A review by serendipitysbooks
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

emotional reflective medium-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

4.0

 
I did have plans to make a Black Cake to use in this post but it’s Easter so a Hot Cross Bun will have to do!

I loved the layers and depth in this story. Like a special cake recipe it takes ingredients, some common and some less so, blending them into something fresh and unique, that you’ve never had before.

This is a dual timeline family drama centred on Eleanor Bennet who, on her death, leaves a recording revealing some surprising life secrets to her adult children Byron and Benny. Her story involves plenty of ups, downs and unexpected twists. This was a family story that touched on many social issues including addiction, racial discrimination, sexual identity, immigration, colonisation and more. This is something I enjoy. The writing was strong, the storytelling compelling, the ending satisfying. There were definitely some heavy elements so check for content warnings. I appreciated the way these were balanced by other aspects of the story such as the focus on the ocean and the role of food, both of which brought joy and a sense of belonging.

An excellent debut. 
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