So, you’ve settled into your room for the afternoon and feel like taking a little time for yourself. In our insanely digital world, it’s quite the treat to put aside a few hours and curl up with a good old analogue book. With this in mind, we’ve struck up a bit of a friendship with the guys over at Title bookstore. Each month, they recommend us something good to read, and then afterwards we unpack it a little and share our thoughts. This month, we read Heartburn by Nora Ephron.
Ever wondered what it would feel like to discover that your husband is cheating on you during your second pregnancy together? Well, somehow Heartburn manages to make this seemingly sombre topic an amusing page-turner. From recipes, to being held up at gun point during group therapy, there is no trauma too sacred for this thinly veiled semi-autobiographical novel to dwell on.
Written by American journalist, writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron, best known for her romantic comedy films When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle, it’s an easy-going read. The plot is loosely based on the author’s marriage to, and ultimately divorce from, her second husband. Narrated by the main character Rachel Samstat (based on Nora Ephron), a somewhat neurotic food journalist, it’s formatted as a monologue, divulging her thoughts in the months after discovering the affair, with a few recipes sprinkled throughout for good measure.
HIGHLIGHTS
OLD CLARE
100% her use of metaphor to compare potatoes to the sequence of relationships. So funny. I bookmarked this and read it out to four different people.
TITLE
How refreshing it is to read about a woman who is SO wronged by her husband yet it’s a hilarious and uplifting book. I also love that, as someone who cannot cook, I’ve managed to make the perfect four-minute egg thanks to one of the many recipes that are slipped into the story.
LOWLIGHTS
OLD CLARE
Its monologue format meant I needed to be ‘in the mood’ to read it, but also made it good to dip in and out of.
TITLE
Yes, I agree. The self-centered nature of the book can get a little tiring. But it being a short and sweet 180 pages helps make up for this.
WHEN WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
TOCH
Definitely a good one for anyone going through a rough patch in their relationship.
TITLE
It is the perfect pick-me-up for anyone going through a breakup…that said, my grandmother, who has been married for a thousand years, loves this book… it covers the experiences of so many women (c-sections, kooky family members, failed relationships) in such an honest and comical way that it’s universally appealing. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy, funny read that has substance.
Heartburn is readable within a 24 hour stay. Check out our Extras direct booking benefits and make the most out of your time with us!