Baking Cakes in Kigali in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Feb 02, 2010 Kerry rated it liked it

I would really give this book 3.5 stars. It's endearing and tender. It reminded me a lot of the Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency, but with a richer more complex narrator. The issues that come up are really interesting and include HIV, working women, suicide, post-conflict situations. What can I say? I work as a Foreign Service Officer, I love that these topics are in a fiction book that takes place in Rwanda.

I would give it 4 stars, but I wanted it to go further or add some more turns to the story ...more

Like · see review

May 25, 2017 Jill rated it really liked it

This story came to my attention because I really like the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency books. While not a mystery series, this book, and characters have many of the same qualities that I love about the No. 1 series. Angel is a very similar character to Precious Ramotswe, someone that seems to know everyone, care about everyone, and although had her fair share of personal tragedy, somehow seems to maintain a positive outlook on things.

Reading stories about Africa makes me truly realize how good ...more

Like · see review

Jul 26, 2009 Noam rated it liked it

Shelves: africa

I wasn't sure what rating to give this book, because I'm not sure I'm exactly the target audience, but I really liked this book. (I'd give it a three for my own personal taste, but a four for it's target audience. After I finished it, I gave it to my mother, who is really enjoying it.) With a very diverse, likable cast of characters, gentle humor and lots of hope, Parkin gives her audience a view of modern-day Africa.

If you like Alexander McCall-Smith's Number One Ladies' Detective Agency series ...more

Like · see review

Dec 31, 2017 Kristen rated it liked it

Picked this book up at a library book sale because it takes place in Rwanda, and I'm ashamed to say that besides the genocide in 1994, I know little about the country. It's a perfectly pleasant book, with some interesting insights into life there post-genocide, their impressions of Westerners working in the country, etc. It never went beyond a superficial emotional level for me, though, which is a shame. Perhaps if Parkin whiddled down the number of characters it would have helped. ...more

Like · see review

Jan 11, 2009 Dora marked it as to-read

Shelves: around-the-world

Rwanda - still deciding if it counts for the Around-the-World challenge. Here's the link from amazon.uk, since the US site doesn't have a description yet. ...more

Like · see review