Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Helsinki : Tammi, 2011.
Description
"All the sun and magic of Africa are baked into Gaile Parkin's debut novel. . . . We peek into a warm and practical community as colorful as [the heroine's] dazzling confections."--The Christian Science Monitor This soaring novel introduces us to Angel Tungaraza: mother, cake baker, pillar of her community, keeper of secrets big and small. Angel's kitchen is an oasis in the heart of Rwanda, where visitors stop to order cakes but end up sharing their stories, transforming their lives, leaving with new hope. In this vibrant, powerful setting, unexpected things are beginning to happen: A most unusual wedding is planned, a heartbreaking mystery involving Angel's own family unravels, and extraordinary connections are made--as a chain of events unfolds that will change Angel's life and the lives of those around her in the most astonishing ways. BONUS: This edition contains a Baking Cakes in Kigali discussion guide. Praise for Baking Cakes in Kigali "Everyone needs a neighbor like Angel Tungaraza . . . whose warmth and coolheaded cleverness might remind some readers of Precious Ramotswe from the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series."--Entertainment Weekly "Remarkable . . . a powerful, thought-provoking work . . . filled with heartbreak but also with hope."--Fort Worth Star-Telegram "Sweet and satisfying . . . gently draws readers into the daily rhythms of African life . . . Compassion and wisdom light up each page."--Ventura County Star "Will leave you feeling well satisfied."--O: The Oprah Magazine (South Africa)… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member TrishNYC
I was born in New York and shortly after my introduction into this world, my parents moved to Nigeria. I spent most of my formative years over there and moved to America a couple of years ago. Reading this book was like a return to my other home. From the mannerisms of the different characters, the
Angel Tungaraza is a Tanzanian who now lives in Rwanda with her husband and grandchildren. Her business as a cake maker has earned her many friends and the confidences of many of her customers. Through her interactions with her customers and her neighbors, we gain insights into life in Rwanda post genocide. We see the orphans created by the war who live with the scars of what they witnessed, we learn about the domestic going ons in various homes and how important a male child remains in many cultures and we see the choices that some are forced to make in order to survive in a country that is recovering from ethnic purges. As Angel serves tea and cupcakes she comforts, shares similar stories and gently stirs her friends in the right direction. Through Angel, we also learn of the AIDS epidemic plaguing Africa but not just in that CNN news report sort of way but from the perspective of a mother who has lost a child to AIDS and now must mother her grandchildren when she should be contemplating retirement. But Angel and her husband,Pius, must take care of their grandchildren while fighting their own grief for their lost children. Both take it in stride and provide for the children the best they can under the circumstances. There are so many colorful, hilarious, emotionally and physically wounded characters. One of the most painful lessons that some of the characters learn is the harshness of survival. What does it do to you when the ones your love are killed by a ruthless genoicide? My first response would be acceptance at surviving and sadness over the lost of loved ones but a drive to go on. But for those who experienced it, it goes deeper than that. One of the characters summarizes this best " Let me tell you something about survival. People talk about survival as if its always a good thing; like it's some kind of a blessing. But ask around amongst survivors, and you'll find that many will admit that survival is not always the better choice. There are many of us who wish everyday that we had not survived. Do you think I feel blessed to live in this house with ghosts of everyone who was killed here. Do you think I feel blessed to go in and out through that gate where my husband and child were killed? ...Do you think that I feel blessed in any way at all? ...There are many who survived who would like to make the other choice now" (suicide).
But in the mist of the pain, there is reconciliation and hope. For these people the future is not certain and what it holds must be scary. But they have survived to see today and they will chose to make the best of the present. A very, well written book that at first seems to contain disparate stories but soon brings them together in a very satisfying way.
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regional use of elements of the English language, everything was a trip down memory lane right down to the brand of butter used(Blue band margarine!). I laughed out loud in recognition of many scenes and nodded in comprehension at certain scenes that probably hold more meaning for someone who knows Africa. It was amazing to me to see the similarities in African cultures though separated by plains, rivers and different colonial masters. This book was a delight and I am almost sad to have finished reading it.Angel Tungaraza is a Tanzanian who now lives in Rwanda with her husband and grandchildren. Her business as a cake maker has earned her many friends and the confidences of many of her customers. Through her interactions with her customers and her neighbors, we gain insights into life in Rwanda post genocide. We see the orphans created by the war who live with the scars of what they witnessed, we learn about the domestic going ons in various homes and how important a male child remains in many cultures and we see the choices that some are forced to make in order to survive in a country that is recovering from ethnic purges. As Angel serves tea and cupcakes she comforts, shares similar stories and gently stirs her friends in the right direction. Through Angel, we also learn of the AIDS epidemic plaguing Africa but not just in that CNN news report sort of way but from the perspective of a mother who has lost a child to AIDS and now must mother her grandchildren when she should be contemplating retirement. But Angel and her husband,Pius, must take care of their grandchildren while fighting their own grief for their lost children. Both take it in stride and provide for the children the best they can under the circumstances. There are so many colorful, hilarious, emotionally and physically wounded characters. One of the most painful lessons that some of the characters learn is the harshness of survival. What does it do to you when the ones your love are killed by a ruthless genoicide? My first response would be acceptance at surviving and sadness over the lost of loved ones but a drive to go on. But for those who experienced it, it goes deeper than that. One of the characters summarizes this best " Let me tell you something about survival. People talk about survival as if its always a good thing; like it's some kind of a blessing. But ask around amongst survivors, and you'll find that many will admit that survival is not always the better choice. There are many of us who wish everyday that we had not survived. Do you think I feel blessed to live in this house with ghosts of everyone who was killed here. Do you think I feel blessed to go in and out through that gate where my husband and child were killed? ...Do you think that I feel blessed in any way at all? ...There are many who survived who would like to make the other choice now" (suicide).
But in the mist of the pain, there is reconciliation and hope. For these people the future is not certain and what it holds must be scary. But they have survived to see today and they will chose to make the best of the present. A very, well written book that at first seems to contain disparate stories but soon brings them together in a very satisfying way.
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LibraryThing member thornton37814
Angel bakes cakes in Rwanda. She and her husband, natives of Tanzania, moved there, but her abilities as a good listener are evidenced by the variety of persons who come to order cakes and share their heartaches and problems. There are marital problems, AIDS, genocide, love stories, and even the
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heartbreaking tale of a suicide that hits a little too close to home. It is a compelling book that shares the social problems of Africa in a manner that touches the reader. Show Less
LibraryThing member BaileysAndBooks
It all begins with an anniversary cake, not just any anniversary cake - but a Wazungu ("white people") style cake.
Tanzanian baker Angel Tungaraza, now living in Rwanda, does not want to turn down this new commission, but is deeply disappointed to not show off her style and skill making shapes or
It is over this and so many more conversations that Angel has with customers, or in her travels around Rwanda, especially her neighborhood in Kigali, that we learn about the aftermath in Rwanda, thoughts about (and of) the volunteers and aid workers streaming in to the country and the fear and even misunderstanding surrounding AIDS. But we also find hope, forgiveness and definitely perseverance among everyone we meet in this book.
While there are many great characters in Baking Cakes in Kigali, this book belongs to Angel. As she copes with raising her five grandchildren, while getting through menopause, Angel is like the supreme mother to all the characters in the book – as she pulls out their stories over sweet tea flavored with cardamom, she advises, teaches and even learns about herself and things that she hadn’t previously faced in her life.
It took me a bit to get through this book, not because it was slow or didn’t hold my interest. I think I was reading to the pace of the book – taking a moment, and a deep breath, and letting things unfold without a rush. There is no major action, just a collection of wonderful stories gathered up by Angel.
An interesting, at least to me, side note: In Gaile Parkin’s bio on the back of my ARC copy it notes, “Many of the stories told by characters in Baking Cakes in Kigali are based on or inspired by stories she was told during her work in Rwanda.” Not knowing much about Rwanda, to me, these stories in the book were both inspiring and important to know.
This book was from a Member Giveaway on Library Thing.
Tanzanian baker Angel Tungaraza, now living in Rwanda, does not want to turn down this new commission, but is deeply disappointed to not show off her style and skill making shapes or
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using colors. Unfortunately the Ambassador's wife wants her 25th anniversary cake to look just like the one from her wedding. You can feel Angel's disappointment. She despairs that others will not know all she is capable of when this plain (despite the tiers) cake is brought to the anniversary celebration.It is over this and so many more conversations that Angel has with customers, or in her travels around Rwanda, especially her neighborhood in Kigali, that we learn about the aftermath in Rwanda, thoughts about (and of) the volunteers and aid workers streaming in to the country and the fear and even misunderstanding surrounding AIDS. But we also find hope, forgiveness and definitely perseverance among everyone we meet in this book.
While there are many great characters in Baking Cakes in Kigali, this book belongs to Angel. As she copes with raising her five grandchildren, while getting through menopause, Angel is like the supreme mother to all the characters in the book – as she pulls out their stories over sweet tea flavored with cardamom, she advises, teaches and even learns about herself and things that she hadn’t previously faced in her life.
It took me a bit to get through this book, not because it was slow or didn’t hold my interest. I think I was reading to the pace of the book – taking a moment, and a deep breath, and letting things unfold without a rush. There is no major action, just a collection of wonderful stories gathered up by Angel.
An interesting, at least to me, side note: In Gaile Parkin’s bio on the back of my ARC copy it notes, “Many of the stories told by characters in Baking Cakes in Kigali are based on or inspired by stories she was told during her work in Rwanda.” Not knowing much about Rwanda, to me, these stories in the book were both inspiring and important to know.
This book was from a Member Giveaway on Library Thing.
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LibraryThing member sjmccreary
Angel Tungaraza lives in a community of foreigners in Kigali. She and her husband Pius are Tanzanian, and he is on an extended leave of absence from his regular job to fill a post at the university in Kigali. Angel runs a home-based business baking cakes to help support the family, which consists
Almost every disturbing or controversial topic that you can think of is discussed in this book: the AIDS epidemic, the Rwandan civil war and genocide, suicide, marital infidelity and divorce, the death of children, wildlife conservation, female "circumscision", prostitution, the role of bride price or dowry in marriage arrangements, homosexuality, ebola, religion and probably several more that I've forgotten. And yet, the book is not heavy or depressing. Angel deals with each topic that comes up with compassion and understanding - offering advice when she can and sympathy when she can't. She is open to admitting when she was wrong in her thinking - thanking the other person for enlightening her. After each encounter, we come away with our hearts lightened - and inspired by the spirit of survival and optimism that is always present, but never sickenly sweet.
In some ways, this book reminds me of No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency in its style and charm, but I think this one is so much better. Highly recommended.
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of Angel and Pius as well as their 5 grandchildren whom they are raising following the deaths of their own two children. In the course of her business, there is a constant stream of people coming into Angel's home. Each one tells her that they want to order a cake and she replies by telling them to sit down and browse her photo album of cakes while she prepares tea for them both in the Tanzanian style, with sweet boiled milk and cardamom. Over tea, Angel draws out each client's story - for only if she becomes familiar with the client will she be able to make an appropriate cake for them. Since she relies on word-of-mouth to promote her business, she feels it is in her best interest to be sure that each cake is perfect for its occasion. And so, we become acquainted with Angel's clients and neighbors - the Canadian, the Americans, the Indians, the Egyptian, the Tanzanian ambassador's wife, the aid workers, and the Rwandan locals. Each one has a story to tell and Angel is a good listener. Almost every disturbing or controversial topic that you can think of is discussed in this book: the AIDS epidemic, the Rwandan civil war and genocide, suicide, marital infidelity and divorce, the death of children, wildlife conservation, female "circumscision", prostitution, the role of bride price or dowry in marriage arrangements, homosexuality, ebola, religion and probably several more that I've forgotten. And yet, the book is not heavy or depressing. Angel deals with each topic that comes up with compassion and understanding - offering advice when she can and sympathy when she can't. She is open to admitting when she was wrong in her thinking - thanking the other person for enlightening her. After each encounter, we come away with our hearts lightened - and inspired by the spirit of survival and optimism that is always present, but never sickenly sweet.
In some ways, this book reminds me of No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency in its style and charm, but I think this one is so much better. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member elbakerone
Gaile Parkin cooks up a wonderful novel with Baking Cakes in Kigali. As suggested by the title, the story takes place in the heart of Rwanda, but rather than returning to the horrific days of the genocide, Parkin's story is set in present day with a united Rwanda whose people are healing from -
Told through the life of Angel Tungaraza, a cake baker, multiple side characters come and go in her life ordering cakes for various festivities and relating their stories and conflicts along the way. The vignette-like chapters are woven together with Angel's cooking and she becomes an epicenter for positive changes in the lives of those around her.
Wonderfully charming and easy to relate to, Angel is true to her name. Though her tea, desserts and sage advice provide growth, change and comfort for her clients, the story is equally about her own journey. As an older woman raising her grandchildren as her own after the deaths of her son and daughter, Angel has her own steps of grief and healing to work through. The story provides a wonderful show of the strength that lies in community and family, traditional or otherwise.
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though still haunted by - their tumultuous past. Told through the life of Angel Tungaraza, a cake baker, multiple side characters come and go in her life ordering cakes for various festivities and relating their stories and conflicts along the way. The vignette-like chapters are woven together with Angel's cooking and she becomes an epicenter for positive changes in the lives of those around her.
Wonderfully charming and easy to relate to, Angel is true to her name. Though her tea, desserts and sage advice provide growth, change and comfort for her clients, the story is equally about her own journey. As an older woman raising her grandchildren as her own after the deaths of her son and daughter, Angel has her own steps of grief and healing to work through. The story provides a wonderful show of the strength that lies in community and family, traditional or otherwise.
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LibraryThing member cbl_tn
”Rwanda has suffered a terrible thing. Terrible, … bad, bad, bad. Many of the hearts here are filled with pain. Many of the eyes here have seen terrible things. Terrible! But many of those same hearts are now brave enough to hope, and many of those same eyes have begun to look towards the
Tanzanian Angel Tangaraza is in Rwanda with her husband, Pius, a Special Consultant at the university. Both of the Tangarazas' children have died and they are raising their five grandchildren. To bring in some extra money, Angel has a cake business. A special occasion wouldn't be complete without one of Angel's cakes, and people of all backgrounds and walks of life come to her to order cakes – from diplomats to prostitutes. As they fill in their Cake Order Forms over a cup of tea, they unburden themselves to Angel. She takes an active interest in her clients' lives and she keeps her eyes open for opportunities to make them better.
The author captures Rwanda's capital as its residents begin to heal from the horrors of the 1994 genocide. Angel's position as an outsider who knows the pain of loss has the effect of inspiring confidences. Angel and her cakes become the glue that unites the international residents of her compound and its neighborhood. Angel is a lot like Alexander McCall Smith's Precious Ramotswe, and I think fans of the No. 1 Detective Agency novels will want to meet Angel, too.
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future instead of the past. Life is going on, every day. And for us the pluses of coming here are many more than the minuses.”Tanzanian Angel Tangaraza is in Rwanda with her husband, Pius, a Special Consultant at the university. Both of the Tangarazas' children have died and they are raising their five grandchildren. To bring in some extra money, Angel has a cake business. A special occasion wouldn't be complete without one of Angel's cakes, and people of all backgrounds and walks of life come to her to order cakes – from diplomats to prostitutes. As they fill in their Cake Order Forms over a cup of tea, they unburden themselves to Angel. She takes an active interest in her clients' lives and she keeps her eyes open for opportunities to make them better.
The author captures Rwanda's capital as its residents begin to heal from the horrors of the 1994 genocide. Angel's position as an outsider who knows the pain of loss has the effect of inspiring confidences. Angel and her cakes become the glue that unites the international residents of her compound and its neighborhood. Angel is a lot like Alexander McCall Smith's Precious Ramotswe, and I think fans of the No. 1 Detective Agency novels will want to meet Angel, too.
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LibraryThing member richardderus
This book, which I got as a Member Giveaway, is a shoo-in for the bestseller lists. If the popularity of Alexander McCall Smith's Precious Ramotswe books is any index to American willingness to embrace African women as heroes, I can think of no earthly reason this tome won't light up the charts.
I
Angel and Pius should, by the lights of their Tanzanian upbringing, be preparing for their ascent into elderhood, being looked after by the children they carefully raised. The children are dead, and the elders are thrown back into parenthood. This central tragedy is the spine of the book.
It's not a tragedy to Angel, in the sense that she revels in the life of a society cake-supplier, something she began as a home-based business to support the grandkids and has become a passionate addiction. Angel is famous in Kigali for the creative splendor of her cakes, ordered by the best and the brightest of the city to commemorate the milestones of life. Angel gets to hear all the gossip worth hearing and involve herself in all the doings of her world.
The book is a sure-fire pleasure read for many, if not most, fans of domestic fiction. It's something that readers should make a point of browsing in the local bookery.
I
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found Angel and her husband Pius to be entertaining companions. The five grandchildren they are raising in post-genocide Rwanda reflect the realities of life in Africa...orphans everywhere, no matter where you look, and only the very lucky have a place to go where they are loved and nurtured.Angel and Pius should, by the lights of their Tanzanian upbringing, be preparing for their ascent into elderhood, being looked after by the children they carefully raised. The children are dead, and the elders are thrown back into parenthood. This central tragedy is the spine of the book.
It's not a tragedy to Angel, in the sense that she revels in the life of a society cake-supplier, something she began as a home-based business to support the grandkids and has become a passionate addiction. Angel is famous in Kigali for the creative splendor of her cakes, ordered by the best and the brightest of the city to commemorate the milestones of life. Angel gets to hear all the gossip worth hearing and involve herself in all the doings of her world.
The book is a sure-fire pleasure read for many, if not most, fans of domestic fiction. It's something that readers should make a point of browsing in the local bookery.
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LibraryThing member shirfire218
This book manages to be ultimately uplifting even though it covers some of the most gruesome subjects of modern times. It's a rare opportunity for us to get an intimate glimpse into the daily life of Africa; touching on many of the complex issues facing this great continent today. Topics such as
All of the characters in the novel are brought to life skillfully. The main character, Angel, is just an amazing literary creation. Her day-to-day hardships, which are many; and successes, small as they may be, are portrayed through the world of her small home baking business. Her beautiful, decorative cakes are described so clearly, we can almost smell them! Tragedy has struck her family again and again; but she refuses to let it get the better of her. Her stoicism and ability to survive in the face of the worst events imaginable are a lesson to us all.
I am a fan of The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency series, but those stories are shallow and sophomoric compared to Baking Cakes in Kigali. This book delves so much deeper and goes into so much more detail; and indeed, the writing is better. Thanks are due to Library Thing, Delacorte Press, and Gaile Parkin for their consideration in sending this book for review through Library Thing's Member Giveaway Early Reviewer's program.
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genocide, HIV and female circumcision are woven into the fabric of the story much like a spider weaves his beautifully crafted web.All of the characters in the novel are brought to life skillfully. The main character, Angel, is just an amazing literary creation. Her day-to-day hardships, which are many; and successes, small as they may be, are portrayed through the world of her small home baking business. Her beautiful, decorative cakes are described so clearly, we can almost smell them! Tragedy has struck her family again and again; but she refuses to let it get the better of her. Her stoicism and ability to survive in the face of the worst events imaginable are a lesson to us all.
I am a fan of The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency series, but those stories are shallow and sophomoric compared to Baking Cakes in Kigali. This book delves so much deeper and goes into so much more detail; and indeed, the writing is better. Thanks are due to Library Thing, Delacorte Press, and Gaile Parkin for their consideration in sending this book for review through Library Thing's Member Giveaway Early Reviewer's program.
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LibraryThing member dudara
It's always nice when you read a simple book which has heart and a feel-good factor. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency was a book in such a vein and now we have Baking Cakes in Kigali to enjoy. It's the first novel from Zambian author Gaile Parkin who currently works as a consultant in the areas of
Our main character is Angel Tungazara, a cake-baker of exceptional skill and talent. People flock from near and far to order her cakes for their events and in doing so reveal themselves and their troubles to Angel over a sweet cup of spicy tea. Set in Rwanda, which is slowly rebuilding itself following the horrific genocide, Parkin weaves a tale of hope and renewal. As well as facing the atrocities of man, the author also tackles issues of infidelity, gender inequality and the ever-increasing presence of HIV.
Angel is an amazing character, clever and intelligent, and you quickly come to care for her and her clients. Baking Cakes is an easy book to read, but yet it faces challenging topics with a gentle humour.
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HIV, gender issues and education. Her extensive experience forms the basis for many of the tales in this remarkable debut.Our main character is Angel Tungazara, a cake-baker of exceptional skill and talent. People flock from near and far to order her cakes for their events and in doing so reveal themselves and their troubles to Angel over a sweet cup of spicy tea. Set in Rwanda, which is slowly rebuilding itself following the horrific genocide, Parkin weaves a tale of hope and renewal. As well as facing the atrocities of man, the author also tackles issues of infidelity, gender inequality and the ever-increasing presence of HIV.
Angel is an amazing character, clever and intelligent, and you quickly come to care for her and her clients. Baking Cakes is an easy book to read, but yet it faces challenging topics with a gentle humour.
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LibraryThing member Litfan
First impressions of this novel can be deceiving. In the first few pages, its charm and sweetness is immediately apparent. However, there is much more here than just a feel-good story.
The novel centers on Angel, a native of Tanzania, who lives with her family in Rwanda and runs a cake-baking
The author's writing style is quite descriptive and enjoyable, and it's easy to care about the characters in the novel. The novel is at once moving, sad, hopeful and funny. It's a quick read, but one whose characters and stories will stay with you.
The novel centers on Angel, a native of Tanzania, who lives with her family in Rwanda and runs a cake-baking
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business in her home. The novel takes place a few years after the end of the genocide, as the nation is slowly beginning to heal. Through Angel, we meet a fascinating cast of characters that serves as a microcosm of life in Kigali. There are genocide survivors, former child soldiers, and expatriates. Angel serves as a connection between several characters. The novel delves into some serious issues through this cast, including the genocide and the AIDS epidemic. All the while, the theme of human triumph over despair is threaded through even the saddest of stories. The author's writing style is quite descriptive and enjoyable, and it's easy to care about the characters in the novel. The novel is at once moving, sad, hopeful and funny. It's a quick read, but one whose characters and stories will stay with you.
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LibraryThing member DubaiReader
Problems solved over tea and cakes.
My initial reaction to this book was that it was tackling some really serious issues in too delicate a manner. Subjects such as the Rwandan genocide, AIDS, and female mutilation are discussed over tea and cup cakes.
But as I read furthur, I realised that it worked
Angel herself had problems too. She was caring for all her 5 grandchildren following their parents' deaths and she was worried about difficult issues such as teaching them about AIDS. Just as she helped others come to terms with their problems, so they helped her too.
In many ways reminiscent of Alexander McCall Smith's Detective Agency books, this has a message to convey - a positive message of recovery and endurance; a light at the end of the tunnel. In this respect it is quite a relief from the many depressing books about Africa.
Your Tags: rwanda
My initial reaction to this book was that it was tackling some really serious issues in too delicate a manner. Subjects such as the Rwandan genocide, AIDS, and female mutilation are discussed over tea and cup cakes.
But as I read furthur, I realised that it worked
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- the gentle character of Angel Tungaraza was perfect for persuading folk from all walks of life, varied backgrounds and past horrors to talk out their problems and see a way through. The fact that Angel was not Rwandan but Tanzanian also gave her an outsider's perspective and reason to ask questions that locals would already know the answers to.Angel herself had problems too. She was caring for all her 5 grandchildren following their parents' deaths and she was worried about difficult issues such as teaching them about AIDS. Just as she helped others come to terms with their problems, so they helped her too.
In many ways reminiscent of Alexander McCall Smith's Detective Agency books, this has a message to convey - a positive message of recovery and endurance; a light at the end of the tunnel. In this respect it is quite a relief from the many depressing books about Africa.
Your Tags: rwanda
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LibraryThing member ZoharLaor
As many other people I know, the sum of my knowledge about Rwanda was the genocide a few years ago, I was expecting a distressing, if not upsetting novel and I got a triumphant and wonderful book.
The story is about a woman named Angel Tungaraza, who herself is Tanzanian but is living in an
Angel bakes elaborate cakes in her home, she has a steady customer base as well as a name around her neighborhood which brings people to her doorstep. Each chapter is has Angel baking a special cake, the story around the cake and how it relates to the little stories in the neighborhood.
We all know women like Angel, pillars of their community which everyone goes to with their problems knowing they’ll be taken care of in a fair manner.
These everyday stories are amazing, even though they are told in a very relaxed manner (while order cakes for a celebration) they don’t sugar coat the horrible reality that many people in Africa live day-to-day. Not only the genocide, but also poverty, AIDS and other issues make an appearance.
Yet, the hopeful theme stays.
I thought this book was charming as well as easy to read. The stories are interesting, the humanity amazing and, best of all, I really liked the character of Angel Tungaraza.
The story is about a woman named Angel Tungaraza, who herself is Tanzanian but is living in an
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International apartment complex in Rwanda due to her husband’s job. Angel and her husband are raising their five grandchildren after the lose of their children and are two people who are putting on a hopeful front for their sake. Angel bakes elaborate cakes in her home, she has a steady customer base as well as a name around her neighborhood which brings people to her doorstep. Each chapter is has Angel baking a special cake, the story around the cake and how it relates to the little stories in the neighborhood.
We all know women like Angel, pillars of their community which everyone goes to with their problems knowing they’ll be taken care of in a fair manner.
These everyday stories are amazing, even though they are told in a very relaxed manner (while order cakes for a celebration) they don’t sugar coat the horrible reality that many people in Africa live day-to-day. Not only the genocide, but also poverty, AIDS and other issues make an appearance.
Yet, the hopeful theme stays.
I thought this book was charming as well as easy to read. The stories are interesting, the humanity amazing and, best of all, I really liked the character of Angel Tungaraza.
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LibraryThing member khiemstra631
If you like Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books, then you will enjoy Baking Cakes in Kigali. The main character, Angel, runs a cake baking business from her home while her husband has a temporary teaching job at a college in Uganda. They are raising their five
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grandchildren, whose parents were killed by AIDS, and they live in an apartment building with lots of interesting neighbors. The books follows them through a year of life in Kigali and the various cakes that are baked. It's a gentle read that provides a very enjoyable experience. I sensed a sequel, probably in another country, since the post at the college was only temporary... Show Less
LibraryThing member upstairsgirl
Parkin's debut novel is a strange colorful patchwork of language, religion, ethnicity and nationality. It's a story about families falling apart and coming together, and about women learning to fend for themselves and teaching others to do the same.
The book is set in Rwanda, and the heavy issues
Although it's billed as a novel, the book is really a series of short stories held together by the main character's cakes and the recurrent characters of her neighbors in the compound. The plot's not quite solid enough to carry the weight of the stories as a single whole, but the parts are too interconnected to stand on their own. The result is a tightly-woven series of vignettes, of glimpses into ways of being families and ways of being women, that is light, brilliantly-colored, and uplifting. It's a small, unassuming novel that seems not to be trying to do very much, but which, for that small stature and aim, is all the more powerful.
The book is set in Rwanda, and the heavy issues
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that dominate life there - AIDS, the genocide of the nineties, the reconstruction of the country, poverty, colonialism, sexism, racism, cultural imperialism - are all there, both too big to be talked about directly and too known, too everyday, to be discussed in any depth. They lurk in the background, instead, offering a dark and upsetting background against which to view the brightly-lit lives of the characters.Although it's billed as a novel, the book is really a series of short stories held together by the main character's cakes and the recurrent characters of her neighbors in the compound. The plot's not quite solid enough to carry the weight of the stories as a single whole, but the parts are too interconnected to stand on their own. The result is a tightly-woven series of vignettes, of glimpses into ways of being families and ways of being women, that is light, brilliantly-colored, and uplifting. It's a small, unassuming novel that seems not to be trying to do very much, but which, for that small stature and aim, is all the more powerful.
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LibraryThing member JGoto
Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin brings to mind Alexander McCall Smith's Number One Ladies Detective series. Set in Rwanda, the protaganist in Baking Cakes is middle-aged entrepreneur, Angel, a native of Tanzania. Highly skilled and the owner of an oven, she bakes the cakes that friends and
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neighbors use to celebrate milesstones in their lives. Parkin weaves the stories of Angel and her customers into a novel filled with warmth, humor and tragedy, as well. Angel's daily routine ranges from watching Oprah off of pirated cable TV (which, unfortunately, has a great picture but no sound), to dealing with the sobering realities of AIDS, prostituion, and the scars from the Rwandan genocide that surround her. Baking Cakes in Kigali is an uplifting and pleasurable read. Show Less
LibraryThing member kcaroth1
This was a very charming story with a great lead character. From her cake baking business, she is able to touch the lives of others and better understand and appreciate her own. While this story could have been just a little too cute or sweet, the themes of AIDS in Africa, the Rwandan genocide, the
Definitely recommended.
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effectiveness of international aid workers, refugees, women's issues, poverty, etc. are handled with care and respect.Definitely recommended.
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LibraryThing member sangreal
More a series of connected vignettes than a novel, Gaile Parkin’s Baking Cakes in Kigali nevertheless managed to draw me into wanting to know what would happen next, as well as caring deeply for the characters.
The main character, Angel Tungaraza is originally from Tanzania, but has followed her
Angel is a wonderful, heart-warming character who manages, by the end of the book, to come to terms with the tragedies of her own life while helping others overcome the troubles in their own. Despite running her cake business, coping with the loss of both her children and raising her five grandchildren, Angel always has a moment for someone who needs advice or just to talk. In this way, she serves to reflect the heart and soul of the other characters to the reader.
Gaile Parkin is very good at giving her characters the language and style that paints a clear picture of the rhythms of Rwandan life as the people try to recover and rebuild in the aftermath of the genocide. Each conversation brings to life the mood and “feel” of the people and the place.
Each of the chapters in Baking Cakes in Kigali finds another way to deal with the various trials facing both native Rwandas and foreign workers, both from with Africa and from the wider world, with gentleness, caring and rich humor.
This book would appeal to anyone looking for a heart-warming read, with a memorable woman at the center of a truly refreshing story.
The main character, Angel Tungaraza is originally from Tanzania, but has followed her
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husband to Rwanda for the sake of his job as a consultant to the university. She is well known as a master baker for her wonderful cakes.Angel is a wonderful, heart-warming character who manages, by the end of the book, to come to terms with the tragedies of her own life while helping others overcome the troubles in their own. Despite running her cake business, coping with the loss of both her children and raising her five grandchildren, Angel always has a moment for someone who needs advice or just to talk. In this way, she serves to reflect the heart and soul of the other characters to the reader.
Gaile Parkin is very good at giving her characters the language and style that paints a clear picture of the rhythms of Rwandan life as the people try to recover and rebuild in the aftermath of the genocide. Each conversation brings to life the mood and “feel” of the people and the place.
Each of the chapters in Baking Cakes in Kigali finds another way to deal with the various trials facing both native Rwandas and foreign workers, both from with Africa and from the wider world, with gentleness, caring and rich humor.
This book would appeal to anyone looking for a heart-warming read, with a memorable woman at the center of a truly refreshing story.
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LibraryThing member Bitter_Grace
I thought this book would be like a marriage of two of my favourites: Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and the TV show Ace of Cakes. Unfortunately I didn't find it nearly as entertaining as either.
Parkin delves into more serious territory than McCall Smith, with her focus on
This ended up being a book I could not read all in one go, since it did not draw me in, but it was an OK read.
Parkin delves into more serious territory than McCall Smith, with her focus on
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issues such as AIDS and genocide, but she has nothing much to say about either, and her attempts at humour seem forced and flat. But there are a couple of genuinely funny moments, and the characters are often fresh and cleverly portrayed.This ended up being a book I could not read all in one go, since it did not draw me in, but it was an OK read.
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LibraryThing member dsc73277
A story set in a Rwanda still coming to terms with the bitter conflict which tore the nation apart in the mid 1990s may not appear to offer the prospect of an uplifting read, yet this book following a woman who runs successful business selling cakes is exactly that. Perhaps it is the yeast that
There are obvious parallels with Alexander McCall Smith's Botswanan lady detective books. Both feature successful female entrepreneurs, share a positive outlook on African life and have a sort of episodic structure - each new client having their own story to be told. However, there is more to this book than a publisher's attempt to cash in on what the reading public like. I'm a big fan of McCall Smith, but I would still venture to suggest that Parkin has here achieved even greater success in managing to combine dark and shade.
On the one hand there are the light and humorous sections - there are, for example plenty of laughs at the expense of "wuzungu" (white folk) with their peculiar liking for plain white wedding cakes - but the book also talks about serious matters, not least the Rwandan genocide, and yet still hangs together.
The main character spends a lot of time mulling over ethical dilemmas, both large and small, in a way that reminded me a little of another McCall Smith creation, the Edinburgh-based philosopher Isabel Dalhousie.
There is a slight bias against the westerners who feature, though US citizens may at least take some comfort that for a change it is a Canadian who appears in the worst light when stealing from a prostitute.
Towards the end, and without giving too much away, one of the most impressive episodes relates to a controversial practice affecting young women. This incident is resolved in a way that makes some interesting observations about gender relations in different cultures and whether it is always incumbent on an individual to tell the truth.
In summary, because I simply can't resist the pun, this has all the ingredients for a enjoyable, mood-enhancing read.
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makes the difference?There are obvious parallels with Alexander McCall Smith's Botswanan lady detective books. Both feature successful female entrepreneurs, share a positive outlook on African life and have a sort of episodic structure - each new client having their own story to be told. However, there is more to this book than a publisher's attempt to cash in on what the reading public like. I'm a big fan of McCall Smith, but I would still venture to suggest that Parkin has here achieved even greater success in managing to combine dark and shade.
On the one hand there are the light and humorous sections - there are, for example plenty of laughs at the expense of "wuzungu" (white folk) with their peculiar liking for plain white wedding cakes - but the book also talks about serious matters, not least the Rwandan genocide, and yet still hangs together.
The main character spends a lot of time mulling over ethical dilemmas, both large and small, in a way that reminded me a little of another McCall Smith creation, the Edinburgh-based philosopher Isabel Dalhousie.
There is a slight bias against the westerners who feature, though US citizens may at least take some comfort that for a change it is a Canadian who appears in the worst light when stealing from a prostitute.
Towards the end, and without giving too much away, one of the most impressive episodes relates to a controversial practice affecting young women. This incident is resolved in a way that makes some interesting observations about gender relations in different cultures and whether it is always incumbent on an individual to tell the truth.
In summary, because I simply can't resist the pun, this has all the ingredients for a enjoyable, mood-enhancing read.
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LibraryThing member DaffodilTurner
A refreshing look at modern Africa, acknowledging the real issues without becoming too depressing. The main character does tend to become a two dimensional fairy godmother, sprinkling the fairy dust of understanding and harmony on every problem she comes across, homeless children, sex workers, the
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destruction of the environment, Aids, alcoholism, religious hypocrisy, colonial exploitation, special prices for Wazungu, diverting funds from development projects. She ends up rather like one of the cakes she bakes and decorates, too sweet to be true. Show Less
LibraryThing member moukayedr
Angel Tungaraza is a Tanzanian expat in Kigali, Rwanda. Her husband works as a special consultant at a local university and she has her own home-based business, baking individually designed western-style cakes. This helps make extra money for her large family, because after the death of both her
As Angel designs the perfect cake for each customer and occasion she gets to know her customers and becomes sometimes part of their lives, and through their stories we get to know their world. Angel is true to her name compassionate, and exceptionally tolerant. She intervenes whenever she can giving people a push in what she figures is the right direction or helping them see things more clearly. Her good intention are rewarded most of the time.
There are many issues encountered in this book: The Rwandan genocide, AIDS, child soldiers, Gender equality, sexual orientation, poverty, African identity, female genital mutilation, and African wildlife (especially the endangered gorillas) among many others.
Angel is someone I would love to have as my best friend, because she has exceptional understanding and tolerance for all these themes. Although the book does not explain how a woman who has always lived on the continent and only went for visits to Germany, while her husband did postgraduate studies there, could arrive at such worldly tolerance and wisdom.
The book is fine for people who do not know anything about Africa, it brings it to them gently. It does not vilify Wazungu (White people) completely although it is funny to note that the only two asshole characters were a Canadian working for the International Monetary Fund and an American who the whole community knows to be working for the CIA. Other minor baddies/ eccentrics include an unbalanced former child soldier, the drunk manager of the building, and the Indians who are afraid of catching their death from germs; these characters all come across more comical than evil. All African characters are essentially good, even the prostitute is an honest working woman who looks after two sisters and an orphan.
If you are willing to suspend your belief for a few hours, this book is good. It does not have a plot and reads like a series of gentle stories with some direct sermonizing. But do not question too much and wonder how an Italian-born man would be such a vehement proponent of "circumcising" his own daughter, while her Somali mother is not.
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children she cares for five grandchildren and their young minder.As Angel designs the perfect cake for each customer and occasion she gets to know her customers and becomes sometimes part of their lives, and through their stories we get to know their world. Angel is true to her name compassionate, and exceptionally tolerant. She intervenes whenever she can giving people a push in what she figures is the right direction or helping them see things more clearly. Her good intention are rewarded most of the time.
There are many issues encountered in this book: The Rwandan genocide, AIDS, child soldiers, Gender equality, sexual orientation, poverty, African identity, female genital mutilation, and African wildlife (especially the endangered gorillas) among many others.
Angel is someone I would love to have as my best friend, because she has exceptional understanding and tolerance for all these themes. Although the book does not explain how a woman who has always lived on the continent and only went for visits to Germany, while her husband did postgraduate studies there, could arrive at such worldly tolerance and wisdom.
The book is fine for people who do not know anything about Africa, it brings it to them gently. It does not vilify Wazungu (White people) completely although it is funny to note that the only two asshole characters were a Canadian working for the International Monetary Fund and an American who the whole community knows to be working for the CIA. Other minor baddies/ eccentrics include an unbalanced former child soldier, the drunk manager of the building, and the Indians who are afraid of catching their death from germs; these characters all come across more comical than evil. All African characters are essentially good, even the prostitute is an honest working woman who looks after two sisters and an orphan.
If you are willing to suspend your belief for a few hours, this book is good. It does not have a plot and reads like a series of gentle stories with some direct sermonizing. But do not question too much and wonder how an Italian-born man would be such a vehement proponent of "circumcising" his own daughter, while her Somali mother is not.
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LibraryThing member jlynno84
At first I was skeptical of this book, but then I became totally hooked! Somehow the author was able to deal with extremely heavy issues (genocide, AIDs, poverty) but still maintain a feeling of hope.
The protagonist, Angel, is the neighbor and friend everyone wishes they had. Angel serves up
The protagonist, Angel, is the neighbor and friend everyone wishes they had. Angel serves up
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wisdom and compassion alongside her famous cakes. Just wonderful! Show Less
LibraryThing member whitreidtan
I suspect that I am not alone when I admit that the sum total of my knowledge of Rwanda is of the genocide and the animosity between the Hutus and the Tutsis. So I wondered how a Rwandan-set book could possibly be described as hopeful and healing. But obviously I have no conception of the ways in
Angel Tungaraza is a Tanzanian woman who bakes elaborate and beautiful cakes out of her home. She lives in Kigali in an international apartment comlpex with her husband, who is teaching temporarily at the university. Together they are raising their five orphaned grandchildren and looking for the positive in each day given to them. The chapters often feel like small vignettes as Angel's customers tell her their tales when they come to order the cakes for which she is rightly famous. And indeed, many of the tales are adapted from tales that Parkin herself heard when she worked in Rwanda.
The tales are everyday and extraordinary. The gentle, unthreatening manner of the telling doesn't sugar-coat the atrocities that the Rwandan people lived through but it also makes clear that people continue to live and make their way as best they can despite the horror in their pasts. Obviously the genocide makes its appearance in the stories told to Angel but so does the problem of AIDS and its plague-like proportions. And in fact, Angel knows that AIDS would have eventually claimed her son if robbers hadn't killed him first. But through all the heartache and the history, Angel is a happy soul, a celebratory person, and her wisdom and contentment, her very peaceful happiness is contagious.
Angel starts every cake ordering appointment with tea and conversation, often counseling her customers and helping them improve their lives. She manages to extract justice for the downtrodden and supply the wedding of a friend's dreams. She teaches others and inspires young girls. She gives relationships a little shove in the right direction. And she generally understands and appreciates the value of the people around her. In short, she's just a little bit magical in a very down to earth, pragmatic way.
The importance of education and pulling heads out of the sand to address the problem of AIDS is a huge theme throughout the book as is the idea of reconciliation and making things right. Angel was a delightful character and as the center of the book, made for a charming reading experience. The cake customers become an integral part of Angel's life and Parkin intertwines their stories well. The underlying issues that come up in the book are perhaps much deeper than one would expect but they give the story a depth and a seriousness that, interestingly, is not at odds at all with the light, uplifting tone of the narration. This is a beautifully done book and I would certainly read more about Angel given half a chance. A novel about Rwanda that is hopeful and healing? Absolutely.
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which Rwanda is overcoming the horror and learning the art of reconciliation. And after all, 1994 is more than 15 years in the past.Angel Tungaraza is a Tanzanian woman who bakes elaborate and beautiful cakes out of her home. She lives in Kigali in an international apartment comlpex with her husband, who is teaching temporarily at the university. Together they are raising their five orphaned grandchildren and looking for the positive in each day given to them. The chapters often feel like small vignettes as Angel's customers tell her their tales when they come to order the cakes for which she is rightly famous. And indeed, many of the tales are adapted from tales that Parkin herself heard when she worked in Rwanda.
The tales are everyday and extraordinary. The gentle, unthreatening manner of the telling doesn't sugar-coat the atrocities that the Rwandan people lived through but it also makes clear that people continue to live and make their way as best they can despite the horror in their pasts. Obviously the genocide makes its appearance in the stories told to Angel but so does the problem of AIDS and its plague-like proportions. And in fact, Angel knows that AIDS would have eventually claimed her son if robbers hadn't killed him first. But through all the heartache and the history, Angel is a happy soul, a celebratory person, and her wisdom and contentment, her very peaceful happiness is contagious.
Angel starts every cake ordering appointment with tea and conversation, often counseling her customers and helping them improve their lives. She manages to extract justice for the downtrodden and supply the wedding of a friend's dreams. She teaches others and inspires young girls. She gives relationships a little shove in the right direction. And she generally understands and appreciates the value of the people around her. In short, she's just a little bit magical in a very down to earth, pragmatic way.
The importance of education and pulling heads out of the sand to address the problem of AIDS is a huge theme throughout the book as is the idea of reconciliation and making things right. Angel was a delightful character and as the center of the book, made for a charming reading experience. The cake customers become an integral part of Angel's life and Parkin intertwines their stories well. The underlying issues that come up in the book are perhaps much deeper than one would expect but they give the story a depth and a seriousness that, interestingly, is not at odds at all with the light, uplifting tone of the narration. This is a beautifully done book and I would certainly read more about Angel given half a chance. A novel about Rwanda that is hopeful and healing? Absolutely.
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LibraryThing member lmb209
Angel decorates cakes and listens over cups of tea to her customers and neighbors, mostly expatriate aid workers in her Kigali compound. Delightful, funny and life-changing.
LibraryThing member tracyfox
Baking Cakes in Kigali is a heart-warming tale set in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. Angel Tungaraza bakes fantastical brightly-iced cakes that magically provide her customers with just what they need to move past bitterness, sadness and the other roadblocks that keep them from realizing a
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brighter future. Angel's magic is simple--she listens , reaches out and offers common sense advice, using her own relationships to bring people together to solve their own problems. Angel's magnetic personality carries the narrative and allows the author to introduce the less pleasant realities of African life without losing the thread of the story. An engaging novel especially recommended for fans of The Number One Ladies Detective Agency series. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2009-08-18
2009
Physical description
278 p.; 17.8 cm
ISBN
9789513160746