Series title:N.A.
Publishing Date: October 2007
ISBN:9780385720960
Available in:Kindle,HardCover, PaperBack,Audible,and Audio CD on Amazon.
Extra-sensory gifts are not always considered gifts by those who receive them. Such is the case with eight-turning-nine year old Rose Edelstein. Her lemon-flavored birthday cake tastes like aching despair,her brother’s toast is soaked in hallow dread,and the local bake shop pushes out cookies tinged with repressed rage. Unsurprisingly, young Rose does not appreciate all the newfound feelings in her food.
While she may dislike her unique sense of taste, it does lend itself to use. Rose accidentally snoops on her family’s moods and discovers some dark entanglements of loved ones,secretly hidden away in their meals where only she can find them.
“The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake” tells a heartwarming and heart wrenching story of coming to terms with one’s difficult situation, and learning how to deal with it.
Now,down to the non honey-coated commercial discussion. This book was extremely well written. It had a tangible depth that admittedly, did go a little into the dark side. The mild depressive spiral that Bender creates would absolutely not be recommended for readers under highschool age. Why?The character is very forward with her view of the world and its workings,which is part of what makes the book so wonderful. She’s blunt,she’s repressive of emotions, and very genuinely real. Reality is good, but not in large heaps for those who aren’t accustomed to it.
I would recommend this book for young adults,and maybe even more mature adults. It has some harty lessons and lovely perspectives to offer. But no matter your age, prepare to have your heart wooed, stabbed,and resuscitated back over and over again.