<p>&ldquo;The fundamental inanity of existence has already pierced my heart, and I know now that only cakes have any savor.&rdquo;<br />
In a tiny room under the Parisian rooftops, a precocious student concocts a rather unusual plan for a simple task: suicide. A dizzying array of desserts&mdash;pastries, chocolates, cookies, custards and more&mdash;are the instruments of her demise.<br />
<em>A Sweet Death</em> is the macabre and humorous record of a young woman&rsquo;s eccentric progression. A rumination on life, literature, philosophy, fashion, love, and&mdash;most importantly&mdash;food.<br />
By turns sumptuous, horrific and hopeful, Claude Tardat&rsquo;s novel is an original and compelling exploration of what it means to be alive.</p>