The Great Divide: Book Review

The Great Divide

By Christina Henriquez

I loved The Great Divide even though it was not a sweeping historical fiction epic. The Great Divide grabbed me from the first page. Back when I was in my twenties, Panama was a big topic and talked about. You hardly hear anyone talk about it. When I was in college my room mate was a Panamanian. I have not read many books about the area, fiction or non-fiction. I knew a few facts but not enough. Didn't hear much about how the Canal was built, who built it. So, I was glad to read about it.

The book opened my eyes to the history, and the US involvement. A dark part of history. The action of the US and other countries action with colonialism.  After reading, I'm sure there is much more to know about in the people, country, and the culture. For instance, I wasn't aware Panama was actually Columbia, and became part of the US for 100 year lease. Which actually did happen.

 There was illness, sickness, poor living conditions, and poor treatment of the workers which all did actually happen. 

In 1906 in Panama, history is being made. There are few inter-related main characters. They tell their stories and narrate the history which is interweaved into the story. 

It is a page turner and it was captivating, and kept the story moving. There are three main characters, Ada from Barbados, Omar from Panama, and Marian, from the US( Tennessee). 

Ada, a teenager was born out of wedlock, as well as her sister, Matilda. Her Mother, born as a slave. The slave, and plantation owner finds out about her, and her husband's affair. He has no choice but to cast her aside. Ada's mother leaves with her children and a new beginning, and a house.  After the girls become teenagers. Her Sister becomes ill. Ada feels she has no choice but to travel to Panama for work to raise money to help her sister. 

Then Omar, a Panamanian teenager wants to work on the construction of the Panamanian Canal. His Father, and him don't see eye to eye when it comes to trust the Americans. They don't speak for months.

This is where the story becomes interesting. I loved the story. Only two critique of the author. It was too simplistic in writing, and style. I was expecting a bit more. The traditional historical sweeping epic of a novel. Because I felt the Panama Canal was a large project. I think I expected the same from the story. Just my opinion. The other the ending, was wrapped up in a pretty bow with a conclusion. It maybe because I am a literary fiction snob. Most lit-fiction never wraps up knowing the conclusion with character and story. Usually there is no ending, and us as the reader imagine ourselves.

I still recommend it and loved it. If you don't know the history of the Panama Canal, PBS, Discovering the Panama Canal or History Channel has one as well. You can find both of YouTube. 

Black Cake: Book Review

 

Black Cake

By Charmaine Wilkerson

Library Copy

I have seen the novel, Black Cake since it came out. I have so many books to read on my TBR list and in my Kindle ready to read. But, new books keep coming out. I just didn't have the time to pick it up yet. Perhaps the title didn't tickle my fancy. Was I wrong, yes. The novel is awesome. I finally picked up, Black Cake because the book club I belong to chose Black Cake. 

I don't know how to put the book into words how much I enjoyed reading. It was a different type of read. Would you call it literary fiction? a thriller? with family dynamics. I don't know but I loved it. Totally different than anything I've read. I enjoyed reading the imagery of the island, the culture, and society, and the events of Jamaica in the 1960's. I love reading about cultural diversity. Black Cake was all that and more. 

The few gripes I have about the book. 1) Starting the book you must get used to the author's literary style. It took a bit to understand who and what was going on. Once you understand the writer's style you get comfortable reading.2) The author introduces the characters not all at once but slowly introduces them into the story. Which confuses you for a short while.3) Then the different timelines does become confusing as well for a short time. But once it comes together it is a breeze. 4) Short chapters make it easy to digest. 5) The only problem readers may have an issue is. It reminded me of the movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark 2 was a roller coaster ride. Meaning there was too much going on. No downtime to settle and absorb the story. Not everyone would like this writing style of the author. For me, I still enjoyed reading. This may be a writing style trick to make you think how short life is. Just my assessment. 

There are two timelines, and locations one in the present day, and the other in the 1960s. Locations, California, England, and the Caribbean. In the center of the story is the mystery of their mother, Elenor Bennett's Black Cake. 

The children of Elenor Bennett, Benny, and Byron( B and B) are in their mother's home after she passed away. The one request is for the children to listen to their mother's recording. On the other hand is Covey( Elenor), a bi-racial girl raised by "Lin" who is a gambler, and a shop owner on the island. Covey's mother, Matilda left her daughter behind as a young child. 

We meet Covey, who likes to swim, surf, and compete. She also likes to learn and help Pearl make and bake Black Cake which is infused over and over with the tradition and customs in Jamaica. Which is illustrated in the novel. 

Then her friend, Bunny, and she are joined at the hip and do everything together, including competing. Then something happens to Covey and she must find a way to escape her situation which her father caused. I am not going to go any further or I may ruin the book if you choose to read it. All I will say as there are secrets about Covey to be uncovered as you read the novel. And more continents to travel to. 

While reading I was confronted with the question: Do I really know my Mom and Dad? Are there secrets that are eventually uncovered? Others that are held onto maybe because of the shame and not revealed ever. 

The novel has many themes which I was surprised it brought up. Shame, racism, colonialism, bi-racial, elitists, working class,  English society, family Secrets, family dynamics, and shame. I'm sure more that I didn't address. 

No wonder the book is talked about so much by book clubs and now a feature film streaming on Hulu. There is so much to discuss in groups and I recommend it to literary readers looking for a quick read that actually reads like suspense.