I loved this book! I heard about it on one of Oprah's reading lists from a while back, and so I thought it'd be a fun read. I suggested it to my book club group, and they thought so, too, so we read it for April. You can get yourself a copy on Amazon right now (affiliate link!).
Aimee Bender is a true talent in my opinion. She's got a way of capturing your mind and holding onto it in a huge way. She grabbed me and pulled me in and I really wanted to know more.Rose, our main character, is an interesting girl. We grow with her. We watch her overwhelmed with emotion as she tastes the feelings of others through her food. She experiments, hides, explodes. She watches those around her, oblivious to all she is experiencing and decides to hide her talent. She succeeds, for a while, anyway.
It was so interesting, odd, quirky and fun. It had a very Sarah Addison Allen feel to it, and I absolutely love her books (which reminds me that I need to get my hands on a copy of The Peach Keeper sometime soon!). The characters Rose interacts with were sometimes simply background noise, and sometimes completely front and center.
Rose's parents were somewhat transparent - odd, but transparent - throughout, but I absolutely loved the scene where she opened up to her father and he to her. That may have been the most important part of the book, in my opinion.
The only questionable part of this book for me was Rose's brother, Joseph. I enjoyed his character throughout, but the culmination of his odd behaviors was almost too far-fetched for me, even though I suspended my disbelief for this entire novel and devoured (forgive the pun sounding word) it. I did love Joseph's friend George, and from the get-go enjoyed the relationship between him and Rose.
Overall this book was a fun read, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in a little fantasy that isn't too out there (no pixies, fairies or people who turn into werewolves in this one!). It's a perfectly light and interesting summer read.
** I was not compensated for this review in any way. I bought this book a while back and decided I enjoyed it so much that I would write a review about it. **
I am never going to get through my reading list if you keep recommending books ;)
ReplyDeleteI'll add it to my summer reading list!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a nice read :)
ReplyDeleteooooh, this books sounds like something I'd enjoy! As most Italians, my emotions are definitely intertwined with food (dammit).
ReplyDeletesounds fantab! I am going to have to add this to my summer reads!
ReplyDelete