Review: Caul baby by Morgan Jerkins

New York Times bestselling author Morgan Jerkins makes her fiction debut with this electrifying novel, for fans of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Jacqueline Woodson, that brings to life one powerful and enigmatic family in a tale rife with secrets, betrayal, intrigue, and magic.

Laila desperately wants to become a mother, but each of her previous pregnancies has ended in heartbreak. This time has to be different, so she turns to the Melancons, an old and powerful Harlem family known for their caul, a precious layer of skin that is the secret source of their healing power.

When a deal for Laila to acquire a piece of caul falls through, she is heartbroken, but when the child is stillborn, she is overcome with grief and rage. What she doesn’t know is that a baby will soon be delivered in her family—by her niece, Amara, an ambitious college student—and delivered to the Melancons to raise as one of their own. Hallow is special: she’s born with a caul, and their matriarch, Maman, predicts the girl will restore the family’s prosperity.

Growing up, Hallow feels that something in her life is not right. Did Josephine, the woman she calls mother, really bring her into the world? Why does her cousin Helena get to go to school and roam the streets of New York freely while she’s confined to the family’s decrepit brownstone?

As the Melancons’ thirst to maintain their status grows, Amara, now a successful lawyer running for district attorney, looks for a way to avenge her longstanding grudge against the family. When mother and daughter cross paths, Hallow will be forced to decide where she truly belongs.  

Engrossing, unique, and page-turning, Caul Baby illuminates the search for familial connection, the enduring power of tradition, and the dark corners of the human heart. ~ Goodreads

Source: ALC (advanced listening copy) from Harper Collins via Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review

WHEW! This book. 

*Note: A lot of the plot is right in the summary and I'll try to stick to that and not reveal anything new but this review might be unintentionally spoilery so here's a head's up!

*Content Warning (both for the book & this review): -> miscarriage, cutting of skin (the caul) - on both children and adults both consensual and not, adoption, gaslighting, gentrification, murder of a child - off page but discussed as a court case, Black motherhood/bodies

I don't listen to many books that are *Generic Title: A Novel* 

I am firmly in the camp of reading as an escape to happier places. Yes, some angst is fine (& to be expected) but I fully admit that I'm all about the fluffy, light read. This was not that book.

I picked this one up because 1) I seem to be better at reading genres I wouldn't normally like when it comes to audiobooks 2) the narrator is one of my absolute favorites - Joniece Abbott-Pratt (Grown, Raybearer) but oh man was it bleak at times. 

Caul Baby is a multigenerational saga that tells the tale of two Harlem families and the women connected by tragedy, revenge and prophecy. 

The story is split into two parts. The first half being Laila. Having miscarried many times, she is now pregnant and doing well but the fear of losing this child leads her to the Melancon family. They are a family of women rumored to have the caul - a protective layer of skin some babies are born with. When a piece is cut off and given to someone it provides healing and protection. Laila is ready to buy a piece to protect her unborn child but thanks to a prophecy, the Melancon's make a decision about selling the caul to Leila - setting a chain of events into motion that reverberate for generations to come.

Then there is Laila's niece, Amara, also pregnant, but chooses to give her child up for adoption, is also (unknowingly) linked to the Melancon family for life.

This first part was sooooo damn bleak. I have never wanted children but Laila's repeated losses and pain were palpable. Amara's situation ends differently but is just as harrowing for both her and the child she gave up for adoption - Hallow, who has the caul, something the Melancon family needs to restore their home, power and finances. It honestly hurt to listen to for an extended period of time, but for some reason I wanted to know how the various threads intersected and were resolved - if justice was served - if you will.

Part two of the saga involves those consequences, years later. The Melancon family has their new source of caul and Jerkins does an excellent job highlighting gentrification, white people using Black (female) bodies and the Melancon family catering to that for money instead of helping their own community and how their decisions come to haunt them.

The second half was far less bleak as the new generation of women start to look outside what they've always been told and gain agency, power and a new future. Some from the older generation garner strength from that as well and the Melancon family hits a crossroads.

Yes, this was a tough read but, ultimately, I enjoyed it. Especially the end. It was very fitting for all involved.

There were times that I think the story veered too far away from characters before coming back to them 100's of pages later and a few things didn't feel consistent to the characters -> Hallow was never allowed to speak to anyone or go out alone growing up but then she's all of a sudden holding meeting with other caul bearers. And I was curious if everyone's situation was a s bleak as Hallow's or were some grateful *the gift*? or  or story threads that were dropped -> The girl who put her baby in the trash can. It was such a big topic of debate in the book for both Amara and Hallow but that's all it ended up being. A debate. I guess I thought maybe Amara might take the case up again or something. 

This is definitely not a book for everyone. It was bleak but ultimately hopeful and empowering so I'm still glad I read it. It also brings up a lot of issues worthy of more discussion. Even though it confirms why I can't read books like this very often. I was depressed for days after lol

Fun fact! A caul is indeed a real thing, although not imbued with any magical healing properties as in this fictionalized version. - "a caul is  is a piece of membrane that can cover a newborn's head and face. Birth with a caul is rare, occurring in fewer than 1 in 80,000 births. The caul is harmless and is immediately removed by the mother/parent, physician or midwife upon birth of the child."

Review: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

 Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One last chance to fall in love.

Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year the  they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.

Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since.

Poppy has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together—lay everything on the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees.

Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong? ~ Goodreads

Source: E-ARC provided by Berkley Books via Netgalley 

The Book Pusher: Amber from DuLivre (her review)

~ People We Meet on Vacation was the easy (slight - but lower - angst) read I didn't know I needed.

~ I loved following Poppy and Alex throughout the years (through present tense and flashbacks) from their first meeting and on each and every (platonic) vacation together since. Drinks and good food were had, hilarity ensued, deep conversations unraveled. Other loves came and went but their friendship endured - until it didn't.

~ THE BIG SECRET plots don't usually work for me. It takes so long to build up to the truth of what happened that the pay off is rarely worth it. The secret is always...seriously?? That's it?

 Something happened on Poppy and Alex's last vacation. Something bad enough to tear them apart after a decade of friendship and vacations and led them not speak for two years. 

Without spoiling, I'll say it might have been a tad anti-climatic in scope but it felt true to their personalities to me and somehow worked. For me. 

~ Poppy and Alex's chemistry is 🔥🔥 but they are also quite believable as best friends and I loved how the author allowed them have other meaningful relationships and grow on their own before coming back together and sealing the deal. 

Overall: I was reading another book at the time that was so dark and depressing so this book was like a breath of fresh air. Like having a vacation and new friends for the summer!

Tell Me Something Tuesday: tales of an introvert

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general.

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

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Question: Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

Answer: TOTAL introvert. Let's just say that 6 feet distance, canceled social gatherings and masks have not been one of the things that bothered me about this past year 😂

I do just fine by myself and most of my friendships are of the online variety with texting. I do meet up with people on occasion (pre-pandemic & in the future) but I have a time limit where I can tolerate interaction. I do have a good time but it's usually about a 3 hour window and I'm done lol

I did shockingly well at large events like BEA and being in NYC. I think that's because even though there were tons of people - the interactions were short. I'm fine walking un large groups (like in NYC) as long as I don't have to talk to them. Although any of that kind of thing requires me to mentally prepare and then decompress for at least a week after.  

I never went to the publisher parties or group things where I'd have to talk too much. I'm just not great at people-ing lol

If it weren't for the dogs needing to go out and exercise I would probably be a hermit lol

What about you? Introvert or extrovert?

Tell me Something Tuesday: Blogging Challenges

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general.

Join in by answering this weeks question in the comments or on your own blog.

If you would like to join TMST and receive periodic emails of upcoming topics, please fill out this GOOGLE FORM. TMST is a laid back meme – join in or opt out depending on your interest in topics or schedule.

Question: What have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced to continue blogging and how did you solve them?

Answer: I guess burnout. I've been doing this for over a decade and went from posting 7 days a week to barely turning on my computer.

I've resolved it by not worrying about it anymore lol

I admire the hell out of people who can organize and spreadsheet their way into motivation but that's not me. I've learned to embrace my own path and just blog when I feel like it. 

The hard part, for me, was - after years of building up a following and contacts, I had to let it go. The honest truth about slacking off is that you do lose followers and page views and all that. That was a little tough to let go of at first but I don't want to quit.

So as I've said many, many times before here - I'm just blogging for me at this point. I have my little crew and I love you all and it's all good!

Review: The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

 

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours. ~ Goodreads

Source: Audiobook from the library (Duration: 12:12:18 - narrated by Daniel Henning)

💖 Such a beautiful story of acceptance (of yourself and others), found family, forgiveness, being brave and finding your place in the world. 

👌 I'm going to be honest, this is one of my favorite books so far this year but...there's not a lot going on action wise. Linus is sent to investigate the Marsysas Orphanage, it's very special children and enigmatic caretaker. 

The children are different because of their abilities or for what they are (sprites, gnomes, a green blob, the antichrist just to name a few) and they encounter the usual judgement and fear from locals while being sequestered on the island.

Linus spends his days talking to and getting to know the inhabitants of the island - and that's kind of it - although there is a bigger picture story about Extreme Upper Management and the ultimate fate of the orphanage. 

🙌 What makes this book special is just how wonderful each and every character is. How they all grow and learn to open their hearts and minds to each other - learn to both give and accept love. 

I was so sad when this book ended. I listened to it on audio and I wanted to spend another day in Talia's (the gnome) garden, let Chauncy (the blob lol) take my bags (he dreams of being a bell hop) or give Theodore (a wyvern) a new button collection to hoard. They felt like delightful friends by the end. 

Overall: After the year we've just had, I needed this book. In a world of selfish shitheads - The House in the Cerulean Sea showed me a world where people can do and be better. It was gentle and sweet and felt like I was like being wrapped up in a warm hug.