Pastries: A Novel of Desserts and Discoveries

Forget about the descriptions of pastries in this book! What about the sumptuous, unforgettable descriptions about the tempting cheesecake slices that keep finding their way in the pages of this food novel? I could almost see the ripe slices of mango, the delicate texture of the crumb crust, and the wickedly caloric and irresistable cheesecake core. Ay, I am sure anyone who is on any kind of calorie-restrictive diet will really feel their willpower being challenged if they are able to get through this book without succumbing to cravings for pies, cookies, lemon bars and other assorted concoctions that the main character talks about in rich detail, omitting nothing. This is the third of Bharti Kirchner's novels that I have read. I really admire her for the way she develops her characters through their both endearing and annoying personal habits, as well as the generous descriptions of their tastes in clothing, cologne and food. We really get a sense of the individuals described, and by the time I finished reading the book I felt as though I had known some of the main people personally and had even shared a slice of cheesecake with them! Sunya, the main character, is a forlorn, embitterred, Indian-American whose bitterness is quite heavy for a woman of only twenty-nine years. She never knew her father, who abandoned her and her mother. Her parents both immigrated from India, a product of an arranged marriage back home, and her father, a chemistry professor, found work in Seattle at the University of Washington. Sunya's inspiration for cooking came from her mother. As a young woman, her mother, Dee, managed to pay the bills and maintain their family household income through her ownership and management of a small "mom and pop" donut shop. She combined the familiarity and accessiblity of an American staple (the donut) and infused it with her own Indian sensiblities (exotic flavors like lime) to make it authentically her own. Sunya's gift as baker has been clouded by her sadness over a broken relationship and unresolved issues around her father and her lifelong feeling of rejection. Bharti's telling of this story of self discovery, forgiveness, resilience and pastries (hence, the title) is beautifully told through the eyes of a young woman whose story isn't restrictive exclusively to her culture or gender, for that matter. There are many people out there whose parents have rejected family life to seek out their own path, while leaving child and remaining parent behind in the dust. I, too, am one of those people. Ms. Kirchner's story was both touching and hopeful.

Fascinating study of a young pastry chef as she goes from Seattle to Japan in search for what is missing in her life. The mindfulness she learns is wonderful. That alone would make it for me. A favorite of our reading group.

Pastries is a masterful and lyrical chronicle of the life of a young baker, with a heartfelt last chapter. I like the observations and the humor and bits about Japan and wonder if the author was ever a baker herself. It is a turning point for an author who has written other engaging novels centered on India. Her work is stronger and more moving here.

What a lovely, healing book! Overtly, it is about Sunya, the owner of an embattled small pastry shop, but this multi-layered novel encompasses so much more. There a big, symphonic plot elements -- culture clash, economic competition, the WTO protests in Seattle -- but these are balanced against an array of quiet, instantly familiar emotional archs from a strong woman's life. (It is also, incidentally, a surprisingly good book about the philosophy of baking!)Sensual and richly detailed, Pastries avoids cheap emotional manipulation in favor of an intensive, intelligent examination of issues that touch us all: love, loss, worry, and hope. Seen through Sunya's eyes, the world transforms as she herself changes, leaving the reader feeling replete, satisfied, and, yes, benevolent toward the flawed nature of the universe.I would recommend Pastries to anyone for the quality of its writing alone -- delicately elegant, insightful without being preachy. However, I would recommend the story especially to readers who have recently experienced a serious upheaval in their lives -- for readers who are struggling with a sense of futility or loss, this could be a life-changing novel.

Pastries is not the stereotypical sad Indian/Asian novel. It's a fun book and has a spiritual message. The book is unpredictable, although hints are provided along the way. Much character development. Especially touching is Sunya's mother's story.