Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 6 days

Pages - 400

Publisher - Michael Joseph Books

Source - Review copy

Blurb 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.


My Review

When Eleanor dies she leaves her children, Byron and Benny, a recording that plays about eight hours long. Her son and daughter haven't spoken in years but come together, as she knew they would, after she passes. Eleanor was a unique lady and her children are about to find out just how strong, resilient and secretive she was!

The book bounces around a fair bit, then and now, between different characters, not just Eleanor but many people who played or influenced largely in her life. It is a strong debut novel that examines how unfair life can be but how survival, strength, friendship and love can get you through.

The characters have their own woes and things that have happened or happening in their lives that shape who they are or their journeys. We learn about the Black Cake, culture, heritage and how important identity is and the cost some people face to survive and what they lose in the process.

There is a lot of hurt, love, loss, lies, secrets and large centering around decisions and the reach/impact they have not only on the person making them but those left behind. The book chews off a lot and I think the author does well dealing with many of them, I enjoyed a lot about this book but I got a bit lost in the shifts between people, places and time. I could follow it but it was a lot so it took a bit to get through as I had to keep checking xyz, 3.5/5 for me. I liked it though so will keep an eye out for the authors next offering!

View all my reviews

The Pact We Made by Layla AlAmmar

The Pact We Made by Layla AlAmmar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 288

Publisher - The Borough Press

Source - Review Copy

Blurb from Goodreads

THE PACT WE MADE tells the story of Dahlia who is staring down the barrel of her thirtieth birthday, the age when a Kuwaiti woman from a good family is past
her prime marrying years. Dahlia straddles two worlds: one in which she’s a modern woman living in a modern city, and another where she can’t have male friends, or leave the country without her father’s consent.

With shades of Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, and woven through with reflections on Ariel’s story from The Tempest, THE PACT WE MADE explores ideas of freedom and the duality of being a woman in Kuwait.


My Review

Dahlia is our main character a Kuwaiti woman rapidly approaching her thirtieth birthday, from a good family with strong values and tradiitons the pressure is on Dahlia to marry. Her mother arranges constant "dates" and meetings with suitable males and their families to try and finally find a match for her daughter. As the years pass the less suitable and appealing they seem to Dahlia. She just wants to be free, do her own thing and has zero interest in getting married.

This is a bit of a genteel paced book, we flip between present day and hints of Dahlia's past or actually going back to the past. Something happened that changed Dahlia forever and whilst she has strong values and a sense to do right by her family she also just wants to be happy.

I think we take so much for granted these days, where I come from you are free in pretty much all of your life choices. We know in some countries arranged marriages are still very much a thing and these girls/women have very controlled lives. Dahlia is a bit different, she has friends, a job, she wears make up, she has nights out and had dabbled with some drugs. She has a bit more freedom than some ladies that comes from families that have expectations of planned/arranged marriages.

It makes for a really interesting read as many of us do take our freedom of choice as a given. Very well written, I was drawn into Dahlia's life and the struggles she faced, the judgements both her own and those thrown her way. Friendship, family, overcoming past trauma, there are also passages dealing with self harm and abuse although not covered in huge detail there is enough to give you a more intimate insight into Dahlia as a person. Not normally a book I would pick up but I am so glad I was sent a copy of this. I will be looking out for what this author does next, 4/5 for me this time.

View all my reviews