Black Cake

This book was just not for me. I knew pretty quickly I’d have DNFed it if I was reading it on my own. But for book clubs I always finish a book, even if I’m skimming by the end. And I was definitely skimming.

Family dramas rooted in realism are a hard sell for me to start with, but this one had lifetime movie/soap opera energy. Very melodramatic. That can make for a compelling read, so I think I get the high rating here, but it makes me completely disengage. I can’t fall into a story when I feel like it’s ridiculous. It reminded me of The Heart’s Invisible Furies, though at least in that book it feels more intentionally over the top and well structured. With this story, I was getting more frustrated all the time because yet another dramatic thing or crazy coincidence happened.

I also struggled with the frame for this story. It’s hard for writers to turn off their writerly voice when someone else is supposed to be speaking. Every time Ella’s recording would be transcribed for us I was like, no. This is not a person who is unwell, struggling to narrate her story to her kids. The same thing happens a lot in stories with letters and journals, and it’s hard for me to get past it. We also got more than she could possibly know in the narrative of her past, so I was like, is she saying this? Is this extra from the author?

Lastly, I’d say the writing style wasn’t for me. Sentimental and flowery without really saying anything.

Unfortunately, not a success for me!

Best worst quote:
“Elly’s breasts were just beginning to bud when she finally realized that she and the shells had been meant to find one another. And this was her first understanding of her destiny.”

At this point I don't remember what prompted me to read this. I think it got a favorable review somewhere and I was looking for books to read during BHM. As for the story itself, there were things I liked and things I didn't. I wished the author had given Covey a better explanation for having to stay hidden/away from the island for so long than just "local thugs." I wish the author had identified the island, but I can understand why she wouldn't have wanted to. I wish someone in any of the reviews I read before starting this had mentioned its written in third person present POV, which was so distracting in the first couple of chapters I thought I wouldn't be able to continue (I noticed my brain eventually made everything past tense anyway).

Other people here have complained about the author trying to pack too many social issues into the plot, which I sort of agree with, but didn't really bother me while I was reading. I didn't really care about the mapping the ocean floor stuff, but I just skimmed that. I felt like the author was aspiring to write "literature" but this is definitely just fiction. I don't think I would read something else by her unless the plot/subject really captured my interest.