Last month I traveled to Europe for the very first time; while there, I came down with a nasty cold and spent two and a half days in the hotel room. I still enjoyed those days, however, because I got the chance to read a couple of good books, including this one. I don't
…more know much about Asperger's, so I'm not sure how accurate the portrayal of the main character was, but I liked seeing things from the perspective of this character - how she handled stressful events: what kinds of daily activities were obstacles - and what were not. I have a particular interest in stories told from the perspective of an "outsider", since I find that viewpoint to be revealing of truths often overlooked or ignored.
While I didn't find any particularly new truths, I did think the tension between the two sisters was realistic and balanced. The food descriptions and the aura of alchemy about cooking made me want to become passionate about cooking, instead of treating it as a chore. I love a good ghost story, and would have liked a little more from this piece of the book - the apparitions seemed almost too ordinary, although there was one at the end of the book that I found disquieting. I felt fortunate I brought along such an engaging book - it kept my attention even while sick and made being confined to my hotel room actually enjoyable! (less)
