A review by sambolin
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? No

4.0

Black Cake is a story of generational survival and loss and what it takes to heal. Spanning years, a myriad of characters, and a mixture of flashbacks, recordings, and present day we learn the story of Eleanor Bennett- how she came to be and the life she lived- as well as of those closest to her. All tied by the tradition of black cake- a recipe and piece that cannot be taken away from anyone. This book weaves the stories of so many people and so many cultures eloquently and seamlessly. A page turner- it’s easy to follow despite its continual changing POV. I loved learning more about Caribbean culture. The varied perspectives-and how their identities  shaped their perspectives was brilliantly written, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. Every character feels well rounded and elicits empathy. I was fully immersed in the story throughout- even not being a normal genre for myself and some of the heaviness of the topics. Highly recommend. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings