Black Cake had been well-reviewed, but somehow the title and the cover did not appeal to me. So, thanks very much, Aliza, for the recommendation, because I liked the book very much.
An American women, Eleanor Bennett, of Caribbean heritage, leaves a taped message with her lawyer for her two adult children, Byron and Benny, to listen to following her death. Among the many unbelievable secrets her tape reveals is the news of that they have a another sister.
I usually am not fond of the writing style in which past and present stories alternate, with secrets gradually being revealed. But, I found Black Cake to be easy reading, perhaps because I thought characters in both eras were likable and believable.
Some major coincidences help tie the plot together and lead to a satisfying ending. Eleanor's life story is resolved in ways that I could not have predicted.
The black cake of the title becomes a unifying symbol of family ties. As one reviewer writes: the lengths we go to to survive and protect our loved ones and how we carry our family histories, no matter where we go.
Another reviewer: We are left to think about the things we inherit from our ancestors — physical traits, mental and emotional strife, even cultural attachments, like a beloved recipe that has the power to bring us home.
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