'The people who love us the most have the power to hurt us the most too.'

And more people’s lives have been shaped by silence than we think.' 'More people’s lives have been shaped by violence than we like to think. 'Question yourself, yes, but don’t doubt yourself. I was left asking myself how this was a debut novel? Charmaine Wilkerson is a writer to watch and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. This narrative also showcases how betrayals, secrets, memories, and even names, are passed down through the generations, and how it all shapes the past, the present and the future.īlack Cake is a journey through the life of a family changed forever by the choices of its matriarch. Food is one of those cross-culture, non-verbal ways of communicating with and taking care of the ones we love. One of my biggest takeaways was reflecting on the role and importance food plays in our lives. At other times, it felt slightly repetitive, and certainly longer than it needed to be. There are a lot of characters combined with shifting time periods and places, which came across as jumbled at time, and meant I often found myself needing to go back to catch something I'd missed.

There are so many layers to the complex family history that really showcases the messiness that is family. The writing is precise, the structure is strong, and the characters are well flushed out. There's a touch of mystery to this character driven, multigenerational debut. Yes, it took me awhile to settle into the story, but once I was invested, I was all in. With a little urging from some wonderful ladies in my online book club, I decided I must give it a try, and am so glad that I did. The heartbreaking tale Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their lineage and themselves.Ĭan Byron and Benny reclaim their once-close relationship, piece together Eleanor’s true history, and fulfill her final request to “share the black cake when the time is right”? Will their mother’s revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever?Īfter a few 'Read with Jenna' misses, I was hesitant to read Black Cake, Charmaine Wilkerson's debut novel. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett’s death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording.

Book review black cake