Dominika Dery

This was an amazing and surprisingly uplifting read which was just what I needed right now in my life. It's interesting when books come into your life with perfect timing.

This seems like it would be a heart crushing read since the premise of the memoir is a little girl growing up in Communist Czechoslovakia with, as she describes at the end of the book, 'no money, no choice, no chance.' However, the story revolves around her family, a tight-knit unit navigating the unfair laws of the time as they are constantly hampered by neighbors who want to report them and the secret police punishing her father for his work with the former government. The father is endlessly optimistic and determined, the mother is gentle and encouraging of her daughter's dreams, and there is a lot of love in the family. We should all be blessed with this type of family.

The story is told with the voice of the author at her current age looking back at the events. The naivity of Dominika at that young age is well conveyed but also punctuated with insights from her older self about the history of her country and the politics of the time. It is an interesting blend of insight and the gentler perspective of a young child.

I enjoyed learning about the country. Some of their language, some of their tradition for the holidays, how people functioned under communist rule were all very interesting to me.

In the beginning of the book, Dominika comments that during this time good sausage, cheap beer, and plenty of public holidays were enough to keep people going even though times were hard. This kind of hope and the ability of the people in this country and particularly in Dominika's family to find small happiness is inspiring to me as I look at the problems in my own life. This was the happiest time in Dominika's life despite the many tragedies, illnesses, and set backs she faced. All because of her loving family providing a source of strength and safety as she grew up.

I highly recommend this read to anyone who likes memoirs, likes learning about history and other countries and customs, or anyone who wants to read about the strength of the human spirit. This story manages to be funny, uplifting, and inspiring even as it deals with difficult topics and the unfair nature of life.… (más)

Dominika Dery has written a cute and charming memoir of growing up in Communist Prague in the 1970s, set into a series of twelve vignettes told chronologically. In particular, I liked the stories of her parents, especially her father's home improvement projects and driving adventures. However, the tone of the memoir didn't always ring true to me. The crudity of some language came across to me as sounding false for a memoir told from the point of view of a child. And I wondered how Dery's sister feels about the way she's portrayed.

Everything had a 'happily ever after' feel to it. Dealing with the Communist regime seemed humorous at times, as there seemed to be a workaround for any given situation. I had to admire their spirit and determination, and I enjoyed reading this book, but ultimately came to feel there was something lacking. The juvenile viewpoint and situations of Cakes have made me think I'd like to read something from a more mature point of view.… (más)