ARC Review Book Review by A Book Wanderer

ARC Book Review | Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Title: Black Cake
Author: Charmaine Wilkerson
Genre: Literary, Historical Fiction
Published On: February 1, 2022
Publisher: Ballentine Books
Source: digital
Pages: 400

Synopsis:

In this moving debut novel, two estranged siblings must set aside their differences to deal with their mother’s death and her hidden past–a journey of discovery that takes them from the Caribbean to London to California and ends with her famous black cake. 

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 thoughts

(Spoiler free)

Black Cake is a story about relationships—between parents and siblings and friends and lovers. It’s also a story about secrets—the ones you live with, the ones you tell, and the ones you take to the grave.

“Survival is not enough. Survival has never been enough.”

Charmaine Wilkerson, Black Cake

I’m finding it hard to review this debut novel by Charmaine Wilkerson. It is well-executed—the story is engaging, the characters are fascinating, and it feels very intelligent—but I also came away from this one feeling a bit overwhelmed. While I had no problem distinguishing between the many characters, there were many threads to follow, with very brief chapters, and I felt like I didn’t have time to fully grasp the threads as the story jumped from one character to the other.

The first half of this book had me completely engrossed, but somewhere in the second half, I found myself questioning what could remain when it felt like the story was already wrapping up. We are introduced to a new character who’s very important to the story around the mid-point, however I found it hard to refocus my thinking in a new direction.

Part of the problem is that I feel like the author has created these wonderful characters, but then kept them away from me at arm’s length. I never felt connected. Most of the novel is told from the third person point of view from varying characters—with the exception of Eleanor Bennett’s message to her children—and it felt like a lot of information, with little time to breathe and absorb it all. I wanted to dive deeper into the main characters—especially siblings Benny and Byron—spend more time in their stories, as opposed to jumping around to some of the side characters.

I wasn’t surprised to see plans have already been made to adapt this book into a television series. I honestly think it will be better in visual form than written. Plenty of material here to make this one watchable. And if you’re an audiobook fan, it might be better in that form, as well. I am happy to see this novel is getting some very high reviews, so it definitely could be a case of ‘it’s not you, it’s me’.

I feel like I spent more time talking about what I didn’t like than what I did, but it’s also very hard to discuss this one without giving away spoilers. I would label Black Cake a literary novel. So if you’re a fan of multi-generational novels with strong female protagonists and secrets that span years, you should give this one a try! Wilkerson is definitely an author to watch, as well.

Thank you to the publisher Ballantine Books and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.

(All quotes are taken from the advance copy and are subject to change in final print.)

Rating: 3.75 stars

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Indiebound | Amazon

About the Author

Charmaine Wilkerson is an American writer who has lived in the Caribbean and is based in Italy. She is a former journalist and recovered marathon runner whose award-winning short stories can be found in various UK and US anthologies and magazines. Black Cake (2022) will be her first novel.

charmspen.com

A Song For A Book

The publisher sent me some bookish goodies on the book’s publishing day, so I’m adding these to my review post. When I originally searched for an author playlist I couldn’t find one, so it was fun to see it did exist. I’ll be including it below. I’ve chosen to highlight “Many Rivers to Cross” by Jimmy Cliff. Many of the books’ characters have lonely journeys and this song captures those feelings.

Many rivers to cross
But I can’t seem to find my way over
Wandering I am lost
As I travel along the white cliffs of Dover

Many rivers to cross
And it’s only my will that keeps me alive
I’ve been licked, washed up for years
And I merely survive because of my pride

Will you be adding Black Cake to your tbr? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Wandering!

3 thoughts on “ARC Book Review | Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson”

  1. NIce honest review Dedra. I like your concerns and why you had them. I wonder if I can find the audiobook. I passed on this one, but with so many great reviews, I am going to have to give it a go.

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