Nora Ephron (1941–2012)

Heartburn seems to me like one of those books that everyone else has read besides me. After a mention of Nora Ephron in the book I was previously reading (Park Avenue Summer by Renee Rosen), I thought it was high time that I dug it out. It’s a very funny read that I read in just over 24 hours.

The story is about the end of a marriage. And yes, it is very, very funny in places. In others, it’s painful and sad and occasionally it’s about the logistics of dismantling something that was show more meant to be forever. It’s not a deep look at all the feelings and problems, but it’s a fun read. Rachel is a food writer who is seven months pregnant when she finds out his husband has been having an affair with a tall, plain woman. It’s a jolt straight to the heart and Rachel takes off for New York. It’s a bumpy ride that involves family history and broken friendships (but overall, it’s still very funny).

Throughout the narrative are short recipes for a variety of foods (although no souffle, despite what the cover blurbs tell me). These sometimes worked for me, sometimes not. I understand that they are related to Rachel’s identity and food is a soothing mechanism for her, but sometimes they just pulled away from the story from me.

The story is generally quite funny overall despite the context, but it does get quite serious towards the end. It’s a sharp contrast to the earlier hilarity and mixed-up situations that Rachel finds herself in. Her soon to be ex, Mark, also steps up here from his endless searching for topics to write about in his column. I’m not sure whether it’s meant to redeem him in part, but it doesn’t last too long. Ephron takes any sympathy the reader might have felt for him and skewers it soon afterwards.
The whole story is brutally honest and not overly well structured – but given that Heartburn is what we would call autofiction these days, it has much more authenticity to it. It’s messy, full of bad decisions (think a drunken proposal before falling into a pond) and small wins, from the petty to the expensive. I liked Rachel’s voice – it’s rare to get a likeable character who remains that way despite full access to her thoughts and I enjoyed the revenge factor. Some of the story is quite dated in places (seriously, was paying for your plane ticket while on the plane a thing?!) and I still have no idea what a Cuisinart is because I’ve only ever known it as a brand of ice cream maker. Some attitudes to LGTBQIA people and the mentally unwell are also cringe inducing (and the long conversation about how one knows if a woman is a lesbian doesn’t really add to the plot). Other parts are an interesting look at history (do people still get mugged on the subway for their jewellery?).

Overall, this is a funny read – it’s not the be all and end all of literature, but it’s still good fun.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com show less

Easy to read, which might make you think it's superficial, but it's not. It's a captivating story of a marriage that started out great and ends with an ouch; but in general, it's about love.
Just get a load of this wonderful passage: That's the catch about betrayal, of course: that it feels good, that there's something immensely pleasurable about moving from a complicated relationship which involves minor atrocities on both sides too a nice, neat, simple one where one person has done show more something so horrible and unforgivable that the other person is immediately absolved of all the low-grade sins of sloth, envy, gluttony, avarice and I forget the other three.
And this: Sometimes I believe that love dies but hope springs eternal. Sometimes I believe that hope dies but love springs eternal. ... Sometimes I believe that love is essential, and sometimes I believe that the only reason love is essential is that otherwise you spend all your time looking for it.
Plus, I want to try her recipe for lima beans and pears — how improbable a combination is that? (Just like couples, sometimes, I guess.) show less

“I Feel Bad About my Neck” (me too girl…me too!🤣) by Nora Ephron

Where have I been and why have I not been reading more by this woman??lol Maybe it’s my age, but I found her hilarious and honest about the vicissitudes of aging.

Also, totally did not know she wrote the playwrights for “When Harry Met Sally” and “Sleepless in Seattle.” AND, that “Heartburn,” (which I think I saw in the late 80s) was based on her novel, which was based on her husband’s affair….gonna see show more this movie again now!LOL

Granted, it was published in 2006, and I’m glad some things have changed.

“Hair dye has changed everything, but it almost never gets the credit. It’s the most powerful weapon older women have against the youth culture.” —Although this is still true in many ways (ageism in the work field anyone?), there is more acceptance for gray hair now. 👩‍🦳

I decided to let my hair go gray when I was younger and it drove everyone insane (everyone had an opinion). So, I caved in and dyed. I then, successfully, transitioned to gray in 2015, when it was starting to become more “acceptable.” Perfect timing! She wrote: “Sometimes I think that not having to worry about your hair anymore is the secret upside of death.” I guess I figured this out before “death.” LOL!!

Her section on parenting (and how it has changed), adolescents (get a dog!LOL), empty nest syndrome (do not leave your kid’s room as they are…change it to anything else, or it may encourage them to return.lol), were funny and insightful.

Her love of reading and mention of “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay” by Michael Chabon reminded me that I had the book in my TBR shelf and now I’m reading it.

Her love of food and moving from neurotic-like food choices to a more centered and true-to-self approach to dinners was good to read about.

Her view on aging was more pessimistic than mine, so there were some things I did not agree with or maybe resolved before she did. She wrote: “There are dreams that are never quite going to come true, ambitions that will never quite be realized. There are, in short, regrets.” Which is true, however, it can also be an impetus for acceptance of what is, or changes to make the rest of one’s life worthwhile. I agree with her in that “Death is a sniper,” and can rob us of those we love or hit us too soon….but then all the more reason to make the best of it. Not sermonizing…just pointing out that although I disagree with her philosophically, I still found her “views” funny and relatable.
👩‍🦳
And she must have known this (make the best of it) at some level, because of the ending…and yes… “one capful is never enough” – Use the good stuff, don’t skimp on what makes you happy, don’t wait to live.
👩‍🦳
What an interesting woman! show less

Like most New York women of a certain ago, I feel like Nora and I would have gotten along, had we ever met. That's no longer possible now that she's gone, and may not have been possible in real life. In any case, her writings remain. These essays on urban life, including aging, food, and apartments, were witty and engaging. I could not bring myself to read the last one about dying, as it was too close to her actual demise.