Today you get two reviews for the low, low price of one post! This is something I rarely do, because I think each book deserves its own post (however short or bad that post may be). But, I’m a wee bit behind and am starting to forget things, so I’m struggling with what to say about some of the books. Therefore, today I’m going to talk (vaguely) about two books that went in directions I totally wasn’t expecting (not that I had any preconceived notions about where they were going, but you know what I mean. I hope).
First up, we have The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake (which I received via the fun and awesome Indiespensable program at Powells, which means I bought it), a book that has gotten all sorts of attention around ye olde blogosphere. And I’m here to add the opinion that it wasn’t quite what I expected, and while good, I’m not sure that I can say it knocked my socks off. First, because my socks were already off, and second, because it ended up being less about lemon cake and more about chair legs. And while the lemon cake totally worked for me (maybe because I love Sarah Addison Allen), the chair legs were a bit (okay, a lot) of a stretch. What I’m trying to say, without giving away the story, is that I expected more magical realism, and what I felt like I got instead was quantum physics (and not really quantum physics, but science just ain’t my thing and that’s the closest I can come to describing something I didn’t understand). Also, know that the lemon cake and the chair legs represent two different characters, so while we start out focused on one, we end largely focused on another.
Next, we have Mr. Toppit, a book I just finished this morning (although that was a while ago now, seeing as how this post has been pre-scheduled). It has been said that this book is a dark comedy, and it was getting all sorts of hype at BEA (where I received a review copy, thank you very much Other Books). And it was good, but I wanted more Mr. Toppit, damnit. In other words, more darkness. Maybe I have a skewed sense of black humor, but this seemed more like a warning of what can happen with fame and wealth than any sort of dark comedy. And in the end, all of the unconnected secrets just felt like too many gratuitous secrets tossed into the story. And I might have said a few bad words at the end, because the end didn’t quite match up to the rest of the book. Maybe because by the end of the book it had picked up all sorts of peripheral characters that were too loosely connected to give me any sort of satisfactory resolution.
Book details:
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
Aimee Bender
June 2010
304 pages
Published by Doubleday
Mr. Toppit
Charles Elton
September 2010
387 pages
Published by Other Press
I don’t think I will ever be able to read the Lemon Cake book. The thought of reading about people tasting other people’s emotions, grosses me out a little. Glad that it seems like I am not missing much. Bummer about Toppit.
Nicole´s last [type] ..Song Yet Sung- by James McBride – Book Review
Oh, I am sorry to hear that Lemon Cake wasn’t stellar. I bought it a few weeks ago after reading all the hype and getting caught up in it. I am not so sure I would be interested in chair legs either.
You’ve got me curious about Mr. Toppit though! I am going to have to keep it and your comments about it in mind.
Thanks for the mini reviews! I really like this format!
zibilee´s last [type] ..The Vera Wright Trilogy- My Fathers Moon – Cabin Fever – The Georges Wife by Elizabeth Jolley — 568 pgs
I’ve had to do a bunch of thematically joined up reviews lately because I just let myself get way too far ahead reading. Already my posts are pre-scheduled to go through the end of August, ugh! That’s a little TOO far in advance for me. Hence trying to shorten that up by putting up mini-reviews.
What a bummer on the Lemon Cake one — I thought that was going to be a great ride into magical realism, too! And I have to pick up Mr. Toppit, sounds intriguing, albeit with some new characters thrown in at the end!
Natalie @ Coffee and a Book Chick´s last [type] ..Dracula- the Un-Dead- by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt
I wasn’t a big fan of Mr Toppit either. The story was too modern and needed much more darkness. I think it was poor marketing as anyone after that Gothic mystery would be disappointed.
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)´s last [type] ..Room – Emma Donoghue
I saw The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake at B&N last night and wasn’t even tempted to pick it up. While the reviews for it have been good, it just doesn’t call out to me at all.
Stephanie´s last [type] ..Part 1- The Brothers Karamazov
Hm, I’ve been excited about Lemon Cake since it mentions food in the title, but the reviews of it just haven’t been great, so I’m bummed.
When I talked to Aimee Bender about this book, I remarked on the fact that it’s not just the story of Rose, but that Joseph plays a huge role as well. She said that she originally wanted to call the novel “Rose & Joseph”, because she felt the two characters helped her to explore the central themes of the novel, but thought that was a pretty boring title. Hence lemon cake was born!
I picked up Toppit for the same reasons you did, so I’m thinking I’ll have the same reaction to the book. I’m thinking that will move down the TBR pile for now.
Trisha´s last [type] ..Book Review- The Boneshaker
I loved The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake and while the focus is not always on Rose I was very drawn in by Bender’s writing and Rose’s family dynamics.
michelle´s last [type] ..From Alice to Zen and Everyone in Between
Huh. Your review of Lemon Cake really makes me feel the need to read it and find out about chair legs. hah. Mr. Toppit I have and just have to get to it already.
Amy´s last [type] ..Review- I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
Chair legs, huh? Like really? I’ve been seeing The Particular Sadness over and over on the library audiobook list and have been thinking about it. Actually, now that I know someone’s actually read it (I admit to not keeping up with blogosphere as much lately) I think I’ll check it out!
Trish´s last [type] ..Why Doesnt This Ever Happen in Real Life
I finished Lemon Cake the other night (no, not a double entendre this time) and I love, love, love your remark, “it ended up being less about lemon cake and more about chair legs.” I think I liked it a bit more than you, even though I found it TOTALLY depressing!
rhapsodyinbooks´s last [type] ..Review of “The Whisperers” by John Connolly
While I can’t say The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake sounds like a book that would interest me, I have to give it props for having a totally awesome title.
EL Fay´s last [type] ..The scale almost ungraspable by the human mind
I kind of like occasional reviews with multiple reviews. It usually draws out comparisons and observations that wouldn’t have been made otherwise.
And I’m sorry to hear that these didn’t work out the way you expected. I often wonder if that’s a problem with the book under-delivering or with marketing issues. Or maybe both?
Jessica´s last [type] ..Literature 101- Genre
I agree with you on The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.
Brittanie´s last [type] ..July Reads in Review
Intriguing – I haven’t read Lemon Cake yet but want to…but now I don’t know!
Amused´s last [type] ..Mailbox Monday – July 26th – 31st- 2010
Yep, that seems to be the consensus on this one. I’m 18th on the holds list, so we’ll see how it goes. Blarg.
Andi´s last [type] ..Argghh!
Mr. Toppit sounds like a book where the main character should be friends with an invisible rabbit.
Jenners´s last [type] ..Review- unfinished business by Lee Kravitz
I added Mr. Toppit to my “to read” list when it first came out and then completely forgot about it. I tend to do that quite a bit, actually.
As for Lemon Cake, I have no desire to read it. The cover turned me off somehow.
Ti´s last [type] ..Putting on My Thinking Hat
Wow. I was expecting completely opposite reactions!!!!!! Now I have to read both so I can see which one resonates with me more.
Beth F´s last [type] ..Weekend Cooking- Review- Fresh Fruit Desserts by Sheryl and Mel London