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A review by booksbytheglass
Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
BLACK CAKE was among my favorites of 2022, and I absolutely squealed with delight when I received an early copy of charmaine’s latest! she just knows how to blend historical fiction and drama so effortlessly, and add in her rich character backgrounds? perfection 😮💨
this story surrounds ebby and her family history, from the shooting of her brother when she was a child all the way back to when her ancestors were sold into slavery. and what a journey it was!
the constant back and forth between timelines and characters was a bit jarring at first, especially since I had no idea how they all tied together (other than the obvious family tree). but it was so heartbreaking and beautiful to read about and how five little words can affect generations…
I absolutely loved the conversation between generational wealth and what it means to be an affluent black family in today’s society - and how everyone justifies their own path in the world… and while I did enjoy the side plot with henry and avery, I didn’t need chapters of them attempting to defend their selfish classist and passive racist actions 😅
and while the ending was beautifully done in its own way, I wanted more answers for the mysteries of the past (and less of YT families doomed to repeat their actions bc they think they’re “trying to help”)
still, another gorgeous and thought-provoking novel from charmaine and one I cannot recommend enough! thank you to netgalley and penguin random house for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: bordeaux cabernet sauvignon
this story surrounds ebby and her family history, from the shooting of her brother when she was a child all the way back to when her ancestors were sold into slavery. and what a journey it was!
the constant back and forth between timelines and characters was a bit jarring at first, especially since I had no idea how they all tied together (other than the obvious family tree). but it was so heartbreaking and beautiful to read about and how five little words can affect generations…
I absolutely loved the conversation between generational wealth and what it means to be an affluent black family in today’s society - and how everyone justifies their own path in the world… and while I did enjoy the side plot with henry and avery, I didn’t need chapters of them attempting to defend their selfish classist and passive racist actions 😅
and while the ending was beautifully done in its own way, I wanted more answers for the mysteries of the past (and less of YT families doomed to repeat their actions bc they think they’re “trying to help”)
still, another gorgeous and thought-provoking novel from charmaine and one I cannot recommend enough! thank you to netgalley and penguin random house for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: bordeaux cabernet sauvignon