Moses, Kate. Cakewalk

Moses, Kate Cakewalk
Dial see Random 2010 351p 26.00
978-0-385-34298-8 hs/adult VG


Moses’ memoir depicts a childhood in a dysfunctional family that was a recipe for disaster. However, at the end of each chapter she includes a sweet recipe culled from the bright spots in her life. A fascinating tale of heartbreak and cravings that attests to the strength of the human soul.
Her mother, a fun person when the children (two younger brothers) were young becomes neglectful as they get older; her father is straight laced and increasingly verbally abusive. Her family moves across the country from California to Pennsylvania and then to Alaska. Moses gets through the worst times that includes lack of friends, loss of parental care, and lack of self esteem, via her love of junk food that eventually expands to encompass learning to bake gourmet fare as she matures. When Moses leaves home to attend college in California, she comes to learn that she loves literature and is a gifted writer. Her view of herself changes as she goes out into the world, away from her family and sees that she is a valuable being. She continues to struggle when her new husband abandons her and the new baby but the strength she gained through her past tribulations allows her to heal and love her family. At the end of each chapter, Moses includes a sugary recipe culled from the bright spots in her life. This is a fascinating tale of heartbreak and sweet cravings that attests to the strength of the human soul. Funny, literate, honest, and very delicious. Recommended for high school libraries. Weinraub, Tina