Cake

by Sandra Newman

I loved her suddenly. Like I could have held her in my arms. I felt just so unbalanced and I wanted to slam the door or have us all sit down on the floor, like when children camp out underneath the dining table.

Fleeing to London from America after the collapse of her family, Tanya buys a house, builds a business and finally begins to conquer her addiction to sex. Then the gorgeous, chaotic and vulnerable Eleanor enters her life. Perhaps all El needs from Tanya is a safe haven, but in Sandra Newman's rollercoaster world, nowhere is safe, least of all home...

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mental Illness, Novels

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2007

Reviews

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny. Terrifying. Provocative. Grotesque. Hilarious. Sad. Beautiful. Poignant. Crazy. Psychotic. Edgy. Miserable. Misery. Tears. Ha. Love. Passion. Passion. Sex. Fucking. Self harm. Paedophile. Death. Dying. Murder. Cancer. Obese. Fat. Religion. Rich. Money. Diary. Off kilter. Madness. Engaging. Escapism. Drugs. Hedonistic. Children. Innocence. Drink. Drugs. Drink. France. London. America. Mutilation. Art. Lies. Thief. Theft. Apologies. Insincere. Laughter. Mocking. Beauty. Ethereal. Heaven. Hell. God.

I started out haltingly, disliking how it's written. Half way through I was gripped & wouldn't you know it, by the end it was love... A unique piece of modern writing by an author who isn't afraid to over step a few boundaries and then some! You just have to let this one sweep you up & carry you away.

[daisy]

disturbing and jarring and nothing quite like anything else ive read. unsure what id rate it bc several times i would just sort of be scanning the pages going "what the fuck even is this" but then id get to another chapter and something would get REVEALED and then id be like "oh shit oh fuck this is madness"

[Leeyanne Moore]

Cake is a provocative work of narrative. Though all the elements of a female serial-killer whodunnit are there, Newman chose instead to send a big 'fuck you' to the pot-boiler template, presenting the work instead as a collage pastiche of connections and disconnections between Londoners living in a blurry world and addicted to the painful beauty involved in longing for what we shouldn't have. Many reversals take place, but again, not through plot reversals as a thriller would have done, but through deliberate thematic juxtapositions. Slum becomes art, objectified becomes objectifier, keeper becomes kept, etc.

If you liked Heidi Julavits' work, such as The Uses of Enchantment, then Cake should interest you.

[Zoe Street · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most upsetting book I’ve read since lolita when I was like 16

[Pris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book, lyrical in a funny, claustrophobic, airless sort of way. Builds narrative spell in short, spiky sections. Satirical of London art types (check out Peter Piper), confused about relationships, warm towards her characters, but ... there's a sharp, observant wit that wins you over more. Finally moving.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is an excellent study in nonlinear narrative. the characters are somewhat michelle tea-ish, a lot of broke punks and artists. takes place in london. a sensational story, involving murder, sexaholism, incest, that is not delivered as such. dark humor; terrific writing.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! Read this one!

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relentless and disturbing. The writing and the characters are both sharp and clear as a hit of really good coke. Funnier, though.