Review by Library Journal Review
Ephron's witty 1983 novel, read here by the incomparable Meryl Streep (who starred in the movie adaptation), is a thinly veiled account of the end of Ephron's second marriage. It's also a novel about storytelling, why we do it and what it does for us. While Ephron intentionally structures the story of Rachel, a cookbook author who's married to Mark, a political journalist in love with another woman, with a beginning, middle, and end, some of the most delightful bits are the detours she takes as Rachel's first-person narration makes listeners privy to her thoughts on everything from the history of lettuce to the allure of beige. There are a few aspects of the language that are dated, and the recipes included are unappealing, but neither element is overly intrusive. Streep's interpretation does not disappoint, wonderfully incorporating many of Ephron's verbal mannerisms while bringing the actress's own flavor and authority to the part. -Verdict Ephron treats the listener to what was by all accounts her great enthusiasm for the physical things of the world, and while that is pleasure enough in itself, the quality of the book is made more profound by her matter-of-fact, irreverent observations on love, marriage, and storytelling. Highly recommended.-Heather Malcolm, Bow, WA (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
