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Baking Cakes in Kigali
Baking Cakes in Kigali: A Novel | Gaile Parkin
23 posts | 11 read | 32 to read
BONUS: This edition contains a Baking Cakes in Kigali discussion guide. This soaring novel introduces us to Angel Tungaraza: mother, cake baker, pillar of her community, keeper of secrets big and small. Angels kitchen is an oasis in the heart of Rwanda, where visitors stop to order cakes but end up sharing their stories, transforming their lives, leaving with new hope. In this vibrant, powerful setting, unexpected things are beginning to happen: A most unusual wedding is planned, a heartbreaking mystery involving Angels own family unravels, and extraordinary connections are madeas a chain of events unfolds that will change Angels life and the lives of those around her in the most astonishing ways.
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Dragon
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Pickpick

I finished this book awhile ago and forgot to post a review. This has to be my favourite lunch book yet. This heartwarming story is set in Kigali in the early 2000‘s. Angel is living in an apartment complex for foreign workers with her husband and grandchildren. As a baking entrepreneur Angel meets a variety of different people and the reader is introduced to some tough topics: genocide, HIV, female mutilation. This book is positive and fun 👍👍

Dragon Also day one of my Advent Book Collection is Cinderella 💚🐉 1y
29 likes1 comment
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Dragon
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Thinking 🤔 this book would make a good lunchtime read. Love the cover and the blurbs are good.

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CaitZ
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#AlphabetGame #LetterB

A book you'd recommend who's title starts with the featured letter. Please include author so others can find the right book.

A quiet gentle story about life in a neighborhood of Kigali, Rwanda. It explores the effect of genocide and AIDS on the community

Thanks @Andrew65 for the tag. @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
I know it's late but @Bookfan1414 @Ladygodiva7 @fredthemoose do want to play?

Andrew65 I loved this book and have another book by the author to read, Kilimanjaro Snow. 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing! 2y
fredthemoose Oooh—thanks for the tag @CaitZ ! I‘m not great at these (never quite mastered the collage skills), but I‘ll put a B book post up! 2y
23 likes3 comments
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CaitZ
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Pickpick

A quiet, gentle story about life in a neighborhood of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. It explores the effect the genocide and AIDS had on the community through the eyes of Angel, a professional somebody, who runs a cake-baking business. I enjoyed this and look forward to reading the second book. It was also my #Bookspin book for June. #ReadingAfrica2022 #Rwanda @TheAromaofBooks @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

Librarybelle This sounds really good! 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
27 likes2 comments
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Andrew65
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This is one of my favourite books set in #Africa, #Rwanda to be precise. A really delightful book. One you read not really expecting much from but then totally surprises and captivates you. Totally recommended.
Another notable mention for the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith for books set in Africa, they are also delightful reads. #Letstraveljuly

OriginalCyn620 👌🏻📚❤️ 5y
64 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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HeleneH
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Pickpick

Mrs Angels tårtbageri är den svenska titlen.
Små olika historier i en väl sammanvävd historia!
Härlig sommarläsning!
Blir lite sugen på att baka en och annan tårta mellan varven 😉

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mydearwatson
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I had to hop on an #airplane (actually, several) to get here in 2006. I really miss it sometimes.
#kigali #rwanda #letstraveljuly @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

OriginalCyn620 👌🏻✈️ 5y
22 likes1 comment
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Abby2
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Pickpick

Great characters and good humor, this both sweet and sad. Set in Rwanda and reminiscent of number one ladies detective agency.

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Andrew65
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Angel Kungazara has a heart of Gold. This book set in Rwanda about Angel, who bakes cakes, is a wonderful read. Fully recommended to everyone.
#HeartOfGold #MarchIntoThe70s

BookNAround I loved this one. 5y
Cinfhen I feel the love from the cover art 💛 5y
gradcat I can smell the food from the cover art—yum! 😋😂 5y
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LazyLimaLife
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Pickpick

I‘ve been in a reading slump lately. Took me 2 weeks to finish this. That‘s really sad because I really enjoyed it! It‘s what I call a “slow” book because you do feel like it‘s a break from stories where the action is non-stop. You get to spend time with special characters and watch their lives unfurl at a leisurely pace. Although, I don‘t think I‘ll ever see cardamom the same again!

Nute I understand and am in a similar place right now. I‘m reading a self-help book right now and the other morning I questioned myself ‘what is taking so long to get through this book that I am actually enjoying?‘ It is for the very reason that you said...no action. And that‘s alright, but action and mystery do propel the reading experience. 5y
11 likes1 comment
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LazyLimaLife
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Insomnia....😳

Liatrek I am with ya! I started a book tonight and can‘t stop reading. I just got this book at a sale. Is it good so far? 5y
Andrew65 I loved this book @Liatrek (edited) 5y
LazyLimaLife @Liatrek - I‘m on ch 3 and enjoying it so far. The characters are fun! 5y
BookNAround This book was wonderful. 5y
11 likes1 stack add4 comments
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night_shift
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I got it! Thanks @Tamra !! 😃

Tamra Most welcome!! 6y
66 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Kshakal
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Not a bad book haul from the past few days!!! 🤓

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Tamra
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Mehso-so

This has some of the charm of character found in #1 Ladies Detective Agency, but not a strong singular storyline thread tying the whole together. It was a mainly a series of customers telling the cake baker bits & pieces of their lives. (Gratuitous old dog pic.) 🐶

Oryx Love a book resting on a dog pic! Gorgeous doggie 6y
britt_brooke Love that face! 💚 6y
mabell 🐶❤️ 6y
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AmyG Your dog makes a lovely book model! 6y
Cathythoughts Beautiful mutt ❤️ 6y
JenReadsAlot 🐶🐶 6y
Mitch Your dog is adorable! Not sure he/she agrees with so-so though! The dog seems to be voting for pan! 6y
BookishMe That's an interesting cover... I have yet to get my own copy. Will moderate my expectations after your review 😉😉 6y
MommyWantsToReadHerBook It's been a few years since I read this, but I remember enjoying it! 6y
[DELETED] 3803335244 My kids & I want your dog! And we‘re not dog people!!! So adorable ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
Tamra @ForeverNerdy unfortunately I can‘t lend her out! 😆 She has been and is a Golden Goldie in every way, except for her vicious dislike of other dogs. Otherwise she is perfect. 💜 6y
Tamra @Mitch 😜 6y
Tamra @BookishMe the snippets of stories told are interesting and sometimes heartbreaking. My own expectations were probably too high bc I adore Maa Ramotswe. 👍🏾 6y
Tamra @MommyWantsToReadHerBook it was enjoyable and quick, I just thought there would be a main story that the characters revolve in & around. 🙂 (edited) 6y
BookishMe @Tamra naturally. Mma Ramotswe has set a very high bar! 6y
Tamra @BookishMe 😁👍🏾 6y
ladym30 What a sweet face! 6y
TNbookworm What a beautiful dog☺ 6y
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Tamra
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Mall of America - Nickelodeon Universe long loud lines = book time.

[DELETED] 3803335244 Oh cool! I‘ve never been to the Mall of America 🤓 6y
Tamra @ForeverNerdy you aren‘t missing much! It‘s just like every mall, only bigger. The park is very loud on weekend and holidays. 😳 Since the kids & hubby were rushing me, I managed to keep purchases to one book! (edited) 6y
readinginthedark I had so much fun visiting Mall of America as a kid, but I think it would be overwhelming for me now. Crazy place! 6y
Tamra @readinginthedark yes, it‘s very draining. I‘m sleepy after an hour. 6y
92 likes4 comments
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Tamra
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Starting this one. I don‘t bake cakes often, so it‘s a funny coincidence that today I will bake a German chocolate one for the husband‘s bday. 😊 This novel is likened to #1 Ladies Detective Agency, but set in Rwanda. 🤞🏾🤞🏾

JanuarieTimewalker13 You married a Capricorn!!! Good choice!!! Happy Birthday to your husband!!!🎂(mine was yesterday) 6y
Tamra @JanuarieTimewalker13 yes, he is a good catch! Happy Birthday to you, I hope you got books! (edited) 6y
JanuarieTimewalker13 Thank you!!! Yes, my friend picked me up Literary Wonderlands at Foyles when he was in London. I still have to post it...gorgeous book! 6y
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Tamra @JanuarieTimewalker13 yay!!! 👏🏾 6y
[DELETED] 3803335244 Happy Birthday to him! And I‘ll be right over for some cake! I love German Chocolate cake 🎂 I haven‘t eaten it in years and years. Darn celiac disease 6y
Tamra @ForeverNerdy 😩I wish you could! Can you make a gluten free version? 6y
[DELETED] 3803335244 @Tamra I could but the chocolate part I couldn‘t sub I don‘t think. Carob doesn‘t taste the same as chocolate. It‘s such a bummer I can eat chocolate. I miss it! 6y
Tamra @ForeverNerdy boo! Honestly, I actually could just eat the coconut frosting and funny enough I don‘t have much of a sweet tooth but this frosting......! (edited) 6y
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Andrew65
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Pickpick

How to review this book! This was a wonderful & unexpected reading experience about life in Rwanda against a backdrop of recovering from the genocide & the reality of the aids epidemic. This was done in a totally engaging way, but did pull at your emotional heart strings in a number of places. Angel deals with all these issues affecting herself & others, whilst arranging to make cakes for them and drinking tea. A delightful book. Please read it!

DebinHawaii Great review! I'm so glad that you enjoyed it! 📚👍👍 6y
Andrew65 @DebinHawaii Thanks for your encouraging comments when I first selected it 😊, thoroughly deserved. Now I need to search out the second book she wrote which looks like it continues the journey of Angel‘s family in Swaziland. (edited) 6y
DebinHawaii @Andrew65 Oh wow-I didn't realize there was a second book. Thank you! I'll look for it too. 6y
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Andrew65 @DebinHawaii Should be interesting as look as though it‘s written from Benedict‘s perspective. Just asked the library to buy a copy! (edited) 6y
Tamra I will get it soon! 6y
Andrew65 @Tamra I hope you enjoy it when you do. 😊 6y
53 likes4 stack adds6 comments
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Andrew65
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An interesting perspective!

Cathythoughts Very good point 👍 6y
42 likes1 comment
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Andrew65
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This book has so much to say about life and lessons we can learn.

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Andrew65
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Is it ever a good idea to tell a lie to protect someone? Do you feel a lie can, at times, hold more love in its heart?

TrishB Tough one...... 6y
Andrew65 @TrishB A bit of a moral conundrum! 6y
Cathythoughts It is a tough one. Depends on the truth & the lie. White lies ? I say go for it ! Real lies : I think depends on your intention, Oh , you know what , this is way too complicated. There are so many variables. 🤔 6y
Andrew65 @Cathythoughts 😂 It is! I think you have to look on a case by case basis. My mother-in-law worries EXCESSIVELY so when one of our boys went for a tour of duty in Afghanistan we lied that he was in England as otherwise she would have been ill with her nerves for 4 months and at her age that wouldn‘t be good. To use your word I would argue our intentions were only for good. 6y
38 likes4 comments
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Andrew65
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So many great quotes in this book, and so many humorous moments whilst dealing with issues from Rwanda‘s recent past. This has been done in a very clever and smart way.

BookNAround I loved this book. 6y
Andrew65 @BookNAround I can see why, I am really enjoying it. 6y
writerlibrarian You might like Gil Courtemanche novel of his time there during that period. 6y
Andrew65 @writerlibrarian Thanks for the recommendation 👍I will check it out. 😊 6y
57 likes4 comments
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Andrew65
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Needed a book set in Africa to complete a challenge, so picked up this boom set in Rwanda - don‘t think I‘ve Visited Rwanda in a book previously. According to the front of the book fans of Precious Ramotswe will love this, let‘s hope so!

DGRachel Sounds good. Fingers crossed 🤞🏻 6y
Tamra Oh, I will for sure check it out! 6y
Andrew65 @Tamra @dgrachel Am enjoying this one very much! 😊 6y
Tamra @Andrew65 woot! I will order soon! 6y
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DebinHawaii
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#LyricalApril #Africa I've read other books set in Africa & have a few more in my TBR, but I thought it would be fun to show these 4 that inspired some great dishes on my blog. Baking Cakes in Kigali is set in Rwanda, Ivory Ghosts in Nambia, What Tears Us Apart in Kenya, & The Monster's Daughter in South Africa. Most of these are not easy to read due to their subject matter but I learned from each of them. I'll link to the books & reviews below.

DebinHawaii Link to Baking Cakes in Kigali review & Pinto Bean & Cassava Stew Recipe: http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/2014/01/pinto-bean-cassava-stew-with-greens.h... 7y
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Cinfhen Thanks Deb for the links...your blog is one of my favorites 😍😍😍the recipes and photos are lush 7y
LeahBergen So cool!! ❤ 7y
Bklover That tea recipe sounds delicious! 7y
DebinHawaii @Cinfhen Aww. Thank you! That means a lot. 💜💜💜 7y
DebinHawaii @LeahBergen Thank you! It's fun to do. 💜😀 @Bklover It is really tasty with the rooibos & peach mix! 🍑🍵👍 7y
Andrew65 Just started Baking Cakes in Kigali. 6y
DebinHawaii @Andrew65 Hope you enjoy it. It was a bit mixed for our book club-some liked it more than others but I really liked it. 📚👍 6y
Andrew65 @DebinHawaii My Wife Read it earlier in the year and gave it 4 stars. 6y
DebinHawaii @Andrew65 I think I gave it that on Goodreads as well! 👍👍 6y
87 likes2 stack adds13 comments