A short but beautifully written novel, multi-layered and funny. Heartburn is modeled on events in Ephron's own life and captures the breakup of the relationship between a pregnant woman and her unfaithful husband. The narrator, a food writer, uses recipes and cooking as a distraction amidst the trauma of events. Ephron does a great job satirizing the mores of Washington society and also in highlighting how (women) writing about cookery rarely get taken seriously. At its most basic, food can be seen as analogous to sex — the satisfaction of an inherent need that can also be excessive and have damaging consequences. Ephron's mordant sense of humor keeps the story moving along. The narrator/heroine also gains a clear victory (both morally and practically) at the novel's close. 8 out of 10.
By Nora Ephron