Rated of 5
by Kathryn M. (Bethel, CT) Great Summer Read
Angel Tungaraza and her family live in a compound in Rwanda among many expatriates. Angel brings together, is touched and touches, the lives of many as she meets with her fellow expatriates and shares their stories to make them the most wonderful, beautiful cakes. I had some trouble in the very beginning finding Angel's voice, but once I got past that I enjoyed the book, found the shared stories and revelations insightful and would recommend this book. Definitely a great book club book.
Rated of 5
by Denice B. (Fort Bragg, CA) Baking Cakes in Kigali
This is an engaging, episodic story, even though at times a little contrived with the dropping of buzz topics (feminism, lesbianism, AIDS, circumcision,). Although she is reminiscent of Alexander McCall Smith's lady detective, this book's Angel Tungaraza stands as her own person. Her wisdom and straightforward approach to life are worth adopting.
Rated of 5
by Jennifer W. (Mamaroneck, NY) Baking Cakes in Kigali
I enjoyed reading a novel set in Rwanda, and it was very easy to warm to the main character, Angel, and the positive message of reconciliation, however, the plotting was rather weak resulting in somewhat static characters. The great joy of a novel for a reader is the opportunity to vicariously witness change, growth and transformation while you are in the author's charge. In this story I couldn't shake the sensation of ending up right where we started 300 plus pages earlier. While it was a pleasant journey, it wasn't an all-together compelling one.
Rated of 5
by Julie R. (Jefferson, ME) Cakes and conversations in Africa
Angel Tungaraza, main character of Baking cakes in Kigale, serves her customers by baking cakes to bring them pleasure and by offering personal advice to solve their problems. Over a cup of tea, with wit and wisdom, she seeks out her customers' needs, but slyly suggests her own ideas to create the best cakes. Her conversations include health issues, affairs of state, women's rights and problems of the heart - always with regard to suggesting a possible solution to a customer's dilemma.
I was most impressed with the author's success at portraying the Rwandans' attempts to create solutions for current political and social problems while maintaining their traditions. This book entertains, but also details how the African has experienced genocide, corrupt government and AIDS and yet survives to develop a daily life of tradition imbued with responsibility, joy, mirth and caring. Creating cakes with conversations - a clever maneuver to acquaint the reader with a part of present day Africa.
Rated of 5
by Pat N. (Pittsboro, NC) Don't Miss This One!
With a light hand the author has created characters who will make you laugh, and others, who will make you cry. Parkin gives an insight into the everyday lives of people in Africa and their ability to survive in face of Aids and recent genocide. Not a depressing book but rather a novel of celebration of humanity and the living. It is a wonderful bookclub novel as it raises so many issues of particular interest to women.
Rated of 5
by Jan M. (Jenks, OK) Baking Cakes in Kigali
My reaction as I read this book was "sweet." The repetitive detail about cakes and the tea were almost too much at first, but later on I began to see that there was more to Angel. Her wisdom and compassion and sometimes devious methods made for an interesting read. I loved all her matchmaking, and I cheered at the faked female circumcision. I've traveled in Tanzania and camped near the hippos, so Angels' description of the sound from Omar's nose really cracked me up. Although the stories are completely different, the writer's style is very much like that of Alexander McCall Smith. If I were the editor of this book, I would suggest less cake and tea and more about Angel's friends and family.
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by Kathryn M. (Bethel, CT) 
of 5
by Denice B. (Fort Bragg, CA) 
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by Jennifer W. (Mamaroneck, NY) 
