Ever since childhood, Ruth has found baking cakes to be a source of relief from the stresses of life. And now-as her husband loses his job, her lif...
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Dec 17, 2009
Becky
rated it: 
Put yourself inside of a lemon bundt cake and inhale deeply for some serious therapy!
I love the feel of this book. The overall tone was calming. I, like Ruth, unwind while baking. Everything makes sense when I'm up to my ears in flour.
One of my favorite parts of the book is that her family is so sick of cake because she makes it all the time. So, she's having this particularly bad day and is aching to shred up her carrots to put into a cake instead of glazing them More...
I love the feel of this book. The overall tone was calming. I, like Ruth, unwind while baking. Everything makes sense when I'm up to my ears in flour.
One of my favorite parts of the book is that her family is so sick of cake because she makes it all the time. So, she's having this particularly bad day and is aching to shred up her carrots to put into a cake instead of glazing them More...
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May 15, 2008
Christine
rated it: 
It's not really about cake just how cake saves Ruth's life. My Mom gave it to me, it was a lot of fun to read. For anyone who likes to save room for dessert, this ones for you... "Cakes have gotten a bad rap. People equate virtue with turning down dessert. There is always a person at the table...No, really, I couldn't...Everyone who is pressing a fork into that first tender layer looks at the person who declined the plate, and they all think, That person is better than I am. That person has
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Dec 02, 2007
Lain
rated it: 
Before Chick Lit there were women's contemporary writers like Elizabeth Berg and Barbara Kingsolver -- writers who touched at the issues and concerns of women, but did so with intelligence and wit. Jeanne Ray writes in the same way -- perhaps with a bit less intensity, but definitely with the same pen. Eat Cake tells the story of a middle-aged woman who must recreate herself when her life is turned upside-down by her husband's layoff and warring parents. She delves into her deepest desires and f
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Mar 09, 2009
bookczuk
rated it:
We're entering into a new phase here at chez czuk, and I've been a little weepy over it, as it is not only a change in a family member, but a severe change in my lifestyle as well. But it's a change I am willing to make. (I keep remembering that saying that you are an adult once and a child twice, and thinking someone needs to add a bit that you are a parent forever, even if it's to those who parented you. Sigh.) Anyhow, I've been feeling quite sorry for myself, because on top of it all, I seem
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Dec 31, 2011
Margaret
rated it:
Who needs a fun, light, optimistic book to read? Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray came to me via a bit of book serendipity - a random comment on someone's Facebook page. I requested it from the library as soon as I saw the title. I don't buy much fiction anymore, and surely not a book I am not sure I will like well enough to reread. Sorry about that, Ms Ray, nothing personal, that's just the way it goes.
But by page 2 I knew I was hooked when I read this:
Cakes have gotten a bad More...
But by page 2 I knew I was hooked when I read this:
Cakes have gotten a bad More...
May 16, 2011
Mary
rated it:
I loved this book. It is not what I expected, it was not fluffy. It was a great read, and it made me want to bake, and eat.
Best Quote:
"Cakes have gotten a bad rap. People equate virtue with turning down dessert. There is always one person at the table who holds up her hand when I serve the cake. No, really, I couldn't, she says, and then gives her flat stomach a conspiratorial pat. Everyone who is pressing a fork into that first tender layer looks at the person who d More...
Best Quote:
"Cakes have gotten a bad rap. People equate virtue with turning down dessert. There is always one person at the table who holds up her hand when I serve the cake. No, really, I couldn't, she says, and then gives her flat stomach a conspiratorial pat. Everyone who is pressing a fork into that first tender layer looks at the person who d More...
Feb 25, 2011
Susan
rated it:
"You never really know what's going on with your ceiling until you just give up and lie down on your floor."
That is just one of the quotable phrases from this wonderful book. In fact, it's the first book I've read this year that I really loved. I knew I would enjoy it, because I read Julie & Romeo by the same author last year, and it was great, too. But I wasn't prepared to find a character that I actually had quite a bit in common with. Ruth, the lovely main character, ha More...
That is just one of the quotable phrases from this wonderful book. In fact, it's the first book I've read this year that I really loved. I knew I would enjoy it, because I read Julie & Romeo by the same author last year, and it was great, too. But I wasn't prepared to find a character that I actually had quite a bit in common with. Ruth, the lovely main character, ha More...
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Feb 10, 2011
Heather
rated it:
I really enjoyed reading this. The temperature dropped to -14 degrees last week and all the kids were out of school, so of course I needed a 'warm yummy' read. This totally fit the bill! The story is down to earth and very realistic. It is easy to identify with the main character, who uses baking cakes as a way to escape life's craziest moments. I can identify with that...yum! Of course the book had me salivating for cake the whole time. :-) I love that there are recipes at the end. I mad
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Nov 21, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it:
This is what happens when I wander the aisles of my library (like a kid in a candy store). I bring home stacks of books that sound tempting at a glance. When I get home, I'm always amazed at what I've found. I absolutely adored this book. Maybe it's because it was set, once again, in my hometown Minneapolis, but references to our city were few and far between (or nonexistent). I think it was the title that grabbed me.
Ruth is a busy wife and mother who loves to bake. No, that's not q More...
Ruth is a busy wife and mother who loves to bake. No, that's not q More...
Jul 25, 2009
Debbie (Readerbuzz)
rated it:
What a good day to read Eat Cake!
I went with my mom and dad to the
clinic while my mom had some extensive
outpatient surgery. Ruth, the main
character in Eat Cake, finds her whole
world changed as her husband is laid off
and her estranged father comes to live
with her in a crowded household that
More...
I went with my mom and dad to the
clinic while my mom had some extensive
outpatient surgery. Ruth, the main
character in Eat Cake, finds her whole
world changed as her husband is laid off
and her estranged father comes to live
with her in a crowded household that
More...
Oct 02, 2009
Lynda
rated it:
This was an absolutely fabulous and unique book that I completely enjoyed.
Sam and Ruth live with Ruth’s mother and their 16 year old daughter. Their world is turned upside down when Sam loses his job and Ruth’s father is in an accident and needs to move in to be looked after by the family. Ruth’s parents don’t care much for one another and fight constantly.
Ruth tries to keep everything together, but when Sam decides he’d rather look at buying and selling boats as a trade More...
Sam and Ruth live with Ruth’s mother and their 16 year old daughter. Their world is turned upside down when Sam loses his job and Ruth’s father is in an accident and needs to move in to be looked after by the family. Ruth’s parents don’t care much for one another and fight constantly.
Ruth tries to keep everything together, but when Sam decides he’d rather look at buying and selling boats as a trade More...
Dec 06, 2008
Kristi
rated it:
I loved this book! The characters were totally relatable and the situations were pretty believable. The husband loses his job, the parents move in, the teenager is a brat- nothing too out of the ordinary there. The dialogue is great and I loved her take on cake.
"Cakes have gotten a bad rap. People equate virtue with turning down dessert. There is always one person at the table who holds up her hand when I serve the cake. No, really, I couldn't, she says, and then gives her flat More...
"Cakes have gotten a bad rap. People equate virtue with turning down dessert. There is always one person at the table who holds up her hand when I serve the cake. No, really, I couldn't, she says, and then gives her flat More...
Mar 19, 2010
Ellen
rated it:
Maybe it's the experiences of the last few years, but I really enjoyed this book. The protagonist has a teenage daughter, a son in college, a husband who is laid off unexpectedly, no job of her own, her 70-something mother already living with her, and her 70-something father who she hardly knows suddenly needing 24-hour care because he broke both of his wrists and moves in with them too.
I loved the character development. I finally figured out that character development is more import More...
I loved the character development. I finally figured out that character development is more import More...
Feb 01, 2009
Gail
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 31, 2008
Antof9
rated it:
I loved this charming little book! It's not deep or life-altering, but is very fun to read. Warning: this book should not be read on an empty stomach! Another warning: there are some absolutely divine-looking recipes in the back, but I sent this to another BookCrosser without indulging.
I have to say that the idea of baking cakes as an escape mechanism had never occurred to me before reading this book, but it did seem an intriguing idea. And I was inspired to bake/fix a pavlova More...
I have to say that the idea of baking cakes as an escape mechanism had never occurred to me before reading this book, but it did seem an intriguing idea. And I was inspired to bake/fix a pavlova More...
Feb 07, 2011
Dlords
rated it:
I liked the relationships that developed through the book and the way the family came together to overcome trial. I enjoyed the devotion between Ruth and her husband, Sam.
Here are some quotes from the book that I enjoyed: "I've lived my whole life outside the box. People feel so bound down to their possessions, their responsibilities, that they wind up not even living their lives."
"Everything changes. Sometimes when your life has been going along the same f More...
Here are some quotes from the book that I enjoyed: "I've lived my whole life outside the box. People feel so bound down to their possessions, their responsibilities, that they wind up not even living their lives."
"Everything changes. Sometimes when your life has been going along the same f More...
Feb 21, 2010
Haku
rated it:
Ruth disfruta tanto de hornear pasteles que la forma para sentirse serena y disminuir la presión de la vida cotidiana se sumerge en un mundo donde solo hay pasteles. Ella encuentra relajante y remunerador poder cocinarlos a su familia pero ellos no lo ven de esa forma, por varias circunstancias sus padres, que se separarn hace años vuelven a ella y comienzan una vida juntos pero su esposo pierde el trabajo lo que traerá muchas consecuencias, ella debe aprender a sobrellevar y unir a la familia,
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Feb 03, 2010
Tryn
rated it:
This book made me laugh out loud and I needed a laugh. It's full of hope in the midst of family crisis and change. I loved all the baking detail and cake fantasies. I enjoyed the lively dialogue and likable characters. The setting for the entire book, except for a couple of incidents near the end, is a home, mostly the kitchen, so the book had a familiar, cozy feeling to it, especially since I read a lot of it in my own kitchen, while stirring the sauce or eating lunch with the kids. Someti
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May 21, 2009
BOOK BUTTERFLY
rated it:
This is a quick, enjoyable read. I curled up with it one rainy afteroon and before I knew it, I had finished it. I felt like the characters in the book were my own family and I knew them. Like the beautiful cakes being made, this book was my comfort "food" --a warm diversion on a dull, depressing day. I love how the main character uses baking as her therapy and from that love, she develops a passion for a career that not only provides her with happiness, but income to help support her
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Sep 22, 2011
Leann
rated it:
Solace in Cake.
Ruth is having a bad day. Her estranged father Guy calls to announce that he broke both wrists, needs help caring for himself, and is moving in with her for a while. Her mother Hollis, who already lives with her and hates Guy, says she is moving out. Her husband Sam admits that he just lost his job. Her daughter Camille is a moody teenager who rolls her eyes at everythin. Ruth's family experiences a lot of turmoil as Hollis and Guy face off against each other, Sam st More...
Ruth is having a bad day. Her estranged father Guy calls to announce that he broke both wrists, needs help caring for himself, and is moving in with her for a while. Her mother Hollis, who already lives with her and hates Guy, says she is moving out. Her husband Sam admits that he just lost his job. Her daughter Camille is a moody teenager who rolls her eyes at everythin. Ruth's family experiences a lot of turmoil as Hollis and Guy face off against each other, Sam st More...
Apr 02, 2011
Carol
rated it:
A friend lent this to me while recouperating from surgery. Maybe it's the experiences of the last few years, but I really enjoyed this book. The Main Character has a teenage daughter, a son in college, a husband who is laid off unexpectedly, no job of her own, her 70-something mother already living with her, and her 70-something father who she hardly knows suddenly needing 24-hour care because he broke both of his wrists and moves in with them too. I loved the character development. The basic
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Mar 30, 2011
Tiffeny
rated it:
I'm not sure why I liked this book so much, but I did. I didn't just really like it, I really, really liked it, so I figured I better give it 5 stars, even though it wasn't necessary life changing.
It's about Ruth, who LOVES to bake cakes, and practically has her whole life. When she is stressed and "goes to her happy place", it just so happens to be the rich, dark, warm center of a chocolate bundt cake. Baking cakes relieves her stress, and she starts baking like crazy w More...
It's about Ruth, who LOVES to bake cakes, and practically has her whole life. When she is stressed and "goes to her happy place", it just so happens to be the rich, dark, warm center of a chocolate bundt cake. Baking cakes relieves her stress, and she starts baking like crazy w More...
Jan 27, 2012
Jeanette
rated it:
While I enjoyed this one it was not as good as Step-Ball-Change. However, I would still recommend it, there are some really funny one liners intersperesed throughout. Interesting dynamics having your husband, teenage daughter, 70-something year old mother and 70-something year old father (who by the way have been divorced since you were about 2) all living in the same household. I love the mom's sassy wit and the dad's irreverence. The daughter is typical, and the main character, Ruth, is ha
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Feb 02, 2011
Maureen
rated it:
I enjoyed this book. I read it in one day. The lady in the book's husband lost his job, she has her mother living with her and her estranged father has had an accident and needs to come to her house to recuperate. She has a daughter that is rather obnoxious but does help her mother to make a business card for her. The woman makes cakes when she cannot sleep or when something is upsetting her. She is excellent at making cakes and at the end of the story is able to make cakes for restaurants for s
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Dec 20, 2008
Darla
rated it:
I loved this book. I think it may be a stocking stuffer for my girls. Change happens. It is inevitable. It is for us to roll with the punches and find our way through it. This novel brings a whole family together in a way no one expected when the husband and bread winner of an extended family loses his job, the father-in-law breaks both his wrists and has to move into the home where his ex-wife is already living. Add a 16 year old girl with attitude to the mix, a mother who bakes to escape
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Jun 26, 2008
Rachel
rated it:
Read this for book club and loved it so much I bought it. It is laugh--out-loud funny. Don't read it in bed with your husband!
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Oct 18, 2010
Tealen
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This is a good story. In a lightheated way it focuses on dealing with lifes changes that come, as unexpected as they can be.
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Mar 27, 2010
Kari
rated it:
Not a mind-blower, but a nice easy read for an "in-between" book. A light family drama which frankly dragged in my opinion but I stuck with it because I wanted to see about the cakes. I panicked a bit at the beginning when the first-person main character, a middle-aged mom of teenagers, described the apathy of her 16-yr-old daughter - "where did my little girl go???" - I'm a bit sensitive about my kids growing up and changing right now. But even that aside, the whole book
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Sep 29, 2011
Jeanette
rated it:
I loved this book! Written with the kind of tongue-in-cheek humor that holds my interest until I turn the last page, Jeanne Ray sculpts a story that anyone who is a mother/wife/sister/foodie can relate to. The cake recipes, the insomnia and the newly unemployed husband as well as the turn-around of a typically spoiled daughter complicate the plot just enough to create interest without making the reader work too hard. The perfect, happy book for a 3 hour plane ride or an afternoon on the beach. W
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Aug 08, 2010
Janene
rated it:
My pick for book club and I've been hearing some pretty good things (even tho we aren't supposed to talk about the current book until the meeting. Lol) so if you are in book club read no further!
I liked this book. It was a nice change from the deep reads we've gotten accustomed to lately. It was light, funny and made me hungry. One could even call it inspirational. I really liked all the characters...especially Hollis and Guy! They really cracked me up. I also appreciated all the cak More...
I liked this book. It was a nice change from the deep reads we've gotten accustomed to lately. It was light, funny and made me hungry. One could even call it inspirational. I really liked all the characters...especially Hollis and Guy! They really cracked me up. I also appreciated all the cak More...
