Black Cake is a dense, rum soaked, fruit filled cake - a part of every Caribbean celebration in spite of its colonial roots - a favorite treat for Eleanor Bennet to bake. It is a mystery then why Eleanor leaves a note to her children, who travel to Southern California for her funeral, that there is just such a cake for them to share when "the time is right". But first they are asked to listen to a long audio recording Eleanor left behind. Daughter Benny and son Byron are not expecting surprises. They have always known they were children of Jamaican immigrants who faced the discrimination rampant in American society together as a family. But there are secrets that go back to the time when Eleanor was named Covey, a fierce swimmer who fought against the constraints in her traditional upbringing in Jamaica. And their father - well that's another story. So back and forth between times and many places the truth is shared, the definition of home and family is challenged and connections between things like black cake and identity are explored. It's a rich, complicated journey.
Friday, November 11, 2022
Fast Girls by Elise Hooper
In the 1928 Olympics, Betty Robinson won a gold medal in the 100m race. It was the first time women could compete and there were many who thought this was a fluke and women should not be competing in such a demanding sport. Inspired by her win, women continued to find ways to race. This is the story of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. While the light shone brightest on Jesse Owens that Olympic year and on the rise of Nazi Germany for many years after, there were women who also felt they had something to prove. This story focuses on three of the women. Helen Stephens, a farm girl from Iowa; Louise Stokes, a young Black woman from the Boston area; and Betty. Through their stories we learn about the racism, sexism and homophobia these women had to struggle against to compete and how the power of team work helped them overcome the obstacles in their paths and lead to a golden moment. Enlightening and inspiring, it is not a surprising that we didn't know about these women - just sad that it took so long.
The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson
Honey Lovett is the daughter of the blue skinned pack horse librarian we met in The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. It is the 1950's in these hollers of Kentucky but not much has changed from the poverty, lack of education and prejudice that Honey's mother so bravely overcame. Now it is Honey's turn. Even though some real libraries have been established in the small towns, they are still not accessible to the people in the hills. Although only 17, circumstances make it necessary for Holly to take up her mother's old route. It turns out that she has much more to contribute to the people on her route than books. This is feel good historical fiction.
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Happiness by Aminatta Forna
I found the two main characters interesting but I think this novel was just trying too hard. Attila Asare is a noted psychiatrist from Ghana who specializes in trauma due to conflict. As an expert he has travelled to many of the war torn areas of the world. In fact many of his former patients turn up in this London based story. Jean is an American urban biologist studying the fox population in the city. They bump into each other on the Waterloo Bridge (symbolic? over-thought?) and the connection is made. Back and forth through time and place, we are offered multiple thoughts about war, family, environment, death, love and even happiness. There is trouble with immigration officers, a lover with Alzheimer's, estranged family members, conflict between nature lovers and city dwellers, a lost niece - just to name a few. In spite of all of this, it made for a great book group discussion.