhaps there could have been a focus on a handful instead of a wide plethora to give the story more clarity. The richness of the narratives surrounding the Caribbean, the UK, then the United States were wonderful. And how, in the end, everything always seems to come down to food.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Rape, and Racism