Helpful Score: 3
I read Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson in late October with my book club, and it fostered an interesting discussion. I knew very little about the plot before I started reading and appreciated the dual timeline format that provided a deep dive into Eleanor Bennett's life.
The title refers to a fruitcake-like dessert featuring fruit that is soaked in rum or brandy for months. The recipe is a Bennett family heirloom and making black cake has united mothers and daughters for generations. The contemporary storyline follows Eleanor Bennett's son and daughter in the days following her death, and the historical plot began in Eleanor's childhood and led up to present day. Both include deep family secrets and unexpected surprises.
While my fellow readers and I generally enjoyed the novel, we were overwhelmed by the number of characters and issues that were included. We noticed every plot thread was tied up by the end, and we felt the story may have better served if some went unresolved.
I definitely related to the brother/sister dynamics in the contemporary storyline (although the roles are reversed in my family). It was especially meaningful to read Black Cake after reading/discussing The Vanishing Half last month and their unique ways of exploring common themes.
As always happens, I appreciated this book more after discussing it with fellow readers, and I'm interested to see what Ms. Wilkerson writes next.
The title refers to a fruitcake-like dessert featuring fruit that is soaked in rum or brandy for months. The recipe is a Bennett family heirloom and making black cake has united mothers and daughters for generations. The contemporary storyline follows Eleanor Bennett's son and daughter in the days following her death, and the historical plot began in Eleanor's childhood and led up to present day. Both include deep family secrets and unexpected surprises.
While my fellow readers and I generally enjoyed the novel, we were overwhelmed by the number of characters and issues that were included. We noticed every plot thread was tied up by the end, and we felt the story may have better served if some went unresolved.
I definitely related to the brother/sister dynamics in the contemporary storyline (although the roles are reversed in my family). It was especially meaningful to read Black Cake after reading/discussing The Vanishing Half last month and their unique ways of exploring common themes.
As always happens, I appreciated this book more after discussing it with fellow readers, and I'm interested to see what Ms. Wilkerson writes next.
The origin of black cake lies in British plum pudding, but the heart of black cakes lies in the Caribbean. For Benny and Byron Bennett, a black cake is a last gift from their mother Eleanor. A cake and a recording of Eleanor telling her story is their heritage. This book covers a lot social and political ground. Yet, the thread always winds back to Eleanor's story, which is emotional and compelling. Given that this is Charmaine Wilkerson's debut novel, I look forward to what she writes next.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/03/black-cake.html
Reviewed for NetGalley.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/03/black-cake.html
Reviewed for NetGalley.
