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Black Cake

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Black Cake

By: Charmaine Wilkerson
Narrated by: Lynnette Freeman, Simone McIntyre
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Crossing continents and juggling lives, Black Cake is a powerful story of love and loss, kinship and separation, heartache and hope, spanning 60 years in the life of one family.

Eleanor Bennett won't let her own death get in the way of the truth. So when her estranged children - Byron and Benny - reunite for her funeral in California, they discover a puzzling inheritance.

First, a voice recording in which everything Byron and Benny ever knew about their family is upended. Their mother narrates a tumultuous story about a headstrong young woman who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder, a story that cuts right to the heart of the rift that's separated Byron and Benny.

Second, a traditional Caribbean black cake made from a family recipe with a long history that Eleanor hopes will heal the wounds of the past.

Can Byron and Benny fulfil their mother's final request to 'share the black cake when the time is right'? Will Eleanor's revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever?

©2022 Charmaine Wilkerson (P)2022 Penguin Audio African American Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Women's Voices World Literature Heartfelt Caribbean

Critic Reviews

"I was instantly taken in by this multi-generational tale of identity, family, and the lifelong push and pull of home. This novel has a tremendous heart at its centre, and I felt its beat on every page. What an extraordinary debut." (Mary Beth Keane, author of Ask Again, Yes)
All stars
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I loved the way this story is written and narrated.
Really engaging, fast moving and enjoyable.

Beautiful novel

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The narrators do an excellent job, there is too much to say about this book, the story is intricate and overall.... excellent!

Excellent story!

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It’s not often a book grabs me like this one. The story made me want to sit down and devote al my attention to it. Highly recommend it!

Book of the year for me!

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I listened to this book not really knowing what to expect, other than it was on Barrack Obama’s summer reading. I am not from the Caribbean but found the story really intriguing and couldn’t wait to hear all the book. It’s so well crafted, the details place you in each location and the characters are fascinating. I LOVED this book and will be recommending it to my bookclub!! Great job.

Couldn’t put down..great book!

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I struggled to put this book down. The narrator did an excellent job. Highly recommended!

Wonderful gripping story!

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Take a chance on this wonderful book! The narration is amazing & I loved the characters! Such a great read - do it!!

Amazing!

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Fabulous story, the narration and accents added so much to the characters. I was hooked

Entwining tale

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it feels like this writers next book might be amazing. this one was good and I'm glad I read it, but I think there's more in a potentially more carefully edited book. this packed in the themes, not all of the necessary. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't rave about it.

Sweeping story, well narrated.

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This is book nothing less than stunning. When it first started I didn’t think I would like it but a must read for my book club. This is a book about resilience and determination when everything is against the odds you’ll make it. All families have secrets and many times they are kept to protect loved ones. I cried at the strength of the main characters. You will not be sorry you read this book x

Stunning

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Thought provoking, engaging and emotional

One of my top reads this year

Give it a shot!

You won't regret listening to this book

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.