A recommendation of this book from my Aunt Barb prompted me to check it out at work on a break. Well, that break I got through the first five chapters and realized I should probably buy it and take it home with me since I was enjoying it. A few days later I successfully completed what was a puzzling yet lovable book. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake is the first novel I've read by Aimee Bender and overall I was absorbed by the dysfunctional family and the unusual capabilities that each family member had.
At times this story reminded me of Margaret Atwood's Edible Woman and Patrice Kindl's The Woman in the Wall. Edible Woman was brought to mind with Bender's main character Rose not being able to eat, although it was for very different reasons... wouldn't you feel a little awkward eating something made by someone you love and discover that they loath themselves or are extremely depressed? Well this is the exact predicament Rose finds herself in, at times enjoying what emotions emanate from food and at others not even able to finish swallowing a bite. I was reminded of The Woman in the Wall by the mysterious disappearing capability Rose's brother has and how similarly he wished to blend into the background and simply go unnoticed. There are other talents that family of Rose's boast but I need to keep you intrigued enough to read so I'll leave you with one last note of scandal: there's an affair in the book! (Ooooh, aaaah, we all know people love drama hehehe)
I would borrow this :)
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