Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake - Aimee Bender

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, can-do mother - tastes of despair and desperation. Suddenly, and for the rest of her life, food becomes perilous. Anything can be revealed at any meal. 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 and her brother's clash with the world. Yet as Rose grows up, she realises there are some secrets that even her taste buds cannot discern. "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake" is a luminous tale about the heartbreak of loving those whom you know too much about. It is profound and funny, wise and sad, and Aimee Bender's dazzling prose illuminates the strangeness of everyday life.

******SPOLIER ALERT***********
This was a very unusual and interesting concept for a novel - the idea that this child could taste hidden emotions through food. And was one of the unique books i love to find and to read.  I was fascinated by every page, each revealing something new and exciting and I really could not put this book down. I love these novels that just feel one above the norm and finding something truly unique and different.

However their are a few snagging points which did annoy me about the story. The magic and wonder of this child with the gift, and the beautiful style of writing to this story - almost poetic. It very much lends its self to savouring the words of this book like savouring a very lovely cake. The fact her brothers 'gift' was turning into a chair, irritated me. Why cheapen the story and the magic by her brother turning into a piece of furniture???? It was such a nice interesting build up - her brother disappearing and you are intrigued to find out why. But to find out that he was becoming a chair was a real let down.

I think the other snagging point to the book was it felt a bit short, and too many things were left unexplained. Why was her mum having an affair? Why was she constantly depressed? It hinted that their may have been a reason, a tragedy somewhere but you were not told. She had a loving family, and a caring (albeit quiet husband) so it just felt like it was hinted about in the book but just not explained properly.

Aside from those issues i thought it was a wonderful story. It felt magical and was very well written. I really enjoyed the story as it unfolded and i really got immersed into this book.

Recommended but with reservations.