July 2026 Book Club
Black Cake
This month, we read Black Cake, by Charmaine Wilkerson. The book follows Benny and Byron, an estranged brother and sister, as they delve into their mother's history upon her death. She leaves them her traditional black cake in the freezer and stipulates that her children hear a recording she's left for them, together. As they hear their mother's story, they learn the truth about her past, family history, reconciliation, and the all-important black cake.
Real talk: I jammed through this book while I was getting the kids packed for camp, so it didn't get my fullest attention. After meeting with my favorite book people to discuss it, I realized it also didn't reach out and grab my full attention. Our verdict is that the story was gentle and non-confrontational. We're bibliophiles, so we surmised that the author's background as a journalist pushed her to "tell" and not "show" us the story. The result was that we found it an interesting story that lacked emotional activation. We weren't pushed, pulled, shocked, or moved by any part of the story — we simply took it in stride. The writing was clear and well-structured, which in this case was a double-edged sword. Wilkerson worked really hard to create clarity, tying up each and every loose end in the story. This left us readers with nothing to gnaw on once we turned the last page. The neat little bows make for excellent reporting, but leave something to be desired in terms of books that stay with you.
Hands down, our favorite part of the book was the throughline of the black cake. My favorite vignette in the novel is when the mother, Eleanor, demands her son go back into the house during an earthquake to save the rum-soaked fruit. I can easily imagine that scene playing out from both Eleanor's and Byron's points of view. For her, it's their heritage, while for him, he's risking his life for a jar of alcoholic fruit sludge. This scene encompasses the theme of the book: regardless of your past, your heritage will be your way forward.
All in all, a fine but forgettable read. Category 2. (If you missed my category rating system, it's at the bottom of the page :))
The Leadership Lesson
Sometimes my lesson comes from a theme from the book and sometimes from a quote that struck me. The book had some really lovely insights about finding your true identity, honest examples of love and loyalty, and a strong nod to values. As a coach and a mother, I couldn't overlook this one, compelling quote:
"Question yourself, yes. But don't doubt yourself. There's a difference."
The research all supports the idea that introspection and the ability to reflect on the choices you make are key components of good leadership. Asking yourself countless questions on the front end to help clear your thinking, guide your choices, and align your values is a necessary step in any decision-making process. Once the decision is made, don't waste time doubting yourself. You took the time up front to consider the possibilities and landed on the way forward. You can do hard things.
Where do you land? Do you question or doubt? How is the difference meaningful to you?
Next Month's Read
Continuing our Summer of Food, we're reading: The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister.
Category Rating System
• Category 1: I hated this book. I would actively discourage others from reading it.
• Category 2: This book was fine. I finished it and didn’t regret the time, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it.
• Category 3: I loved this book. Everyone should read it, then call me so we can discuss it at length over coffee and chocolates.
