Iris has returned home for her grandmother Bertha's funeral
only to learn that she has unexpectedly inherited her
grandmother's house. Bertha's mind had become very forgetful
over the last years of her life, and her home is full of
memories for Iris, both poignant and happy. As Iris
reminisces and remembers the past, she also decides what
direction to take for her future.
The publisher's blurb for THE TASTE OF APPLE SEEDS
references magical realism elements such as sparks flying
from a person's fingertips, a currant jam of tears, and
apple trees blossoming when two lovers' embrace. I was a bit
surprised to find more of a women's fiction novel where the
past is told through flashbacks than any real use of the
magical realism mentioned in the blurb. Some of the
transitions happen quite smoothly but others are so jarring
I found myself going back and rereading pages to make sure I
hadn't missed something. THE TASTE OF APPLE SEEDS has been
translated from German to English, and I can't help but
wonder if we lost some of the nuances of the story through
the translation.
Once I realized that THE TASTE OF APPLE SEEDS was more a
women's fiction novel about the memories and reminiscing
that follows a death, I was able to enjoy it a bit more.
Katharina Hagena has a whole host of unusual characters as
Iris's multi-generational family has some very quirky
individuals. Katharina Hagena does an excellent job at
fleshing out the individual personalities and helping the
reader see the bizarre elements that haunt this family. I
particularly like the hints we receive about Rosemarie and
her mysterious death so many years ago.
THE TASTE OF APPLE SEEDS is a story of family secrets, many
of which remain hidden even after the last page is turned.
Katharina Hagena crafts a story with likable, albeit, very
bizarre characters. Perhaps readers more interested in
women's fiction, rather than magical realism, will
appreciate the scope of the storyline far more than I did.
Shimmering with the incandescence and irresistible magic of
the novels of Alice Hoffman, Joanne Harris, and Aimee
Bender, Katharina Hagena's smash international bestseller,
The Taste of Apple Seeds, is a story of love and loss that
will captivate your heart.
When Iris unexpectedly inherits her grandmother's house in
the country, she also inherits the painful memories that
linger there. Should she keep it or sell it? The choice is
not easy, for the cottage is a place of enchantment and
sensual mystery where currant jam tastes of tears, blue
sparks crackle at the touch of fingertips, love makes apple
trees bloom—and dark secrets pulsate in the house's nooks
and shadows. . . .
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