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ClareR (5879 KP) rated Black Cake in Books

Jul 12, 2022  
Black Cake
Black Cake
Charmaine Wilkerson | 2022 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Black Cake is an absolute cracker of a book. Told in a series of flashbacks, Eleanor Bennett tells her children the story of her “real” life via a recording after her death. And she has a lot of secrets to let go of. It’s a big shock for her children Benny and Byron.

I loved the chapters on the Caribbean island - I felt transported there (or at least I wished I was!). The contrast between the island and the UK was radical, and must have been a shock for the Bennett’s - and for anyone else travelling from warmer climes!

The real story is about Benny and Byron having to relearn everything they thought they knew about their mother. Even her husband hadn’t known the whole story.

This is beautifully told, and it’s one of those books where you turn the last page with a tinge of sadness.

Highly recommended.
  
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Sorority in Books

Mar 20, 2019  
Sorority
Sorority
Genevieve Sly Crane | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
5
6.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Too weird for me
The girls of the sorority house are a close-knit--if not particularly happy--group. That is until Margot's death. When she's found dead in the house, it changes things, and each girl must deal with Margot's passing and its aftermath in her own way.

Well, this was a weird one. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. We are introduced to the sorority girls in the first chapter by a "chorus," who tells us who lives in each room and a small bit about each one. Except for Margot's room, we're told; Margot is dead.

Then the following chapters detail a snippet of time in each girls' life. Some chapters may take place before Margot's death; others take place after. I was really glad I was reading a hardcopy, because at the start of each chapter, I had to flip back to that first chapter about all of the girls and find that girl's little paragraph or so blurb that introduced them. I could never keep any of them straight--perhaps because there was so many or maybe because most them didn't really stand out to me.

Because yes: I didn't really love this one. The short bits of time spent with each character make it hard to get attached to anyone. While we are technically following the thread of Margot's death, there's really no arc to the story. The book probably speaks to some higher meaning that I just didn't get. Instead it's a bit disturbing (some of the chapters are really awful), and no one is happy at all, which was really depressing. Sure, some of these dark glimpses into people's lives can be a little oddly fascinating, but honestly, it was often horrifying too. For me, it felt like the book was trying to be literary and clever and it just didn't work for me (or, more likely, I'm just not a good candidate for literary, smart books, ha).

For instance, was this one praising or mocking sororities? I really don't know. Margot's death seemed so pointless, so it certainly didn't seem to be doing the idea of sororities any favors. A lot of the book didn't seem to show the sisterhood in a good light. Yeah, I just didn't get it. I'm not sure exactly why I slogged through it, except that the full details of Margot's death aren't completely revealed until the end. I actually liked Margot the best, but she was dead, and yes, that probably sums up this book the best for me.

Overall, this one was too weird for me. I can do dark, but dark, strange, no real plot, and few characters with any redeemable value--it just didn't work for me. I'm sure it is enjoyable for others, especially those that don't need a real plot arc. And I do feel the need to point out that there's a trigger for self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders in this novel.
  
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Sarah (7800 KP) rated They Both Die At The End in Books

May 23, 2019  
They Both Die At The End
They Both Die At The End
Adam Silvera | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (22 Ratings)
Book Rating
Heartwrenchingly good
It's truly a sign of a good book when you get to the end feeling emotionally battered and drained, yet ultimately satisfied and this is exactly what this book manages.

The idea behind this is fantastic and such a unique one. The notion of a an entity called Death-Cast notifying people that they'll die today is a frightening yet thought provoking idea. I spent the entire wondering what I'd do. Whilst this is obviously a book about dying, it focuses really on the two main characters attempts at living within their last hours and it's a truly wonderful read. Rufus and Mateo are likeable and well rounded characters and you get so invested in their lives, but with the added foresight that you know they will die at the end. And there's also intrigue in trying to figure out how they're going to die - I'll admit I didnt predict it and the ending in general is just so sad and bittersweet. This is the first book I've read of Adam Silvera's but I'll definitely be reading more, his writing style is so easy to read and simple yet effective. No overcomplicated prose here.

Yes this is about death but it's also about life and love and really does get you thinking about everything you take for granted. I dont see how anyone could read this book and not shed a tear by the end.