“The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake” by Aimee Bender

(or: blogging quickly because I need to leave for the South America party at preschool.)

Several years ago I read Aimee Bender’s novel, An Invisible Sign of My Own. I really enjoyed it, and especially liked her skill with metaphors about inner life and how difficult it is to get along with others. Those themes are front and center in her latest novel, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, in which 8-year-old Rose suddenly realizes the ability to taste the emotions of others through food they’ve prepared.

I was hoping I’d imagined it–maybe it was a bad lemon? or old sugar?–although I knew, even as I thought it, that what I’d tasted had nothing to do with ingredients…and with each bite, I thought–mmm, so good, the best ever, yum–but in each bite: absence, hunger, spiraling, hollows. (10)

Many reviews point out this idea was used famously in Like Water for Chocolate, but I don’t find it a problem to use a similar idea for a very different book. The number of characters in this book is small, yet each is developed well, so that when surprises occur, I found them both pleasing and not all that surprising. This made for an engaging and enjoyable read of an often sad, most definitely strange book. Rose ages from 8 to her early 20s in the book; this could easily have been sold as a young adult novel. The cover and title make it look and sound like chicklit. Those expecting that will most likely be disappointed, or at least confused, by this odd girl, and her odd family, all of which utterly charmed me to the end.

5 Responses to ““The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake” by Aimee Bender”

  1. Amy Says:

    I’m glad I’m not alone! The scene towards the end, with Rose and her father, broke my heart.

  2. girldetective Says:

    I found that scene quite powerful, and felt it added a lot to the book, though a few of the reviewers I read felt otherwise–that it was tacked on, or coincidental, or just unnecessary.

  3. Amy Says:

    I saw those responses too, but for me, it made the book. And I found it quite realistic that he wouldn’t have talked about that before.

  4. Kate Says:

    I’m glad you liked it. You already know how much I enjoyed it.

  5. Amber Stults Says:

    I have yet to read anythin by Aimee Bender but this one shows promise.