BLACK CAKE BY CHARMAINE WILKERSON

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BOOK NAME: BLACK CAKE

AUTHOR NAME: CHARMAINE WILKERSON

GENRE: HISTORICAL/ DOMESTIC FICTION

PUBLISHER: PENGUIN BOOKS  

BOOK BUY LINK: https://www.amazon.in/Black-Cake-Novel-Charmaine-Wilkerson/dp/0593358333



BOOK COVER IMAGE



BOOK REVIEW

Black Cake is a book that appears sweeter on the outside but is surprisingly more emotional and profound on the inside. This multigenerational saga is a domestic fiction combined with a historical background that surrounds a family on an unnamed Caribbean island.


Eleanor is dead, and her estranged children, Benny and Byron, are reuniting for her funeral. They meet their mother's lawyer, who hands them down her only legacy. Benny and Byron wouldn't have guessed what their mother had to say to them that she had left behind for her children in addition to the exclusive black cake. It leaves them flustered to learn about their parents' past, and they feel like they never knew them at all. 


Also, the much-treasured Black cake left behind by Eleanor from her Caribbean lineage in her refrigerator is for them to share at a perfect moment after learning about it. But will they find the ideal time and embrace it? And what's the big secret that binds the Bennett family together? The tale unfolds in an exciting way, moving back and forth across nations and decades. 


Surprisingly, this book was too good, surpassing my expectations because I wasn't expecting the suspense and the depth this book had to offer. I went in with expectations of it being a usual domestic fiction that explores racial discrimination and sexual exploitation. But the book went way beyond it and involved multiple themes. It is also written in multiple POVs and each character has an exclusive voice that stands apart.


The courage the characters like Eleanor, Benny, Pearl, Bunny and Mabel Mathilda displayed was admirable and outstanding. I loved the concept of a family recipe getting passed down the generations along with unimaginable secrets. I would definitely like to watch the series adaptation just to see if they had done justice to the book. Recommending all of you show some patience and hold on to the initial few chapters to relish this wonderful family recipe of black cake by Charmaine Wilkerson.



MY REVIEW: 4.5/5

This is a part of #Blogchatterhalfmarathon2024 and #TBRchallenge

#penbooksandscalpel

Comments

  1. theanavlogSeptember 11, 2024 at 10:01 AM

    The book exceeded expectations, offering much more than anticipated. Initially expected to be a typical domestic fiction dealing with racial discrimination and sexual exploitation, it surprised with its suspense and depth. The narrative delves into multiple themes and is told from various perspectives, with each character having a distinct voice that enriches the story. If I am right to comment on your post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RehanaSeptember 11, 2024 at 10:59 AM

      Thats absolutely perfect! I am glad you could grasp exactly what I wanted to say about the book. Thats what I intend to do with my writing. Thanks for reading and commenting.

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