A review by nomonbooks
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

challenging emotional informative sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 
This book was really well crafted. As Charmaine says, even when stories are made up they typically contain emotional truths and I felt like this book contained so many. I was particularly struck by the relationship between Benny and her parents. The clear love yet horribly fractured relationship. It really hit me because in most situations of fractured families I can’t imagine getting into that situation. But, in this one there was so much love there it seems like the pitfall was easy. The ending made me cry – and honestly throughout it was so emotional. I also knew nothing about the Chinese-Caribbean experience. I knew that people were brought from India to the Caribbean as indentured labourers but I hadn’t realised it was China too. Also, I hadn’t realised just how many barriers people, like my grandmother faced after coming to the UK for Windrush. I knew about the racism but I hadn’t quite realised the limitation on professional prospects; and just how much of an achievement my grandmother’s qualifications were. Yes, this book was fiction. But it was that magical, educational type of fiction that draws on real emotions, experiences, places and times and weaves them together into a story poignant, beautiful and deftly woven through time and space. This is a must read, and I’m sad it took me so long to start it. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

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