The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
Published by Doubleday
ISBN 978-0-385-50112-5
At the request of Doubleday, a HC was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
Synopsis (from book’s jacket): On the eve of her ninth birthday, unassuming Rose Edelstein, a girl at the periphery of schoolyard games, and her distracted parents’ attention, bites into her mother’s homemade lemon-chocolate cake and discovers she has a magical gift, she can taste her mother’s emotions in the slice.
She discovers this gift to her horror, for her mother-her cheerful, good-with-crafts, can-do mother-tastes of despair and desperation. Suddenly, and for the rest of her life, food becomes a peril and a threat to Rose. Anything can be revealed at any meal. She can’t eat her brother Joseph’s toast, a cookie tat the local bakery is laced with rage, grape jelly is packed with acidic resentment.
Rose’s gift forces her to confront the secret knowledge all families keep hidden-truths about her mother’s life outside the home, her father’s strange detachment, Joseph’s clash with the world.
Yet as Rose grows up she realizes there are some secrets that even her taste buds cannot discern.
My Thoughts and Opinion: Before I started reading this book, I had read reviews from one end of the spectrum to the other. I went into it with an open mind and high hopes that I would enjoy it. Instead, I found myself not wanting to pick it up and continue reading. I thought it was me and I was experiencing a reading slump. But I forced myself to continue reading and it wasn’t a slump, it was the book. The following is my opinion and my opinion only. Others may disagree. I had read 100+ pages and can honestly say, I did not like anything about the book, the premise of the story line, the author’s writing style nor the characters. In all my years of reading, I have never seen this type of writing, there was not one quotation mark in the 100+ pages I read and it was elementary at best. Unfortunately, I had to put this book aside and move on.
My Rating: 1
DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,
in exchange for my honest review.
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.
Wow, all I have seen are good reviews.. I had this on my list, I'll have to get into amazon and read a portion.
Oh, my! I had such high hopes for this one (perhaps it was the lure of the cover and title?) — I'm going to take a look at it as well, but it's always concerning to hear when someone doesn't finish a book! I had a recent experience that I'm going to post soon about Labyrinth — everyone loved it, but me…? I just couldn't finish it!
You're right – the reviews for this have been all over the place. Sorry it wasn't the book for you.
This book just wasn't a good match for me. And one of the things I love about this community of blogging/reviewing is that we can compare notes and thoughts on books we read. I am anxious to see what you think after you read it.
I had this on my book list of books to read, but, recently removed it. After reading your review, I am glad I did. I had been getting so many books on my Wish list, I decided to remove some. I have way to many waiting to be read on my book shelves now. Thanks for your honest review.
OH NO! I hate seeing those one star ratings….