Synopsis:
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 cake. 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.
The curse her gift has bestowed is the secret knowledge all families keep hidden—her mother’s life outside the home, her father’s detachment, her brother’s clash with the world. Yet as Rose grows up she learns to harness her gift and becomes aware that there are secrets even her taste buds cannot discern.
©2010
My Opinion:
The author had a great idea when she sat down to write this story, but for my tastes, I'm not sure it was put out there right. It just didn't come together for me. Don't get me wrong, I liked the story and understood it, this just isn't a book I will remember a year from now. Great premise or not.
I think some people would disagree, and that's okay, but it was just okay for me in the end.
3/5
~I received a copy from DoubleDay. I was not compensated for my opinion.~
It's certainly a memorable premise. I've had the title on my "look for" list for a while but I keep reading reviews like yours that pushes it down the list. Maybe if it comes out in paperback I'll pick it up. I appreciate your review :-)
ReplyDeleteThis does sound like a rather strange premise for a story, it would have to be very well written to to make a good read. I think I'll pass on this one for now. Thanks for the review Freda.
ReplyDeleteI so wanted to read this. However, I don't think I will be looking into this book now. I have read your opinion and a few others and it just doesn't seem like a book that I would end up enjoying. Thanks for your review, Freda!
ReplyDeleteThis one has a great premise, but such mixed reviews! I think this is one that you either really like or really don't. I will still likely pick it up as it comes out in trade paperback. Thanks for the review!
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