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Please Note: I received an advance copy of this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
We can't choose what we inherit. But can we choose who we become?
In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett's death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a traditional Caribbean black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. 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.
Can 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?
Charmaine Wilkerson's debut novel is a story of how the inheritance of betrayals, secrets, memories, and even names, can shape relationships and history. Deeply evocative and beautifully written, Black Cake is an extraordinary journey through the life of a family changed forever by the choices of its matriarch.
Review:
Much like a cake, this book from author Charmaine Wilkerson, has so many layers, it's hard to believe this is a debut novel! The story begins as two siblings are preparing for their mother's funeral. The family lawyer tells them that their mother wants her children to listen to a recording she has made. In it, family secrets are revealed which prompts them to reassess who they thought their parents were. Oh, it's juicy!
But there is so much more to this story. Each character has a strong storyline of their own. Why did Benny, Eleanor's daughter drop out of college? Why is Byron try so hard to be the perfect son? What happened in Jamaica? And why did Eleanor and her husband want to erase their pasts? The is a wonderful book that shows each generation's dreams and heartaches. I highly recommend it.
What I liked:
Characters:
Bryon oldest son of Eleanor tries to be the perfect son. His parents have transferred all their ambitions onto him, as some immigrant do, and he doesn't want to let them down. But all this pressure to be successful has been difficult for Byron. Yes, he has money but, as a black man in America, he still gets pulled over by the cops several times a year. He's still looked over for promotions at work. He is slowly finding that he craves more meaning to his life. He wants to work on the bigger issues of racism, and provide scholarships to other people of color.
Benny is Byron's younger sister. She seems, to her family, to be a flake, dropping out of college, and then flittering from one profession to another. But Benny has had some trauma that she hasn't told her family about. Considering how her parents reacted to her announcement that she liked both men and women one Thanksgiving, it's no wonder. Benny just doesn't feel like her family has her back.
Of course Eleanor's story is at the heart of the book. Try as she might, she sees that she holds no value to her father until he can use his daughter so settle his massive gambling debts. She feels very alone in the world. But she actually has a host of people supporting her in the background. But, even with that support, Eleanor mostly has to rely on herself to get out of a series of terrible situations. Talk about a resilient character!
Story:
There are two stories that alternate within the novel. Part of the action takes place in Jamaica in the 1960's, where Eleanor grew up. Her father is an irresponsible gambler who only sees her value in what she can do for him. With her mother having fled, Eleanor is raised by Pearl, a housekeeper who teaches her how to make Black Cake, a traditional Jamaican dessert that is similar to a fruitcake. She also finds solace in swimming with her best friend, Bunny. Their friendship develops into a deep connection that will be put to the test later in the story.
The other story takes place in modern day California, as Byron and Benny prepare for Eleanor's funeral. Emotions run high as the siblings haven't spoken in years. Their once close-knit family had become fragmented when Benny's father couldn't accept that his daughter was bisexual. There are so many missed moments when Benny and her parents could have reconnected, but didn't. It was truly heartbreaking.
But what I really liked about the story was understanding how each generation had a complicated life, filled with joys and sorrows. It can be very hard to imagine that our parents had these dramas, when we only see them as a mother or a father.
Immigrant Experience:
This book shows how displaced people find a way to create a new home wherever they go. Eleanor does this with cooking, sharing her recipe for Black Cake with Benny. I also loved how Eleanor noticed other Caribbean immigrants wherever she was. Sometimes that was a comfort, hearing the sounds of other people from her home country. Other times, it made her nervous. What if someone recognized her and told people from Jamaica where she was? But Eleanor, and many immigrants like her, manages to create connections with people wherever she is. Although she does miss Jamaica, it's her connections to people that are most important to her.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release Date: February 1st, 2022
Author: Charmaine Wilkerson
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Genre: Literary Fiction
Page Length: 400 pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: If you like family sagas, this book is for you. With many complex characters, this is a novel you will think about for a long time.
