The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake discussion

I was very confused as well but I found this from the author:

http://www.hipsterbookclub.com/featur...

"This is a question I want to ask, but I’m afraid the answer is too much of a spoiler: What exactly afflicts Joseph, and what happens to him at the end?
I’m glad you asked. I think this may be important—maybe if we note it as a spoiler, we can talk about it straight on? I know some people have questions about this and I’d love to be able to talk about it directly. So—to readers—please don’t read on if you don’t want to know a big plot piece!
But basically, when I was working on the scene where [Rose] goes to Joseph’s apartment, I was trying to understand what was going on with him, and in that way I was in the same boat as Rose. Where was he going? What was the deal? And I made various choices, and none of them felt right on the page. Everything felt too dramatic, too forced. But then I was working along, and I wrote the scene where he was going into the chair, becoming the chair, and leaving everyone, in this way, and it had a strong emotional impact on me.
I’m not one to rule out another person’s reading or interpretation, and I feel strange saying my own interpretation, because I usually avoid that, but I figure it may be helpful, and I just want to say my sense of it as I was working. Basically, the idea that he would merge with the chair, a piece of furniture, like his mother lovingly makes, but also a piece of furniture made in a factory, like his sister’s craving and need of factory food, all as a way to not deal with other people in the world—this felt really sad and painful and right to me. I felt kind of wrenched about it. But it also felt like it made sense to me, and suddenly they were connected as siblings, and Rose saw herself in Joseph in a way she had not seen before, in a way that made tasting a factory in her own food later a huge, and upsetting problem. They’re so different for most of the book, but they are more alike than she’d realized. Both of them, for different reasons, are overwhelmed, and both of them cope differently, and have different capacities for coping. I couldn’t say it any more clearly than I wrote it, because it struck me as both bizarre and upsetting that this is what was happening to Joseph, and it was something she could barely say, or see, or register. So it’s almost whispered in the book, but it’s there. Is this helpful, or does it intrude on your own reading or thoughts on the book?"

Thanks for sharing. I'd say she got her point a cross. At least to me.

The author talks about it here

http://tiny.cc/7mm5t

When Joseph becomes part of the furniture, does he feel that he belongs? I would have expected him to become part of something more solid - a big old oak chair - not a flimsy folding card table chair.

I tend to agree that Joseph had difficulty dealing with the world he lived in, but I have a slightly different "take" on why he disappears. Yes, he seems to turn himself into furniture (and I especially appreciated reading what the author shared - via the connection given in one of the previous comments) BUT I saw his disappearance as an attempt to "make his mark in the world of science."

Since he couldn't get into the college that he wanted, and because he has for years been so singularly focused on very specific pursuits in science and math (mildly autistic?, as suggested by others) I sensed that he cannot help but follow this path he has somehow discovered. Can anyone say, "Beam me aboard, Scotty!" ???

I've just finished this book, and I loved it. I loved that it was different, that there are elements that are unknown/unexplainable. I enjoy books that leave you with questions and leave you having to really think about the story. If you enjoyed this, you might enjoy Kafka. If you didn't, stay well away from Kafka!!

I saw Rose, Joseph and Dad as each having a unique talent. Rose, the ability to taste emotions in food; Joseph the ability to morph into objects; the grandfather theh ability to smell people’s feelings; Dad, possibly a medical ability which he doesn’t explore. Each character has more ‘typical talents as well—Rose the ability to meet people and Joseph, extreme intelligence. Dad, says his skill is making relationships happen—when referring to the footstool escapade in Berkeley.

Each faces his or her more unusual talent in significantly different ways. Rose confronts hers head on, talking with friends and doctors about her taste sensations and eventually uses her talent to help teens. Joseph keeps his talent private, yet seems to pursue his ability to morph into objects. And Dad avoids his talent—staying outside of hospitals even for the birth of his children and when Joseph is hospitalized.

It started me thinking about how we all have talents and how we each approach our own talents and recognize others. I wrote a discussion guide on the book here, http://hikingout.blogspot.com/2011/11... for my book group.

I like the idea of an earlier comment that Joseph was traveling to a different place in his life, perhaps where he fit in better. And I appreciate the author's comments that readers can interpret the writing in a myriad of different ways-- whatever resonates as we read.

Krystyn wrote: "I just agree with Priscilla...the oddest book I've probably ever read and I can't say I took away anything from it...but I did lose a few good hours of my life reading this."

Completely agreed!

Annalisa wrote: "I've just finished this book, and I loved it. I loved that it was different, that there are elements that are unknown/unexplainable. I enjoy books that leave you with questions and leave you having..."

You're right, Annalisa. It's like Kafka written for today's modern world. I loved it (but not as much as I adored her short stories in The Girl with the Flammable Skirt).

i think joseph's gift was that he could travel to different universes and not become a piece of furniture. there are major clues that point to this such as he was very interested in metaphsics when he was gone, he had no concept of time. the chair acts as a medium to transport him these worlds and he control over his travels because he told rise that he tried many things byt the chair worked the best. the father's gift i think was the ability to heal ppl because he says to rose that the woman he was visiting and the only time he was at a hosp was recovering but he went on to say tt it was highly due to her meds. this quick cover up made it seem possible tt the father actually had a hunch he was a healer an he himself never got sick. but due to his passive nature he'd rather not explore his gift as he knows tt by experimenting it would suspicion in the patients an doctors in the hosp. all in all i think this was a good read though it could be draggy at times.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts. I initially thought Joseph was self mutilating but yes, maybe he turned into furniture as an escape. And he may have the gift of touch that is why there was a line there that says Rosie was very careful not to touch his brother's elbow. Only the shirt.

Thanks everyone!

I actually quite enjoyed this book, although I think I got too attached to the characters. They reminded me of two of my closest friends (who are siblings) and how they were when they were growing up - especially in the case of Joseph (in the beginning, at least). So when Joseph fused with the chair permanently I found it very disturbing or troubling or.. something. I don't know. I have mixed emotions about it. Ultimately, I thought it was well-written, and it was a good story - even if it didn't have a particularly uplifting ending.

I only came away wanting one thing really: what was the father's gift? I try to think what would be a bad ability to have in relation to a hospital or doctors. There are so many possibilities. I wish she would have given us more of a hint.

Joseph disappears with his gift, but also because he has no purpose. Aside from filling some (sad? sick?) need for his mother, he doesn't fit the the world-socially,emotionally, in the end, not even academically. When his friend proves that he is bright, but not the brightest he gives up and in. I thought the ideas about change, choice, and escape exemplified in the novel were some of the most interesting parts.

I found a picture of him
http://www.alittleleaven.com/2008/03/...

I loved the book and took it as part of the pain/pleasure family gene that Joseph shut his eyes to the world by becoming inanimate at times. I definitely wish I knew more about the father's gift but I guess he hid and chose not to use it. The other life option of avoidance.

Lormac wrote: "OK, here is what I thought. His sister had a gift of taste, his grabdfather had a gift of smell, and I think Joseph had a gift of touch. He ciuld feel other people's emotions in the things he tou..."
I finished the book just yesterday and have been trying to wrap my head around what exactly I had just read and how to interpret. Much appreciated. Your comments did the trick.

Lormac wrote: "OK, here is what I thought. His sister had a gift of taste, his grabdfather had a gift of smell, and I think Joseph had a gift of touch. He ciuld feel other people's emotions in the things he tou..."

I'd never thought about it like that before. I think that's a good point and a likely possibility. I agree that the loose ends of the book were a little disappointing, but I still really enjoyed it.

I thought this book was really beautiful rather than odd. The author did a great job infusing an incredibly surreal plot into a believable world. Joseph's choice to recede into his gift contrasted with Rose's choice to cope with it. The father was somewhere between both, choosing to ignore what he had because he knew what it did to his father. I was really surprised by how much I liked the story. To be honest I chose it for the covert art. I really like cake.

Lormac wrote: "OK, here is what I thought. His sister had a gift of taste, his grabdfather had a gift of smell, and I think Joseph had a gift of touch. He ciuld feel other people's emotions in the things he tou..."

Hi Lormac, really liked your take on it. Helped me make sense of the whole Joseph thing, which like many others, I found confusing.

Lormac wrote: "OK, here is what I thought. His sister had a gift of taste, his grabdfather had a gift of smell, and I think Joseph had a gift of touch. He ciuld feel other people's emotions in the things he tou..."

i never properly understood this book until i just read what you said...i wish the author could have explained it better in the book then i might have actually liked it! lol i just thought Joseph turned into furniture because he couldn't handle the real world and i got that it was his "gift" but now i see..."he could feel other peoples emotions in the things he touched"...genius :) also never understood why Dad couldn't go in a hospital...now it is all clear!! Thank you so much....still HATE this book though ...just don't feel so stupid lol

I agree that Joseph's gift was the ability to be invisible by becoming inanimate objects. There seemed to be some significance with the objects that he chose like the Grandmother's rickety old table and chair.

At first, I hated Joseph because I thought he was self centered and selfish. But, by the end of the book I felt very sorry for him. He had no control over his gift. He was an intelligent young man with a future but his gift prevented him from being present or even connecting with the real world.

I love your comment and couldn't agree more. Wish I could like 501 times. Total agreement. Heartbreaker.

*bump* I have not read all of the comments; just a few. I just finished the book and thought it was the oddest book I've ever read. I enjoyed reading it, but was very confused about the whole furniture thing. I got it that he somehow fused with the furniture, kind of became the furniture he sat on, but didn't understand why or how. One interesting thing to me in this book is that somehow at some point it totally shifted from being about Rose to being about Joseph. I thought the book was mostly about her, but even though his experiences are talked about with less frequency, the focus seemed to be more on him. Reading some of these posts is making me realize it was really about the whole family. Looking forward to sorting through more of the discussion to gain more insight.

One thing I will say, though, is that I think the author left a lot up to the imaginaton on purpose. I think all the "loose plot points" were deliberate - she wants you to think about it and figure it out for yourself... I think.

Mariana wrote: "One thing I will say, though, is that I think the author left a lot up to the imaginaton on purpose. I think all the "loose plot points" were deliberate - she wants you to think about it and figure..."

And for me, that's what makes the book so fantastic. Although I know many people don't like those kinds of endings.

I just finished this book myself and I too am confused. I see that Joseph "became furniture" but that really doesn't answer for me, all the disappearances (are we to assume he was elsewhere being a table?), or the sickly look to him. I admit I did really like Rose's character, and even her mother- but what was up with the father's anticipated skill should he enter a hospital? a lot was strange and disconnected to me, even after the pages ran out...

I always thought it was that Joseph had some gift too, and was constantly being overwhelmed by it, and that was why he was so withdrawn and unemotional. So he escaped by turning himself into inanimate objects. i think that was part of his gift. Like how he was always drawing graphs and stuff? I thought it had something to do with that. But really, it is open to interpretation... I don't think that the author had a specific conclusion in mind that she wanted you to come to.

Kestral wrote: "I always thought it was that Joseph had some gift too, and was constantly being overwhelmed by it, and that was why he was so withdrawn and unemotional. So he escaped by turning himself into inanim..."
Well said. Completely agree. Nice.

Dana wrote: "I found a picture of him
http://www.alittleleaven.com/2008/03/..."

That's hysterical!!!!!

I felt like Joseph was the only family member who truly embraced his gift and gave himself over to it, instead of fighting it. He made peace with it. I don't believe anything needs to be explained. The author created a completely new idea that I found magical and tragic at the same time. I love her voice.

It seemed that Joseph was so advanced in his studies that his place in the story's environment shifted. His gifts lead him to transcending somehow. His sister was trying to maintain the common connection by checking up on him and drawing their parents in to call attention to his isolation.

I couldn't figure it out, since those chairs already existed, and the chair Joseph apparently 'turned into' was already there, since he was sitting in it. I guess that's just a plot hole?

I liked the book in general, but this part confused me. In my review I wondered if he went 'inside' furniture, or disappeared in a way similar to Indian in the Cupboard, where he was in another world but could only re-appear in this world on the chair he disappeared in.

Paperadventures wrote: "I couldn't figure it out, since those chairs already existed, and the chair Joseph apparently 'turned into' was already there, since he was sitting in it. I guess that's just a plot hole?

I believe the general idea was that he absorbed into the chair. He couldn't become his own physical object, but he could meld into what was already there.

what's the significance of him turning into a chair and the girl being able to taste emotions? like what is the author trying to say...

I believe he learned to tesseract which is to travel through space or time or both. to do that you would need to recreate your adams which is something Joe would know how to do.
That was my impression

I think that Joseph had a gift of feeling other people's emotions through touch much the way that rose could taste or her grandfather could smell. Perhaps all of his science readings were him learning how to morph himself with furniture so he doesn't have to feel anything. The grandfather smelled emotions especially in stores so maybe the father would experience his gift around hospitals which is why he avoided them. The book doesn't spell every little detail out but does give enough information that you can fill in the blanks and overlay your own interpretation too. It's a very you-get-what-you-give experience as far as mental effort/ satisfaction from the book go.

Joseph escaping from the world is only the outward manifestation of his 'gift'.
An interesting idea someone on Goodreads put out was that Joseph's gift was being able to sense emotions by touch (hence, taking the splinters out of his mom's hand).

Sarah wrote: "I agree that his gift wasn't changing into the chair. That was his way of coping with his gift. His gift was a sensitivity to all of life. The gifts always involve extra perception, the ability to ..."

I agree. I think he more "melted into" the chair, rather than becoming a chair. Because all the chairs were there from the very beginning, if I recall correctly, from Grandma. It's not like he became a chair, then he was a human, because the chair was always in the room.

Manpreet wrote: "Lormac wrote: "OK, here is what I thought. His sister had a gift of taste, his grabdfather had a gift of smell, and I think Joseph had a gift of touch. He ciuld feel other people's emotions in the ..."

Oh, I like this! So, which makes me wonder if the father might have had some kind of gift of sight....maybe xray or something, that would only occur in hospitals? I could buy that....

I read it as holidaylecture thinking of a light romance maybe. But it was gloomy. And after having read most of the comments: yes, it has a touch of kafka's "die Verwandlung"

I believe it was symbolic, in that Rose, her brother and her father all had aspects of their personality that were unusual and could be seen as a gift or a curse. Joseph could not deal with his, and chose to use his to escape the real world. The father also could not deal with his and chose to avoid it and pretend it didn't exist. Rose struggled and tried to understand hers and eventually found a way to live and learn and even take pleasure from hers.
I thought this was a fantastic book. I write for a living and Aimee Bender is one of those writers that makes me feel like a hack. What little talent I have makes me appreciate and feel humbled when I read a book like this.

@Lormac your theory is pure genius!

Orbs n Rings wrote: "I took it as he had a gift that he was using, just like his sister had a special gift. He was going somewhere like time travel and using the chair as the source. Probably because the chair was old ..."

Thank you. That fits.

Cheryl wrote: "Yes he did. He turned himself into furniture because he couldn't cope in the real world. Very strange book. I never did empathize with the characters or appreciate the message/theme." Oh my god I agree! I couldn't relate to any characters other then the mom.

Lormac wrote: "OK, here is what I thought. His sister had a gift of taste, his grabdfather had a gift of smell, and I think Joseph had a gift of touch. He ciuld feel other people's emotions in the things he touch..."

I was also thinking that Joe could somehow feel the emotions of people through furniture, needing to leave the world because it's too overwhelming. The mom seems to have so many emotions, and she called Joe her guide, so maybe that is why she stuck with carpentry so long. The mom and the grandmother didn't seem to get along well, and from the hints that were made about how their grandmother didn't like house guests and asking Rose on the phone how she could love her when she didn't even know her, it seems like the grandmother isn't really emotional at all. That makes me think you are definitely on to something about why it is the grandmother's card table chair that Joe fuses with. It probably doesn't have many (or any) emotions tied to it.