No surprise, but I have manic depression. In mid-February, I fell into a depressive episode, and it lasted until about a few days ago. The whole thing ruined all of my routines that help me move through life effortlessly.
It also felt like my self-confidence is destroyed. I try not to talk about this too much. And I decided just to take a break instead and come back when I had my emotions under control.
I wanted to be this interesting, relaxed and fun person on my blog, but I’m not. In real life, I’m an anxiety-ridden nervous wreck who gets depressed when life seems a little too “real” or overwhelming. I felt like I set myself up for failure these last two months.
I’m always so critical of myself, and I sometimes have to remind myself what I did. In February, I ended up finishing two books. I’m honestly surprised I was able to even read two books.
The first being; Daisy Jones and The Six, and the other was; Black Cake. Both of these books blew me out of the water.
Where do I start to express my love for these novels?
Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Summary
It is a gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous breakup.
Honest Thoughts
1970s rock and roll, need I say more? I strongly recommend getting the audiobook. I started by reading this, and someone suggested the audiobook to me, and it made me love the story that much more.
The book is styled like a documentary, a compilation of interviews from Daisy, Billy, Billy’s wife, the band, and their crew. It’s an inside look into the life of a band beyond alcohol, drugs, and egos. I had to google to make sure this wasn’t a real band that I missed out on.
The story and the characters are so realistic. Taylor Jenkins Reid can take you through a whole life journey. Daisy and Billy, the two main characters, are arrogant and selfish. Daisy doesn’t really give a shit about anyone. Billy is a control freak.
I love Karen with all my heart.
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Summary
This multi-generational novel focuses on Eleanor Bennett and her children. The book moves back and forth between present and past as Eleanor tells her life story. The two siblings have to set their differences aside and listen to the secrets their mother will reveal in these recordings. Things they had no idea about their mom are all told through past stories.
Honest Thoughts
I loved reading about the importance and significance of black cake to the Bennett family. Family traditions and cultures are handed down throughout generations. While some traditions fade over time, the one constant is always food.
This is a fascinating and different book. And a painful reminder that we are never guaranteed tomorrow.
As children, we think we know everything about our parents. We learn later in life we sometimes know very little. When Eleanor gets into her origin story, we learn about the Caribbean and how she became who she is. There’s almost a mystery in there, and it’s fascinating. Eleanor, her strength, and her heartbreak were so raw and emotional.
There were so many short chapters, different characters, and social issues that I occasionally lost track of who was who, especially as identities changed throughout the book. You definitely have to pay attention to the chapter titles.
This is a strong one as debuts go, and I look forward to seeing what else Wilkerson publishes.
Quote
“When she fled the island, his mother lost everything, but she carried this recipe in her head wherever she went. That, and the stories she’d spent a lifetime concealing from her children, the untold narrative of their family. Every time his mother made a black cake, it must have been like reciting an incantation, calling up a line from her true past, taking herself back to the island.”
