Library Journal Review

Castella (Booze Cakes) has scoured the globe to create a cookbook of "the greatest cakes on earth"-cakes that have cultural significance in a particular country, including treats not always considered cake by American standards (e.g., tamales, fritters, and buns). Arranged by geographical region, the chapters contain brief overviews and "world tours" of various types of cakes, showing, for example, how cheesecakes or wedding cakes vary throughout the world. She also includes a calendar of cake-appropriate holidays, interesting sidebars, and beautiful color photographs-most of the cakes are shown in their finished state, and many of the other images are stock photography. Novice bakers may need more instructional guidance, and there are a few troubling omissions: variations on recipes don't account for different baking times for different pan sizes, numerous recipes call for nonstandard pan sizes with no substitutions listed, and there is no bibliography. Verdict Despite several flaws, this book is a distinctive contribution to the world of baking, and armchair bakers will delight in flipping through the pages of this colorful and engaging volume.-Pauline Baughman, Multnomah Cty. Lib., Portland, OR