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.