Bimpe

🎧 Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson Fiction ⭐️ 4/5 Summary: After their mother’s death, estranged siblings reunite for her funeral and are made aware of a recording she left behind. Through it, they uncover her hidden past; early life in the Caribbean, her forced escape, and the new identity she built far from home. As her story unfolds, it challenges everything they knew about their family. Thoughts: At its core, Black Cake explores identity, migration, and the weight of secrets, showing how truth can reshape the past and open the door to reconciliation. It tackles several heavy themes (addiction, assault, racism, sexual identity, interracial relationships, colorism, etc.) which at times felt a bit too much. The writing is easy to follow, and I was impressed by how seamlessly the author connected multiple characters, timelines, and locations. Another standout was how passion was woven throughout the story; food, swimming, art, environmental protection. I especially loved learning about the cultural significance of black cake. Eleanor (Covey) is the heart of the novel. She’s resilient, complex, and shaped by survival and sacrifice. Byron and Benny, her children, help us process her story in the present. I did struggle at times with Covey’s secrecy, especially with her husband, Gibbs, who was her childhood love and seemed understanding. I also wished her relationship with her childhood friend Bunny had been revisited sooner. Byron and Benny are flawed and not always likable, which made them realistic, even if harder to connect with. Lin also left me frustrated. While he showed up for her in some ways, he ultimately disappointed her in bigger, more meaningful ones. I kept wishing he had shown up differently, considering how much his actions shaped her future, and their end was a bit of a let down. Overall, I enjoyed the book. The story felt unique, and I appreciated the glimpse into Caribbean life and culture. Despite the many characters, timelines, and shifting perspectives, the author brought everything together. For a debut novel, it was impressive, and I also heard the Hulu series is good too. #bookstagram #reading #bookish #blackcake

🎧 A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar Fiction, with dystopian elements ⭐️ 5/5 Summary: Future Kolkata is ravaged by severe climate crises: flooding, extreme heat, and famine, which fuels the characters’ desperation as they do what they must in pursuit of a better life. Thoughts: The writing was impeccable, the characters and setting were so vivid, but the story itself was bleak. I wish the end was more uplifting, especially after so much despair, but that's also what will make this story stay with you for a very long time. The story is set in Kolkata, India, and despite never having been, I felt transported. As a Nigerian, I recognized so many parallels: the heat, transportation, crowded markets, the US embassy, and the weight of being among the few granted a coveted visa. The author brings it all to life vividly, without overdoing it. This is a countdown-style novel unfolding over seven days. Ma secures a US visa as her way out of Kolkata, but it’s inadvertently stolen by Boomba, who is scavenging to survive. What follows is a tense race against time as she tries to recover her passport before her family’s flight to the US to reunite with her husband. At first, it seems clear who the protector and the thief are, but those lines quickly blur. The story leans into moral ambiguity, pushing you to question how far you’d go to protect the people you love. It’s a reminder that in desperate circumstances, things are far more gray than we’d like to believe, and that we often extend ourselves more grace than we do others. I found myself coming back to that tension throughout. This isn’t a feel-good book. It’s often heartbreaking, especially the ending, and captures the weight of survival, bad luck, and difficult circumstances. Still, it feels like a necessary read, one that leaves you with perspective and gratitude. I was rooting for Ma, Boomba and all the characters. It reminded me a lot of another all-time favorite, Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Like that one, I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it in the traditional sense, it evokes something deeper than that. I’m very glad I read it. #bookstagram #readinglife #bookish #AGuardianAndAThief

🎧 107 Days by Kamala Harris Memoir ⭐️ 4/5 Summary: A play-by-play from Kamala Harris’ perspective over the 107 days leading up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, featuring a West Wing–style supporting cast. Thoughts: It’s hard to separate a memoir from its author. It’s a direct reflection of how they see and interpret events, and I really felt that with this book. I listened to this and highly recommend the audio, especially since Kamala narrates it herself. I really liked the format. The day-by-day structure made it easy to follow, and by the time you get to day 99, you can feel the end approaching. The level of detail, from people to places to pivotal moments, made the story come alive and underscored how much had to come together for this campaign to even happen. I also really liked learning about her supportive family. You see it in the news, but I appreciated the depth of her relationship with her husband, sister, niece and grand nieces, in-laws, step kids, etc. I also felt a sense of sadness throughout. I genuinely hoped she would win, so revisiting it all felt like reliving a tough outcome. That said, I thought she was bold in telling her truth so directly. It’s clear she was dealt a difficult hand, being asked to run and win in such a compressed timeline, and I came away with a deeper appreciation for how much she accomplished despite those odds. She doesn’t shy away from calling out key players, including Biden, Newsom, etc., and is candid about the support she did or didn’t receive. I also found the behind-the-scenes around her selection process and ultimate choice of VP fascinating. You’ll either appreciate that candor or feel uncomfortable with it. I was mostly in the former camp. I do wish there was a bit more reflection or vulnerability around what she might have done differently in hindsight. I think both narratives could have coexisted in a very compelling way. Overall, I enjoyed this and hope it’s not the last we see of her political ambitions. P.S. I hope you catch the song choice reference 😉 #bookstagram #readinglife #bookish #107days

🎧 The Correspondent by Virginia Evans Epistolary + Reflective ⭐️ 5/5 Summary: This book follows 70+ year old Sybil Van Antwerp, who lives alone in Maryland and is gradually losing her eyesight. The loss of her sight matters because the entire story unfolds through her correspondence with the many people in her life, from her children to a customer care agent she once spoke to who later becomes a friend. The central themes are aging, guilt, fear, self-discovery, and forgiveness. Thoughts: This book was brilliant. A masterpiece, I dare say. I loved the many characters and their complex storylines, and the humor woven into an otherwise deeply moving story. The epistolary format felt original to me, and the pacing was perfect. As a reader, you uncover the whole story without lengthy dialogue, which was incredibly well done. Swipe for additional thoughts. I enjoy books that are deeply reflective. I have often found that in memoirs like The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch or When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. What makes this book unique is that it is entirely fiction, yet it carries the same depth, wisdom, and emotion. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve recommended it to many friends already. I hope the book and its author continue to receive many accolades for this very fine work of art. The only thing more impressive than the story itself is that this was the author’s debut novel. How exciting. #bookstagram #readinglife #bookish #thecorrespondent

🎧 Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite Nigerian literature + Magical realism ⭐️ 4/5 Summary: This book is based on the lives of the women of the Falodun family who are believed to have been cursed, and can never be in a lasting relationship with a man. The central characters are Eniiyi, Ebun and Monife who are connected by blood and more. The story was set in Lagos, Nigeria. Thoughts: The central theme was the generational curse and the psychology of whether or not it was true (and if that was even relevant) vs. the trauma of it leading to the self-fulfilling prophesies we see unfold. I liked that the characters were layered, that the story was multi-generational and that some of the complex themes of generational trauma and betrayal were well done. There was a suicide, lots of betrayal, lost time, etc., and after a while, some of these start to weigh on the readers mind. Some parts of the story were predictable, and Eniiyi's story at the end felt rushed even though after reading the book, you realize that she was in fact the main character of the 3 women. Overall, I enjoyed this. I was engaged from start to finish, and thought it was generally well done. Swipe for additional thoughts. #bookstagram #readinglife #bookish #curseddaughters

If you enjoy feel-good, boy-meets-girl rom-coms, well.... so do I. Valentine's Day may have passed, but love is always in the air. Romance novels are my go to for lighthearted, 'all is still well with the world' escapes, and here's a list of some recent reads I found delightful 🥰 Shout out to my friend Jane, who inspired this post when she recently asked, 'what romance novels would you recommend I read?' #bookstagram #readinglife #bookish #romcom

🎧 My Friends by Fredrik Backman Coming of Age 👬 ⭐️ 5/5 Summary: This follows the life of 18 y/o Louisa, who's grown up in foster care, is navigating loss and has a love and talent for art, which connects and takes her on a journey with Ted, who's also navigating loss as one of 4 friends that are also connected to art. Thoughts: Very on-brand for Backman: layered characters, quiet heartbreak, chosen family, and the emotional depth we’ve come to expect. I loved that the story centered on deep, formative friendships; the kind that helps you survive difficult circumstances. There was also a bit of suspense around what happens to the characters, which kept me going. Much of the narrative unfolds on a train ride, weaving between past and present, which gave it a subtle sense of forward motion, like the story was literally headed somewhere. I sometimes questioned the odds of the central characters meeting the way that they did, but ultimately, I decided that stranger things have happened in books and real life. I also thought that a few sections lingered longer than necessary, and that the ending felt slightly anticlimactic, but overall, I enjoyed the journey enough that I didn’t mind where it arrived. #bookstagram #readinglife #bookish #myfriends

Made a "quick" trip to my local library, and couldn't be more excited. Having a nearby local library + @libby.app has really been a game changer for my reading journey. Which of these should I start with? 🤔 #bookstagram #readinglife #bookish

🎧 One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune Romance 🥰 ⭐️ 5/5 Summary: This was another 2nd book in a series, but unlike my last read, I hadn't read the first book. It features few characters from the first book and is set in the same place, but this was very much a standalone book based on Alice (new character) and Charlie (Brother from the 1st book). Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. Alice and Charlie- the main characters- were both on a self discovery journey, and this gave them more depth than is typical for romance novels. I liked the friends to lovers trope and the slow burn of it all, the side storylines for some of the other characters, and also liked the small town romance setting in.....Canada! The ending felt a bit rushed after some parts had dragged on a bit, but none of this was enough to taint my overall experience reading this book. As a fan of romance novels, I was pleasantly surprised that this was my first time reading this author's books, but it's definitely not going to be my last. #bookstagram #readinglife #bookish

🎧 The Housemaid's Secret by Frieda McFadden Thriller 🧐 ⭐️ 3.5/5 Summary: This was the 2nd book in the housemaid series, and follows Millie as she continues her work helping women in vulnerable situations, while revisiting familiar characters and dynamics from the first book. Thoughts: I enjoyed the suspense and pacing, and having read the first book, I liked the added context of returning characters. It was also an easy read that I could get through quickly. That said, I didn’t love how much was spelled out, or how over the top some of the scenes were, and generally think it would have landed better if the details were allowed to unfold more subtly. Overall, it was a good thriller, and I plan to read the 3rd book in the series. #bookstagram #readinglife #bookish

Lots of good reads last year, but these were some of the ones that stayed with me: James, The wedding people, and Broken Country. All very different stories, but each one lingered for its complex characters, emotional weight, and the way life sometimes unfolds not in the way we least expect. I found myself thinking about these ones long after I'd finished them, and recommended them the most to family and friends. #bookstagram #readinglife #bookish

These are the books that have been living around me lately. Some are finished, some are half-read, and the rest are patiently waiting. I've been reading more lately, and thought I'd share as I go. #bookstagram #readinglife #bookish