Heartburn (Vintage Contemporaries)

"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor Hell a fury like a woman scorned," is the famous line from the 1697 play "The Mourning Bride," by William Congreve. And Washington Post journalist Carl Bernstein of Watergate fame knows this firsthand.This novel by Nora Ephron, Bernstein's ex-wife, is revenge fiction that is so true-to-life it made a lot of people squirm when it was first published in 1983. Nora and Carl were married from 1976 to 1980 and were considered one of Washington's power couples. He had an affair with Margaret Jay, the daughter of the British Prime Minister James Callaghan. and left Nora while she was pregnant with their second child. So Nora did what any talented writer would do: She wrote a novel. Changed the names but kept to the facts.While the book, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year (2023), is dated, it's a quintessential D.C. novel of the 1980s.Prominent food writer Rachel Samstat is seven months pregnant with her second child when she finds out that her husband, Mark Feldman, is having a none-too-secret affair with Thelma Rice, a Washington socialite. Insecure and overanxious Rachel flees from their Washington, D.C. home to her father's apartment in New York City—with their two-year-old son in tow—filled with angst and anger. And lots of tears. Much of the story is spent denigrating Mark (not surprisingly), while celebrating their very wealthy, intellectual lifestyle. Hey, it was the 1980s. In DC and NYC. Rachel gets her revenge by (falsely) gossiping about a lurid and frightening lie about Thelma. Parts of it are petty, while parts are just sad.The novel is amusing, especially if you know the real-life history behind it, but it's nothing more than that. I haven't seen the movie, but I'm guessing it's better than the book. And that may be the most unusual twist of all.Bonus: The narrative is often interrupted with one of Rachel's recipes—from a casserole of lima beans and pears to cheesecake to linguine alla cecca to pot roast. Oh, and potatoes. Rachel (Nora?) loves potatoes! Read the book and you might get some ideas for the dinner menu.

Nora Ephron never wrote a loser story. "Heartburn" is an adorable read. And she included several easy and yummy recipes. My favorite recipe was a simple, delicious mashed potato recipe. It's a hoot.Mostly auto-biography, letting us set right there and watch her marriage to the " Watergate/ All The Presidents Men" author Carl Bernstein. I am a huge fan of both Nora Ephron and Carl Bernstein but man that Carl was a real dog of a husband. In the end Nora came out so much better than Carl.Shame on you, Carl Bernstein.Rest in peace, lovely Nora and thanks for another winner.

The film with Meryl Streep was so good— and the book is even better. I read it first when it came out 40 years ago. Just re-read it, and older and wiser me thinks it‘s still a great read.

I read one of her other books and enjoyed it, but was really disappointed by this one. Not at all funny and the main character is very annoying. Easy to see why her husband fell in love with someone else after two years. Couldn't finish it, found it too unpleasant.

If you want an escape from life during a commute to work or a long drive, or something to occupy the time during a long trip, this is a light, snarky, amusing story told by a pro (what a difference that makes!), this fits the bill. I think you may enjoy the humor more if you get Jewish humor. Tried one of the recipes… so-so. You can actually find them online. Not for everyone but as my dad always said, “That’s why there are 31 flavors!”

I've read this book several times- and given it as a gift!! Even the recipes are good!!!

Bit of a bore. Not one of her best. Left me with a huh?

It's such a luxury to have her reading the book to me, because that's what it feels like.

Eigentlich mag ich Nora Ephron sehr, aber das Buch war nicht meins.

Awesome book. Must read. It's short, you don't have excuses.

A easy and hilarious book about a divorce.

I loved reading this book. Written in Nora Ephron's inimitable style. It chronicles, in story form, the account of her marriage and divorce, but in such a quirky humorous style, looking back at her own life with both sadness and humour.

I have enjoyed every piece of memories and crumbs of humour. Plenty of love and humanity and self-esteem. Definitely a must