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Canadian Jen's Reviews > The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern
The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern
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A love elixir? Does it work? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could make potions for everything that ails us? For love, for peace, for beauty…hmmm sounds a little Hokey Pokey to me.
This is a love story. A Love that was abandoned in 1922 leaving Augusta brokenhearted and devasted for decades. She never married -focused instead on her career as a pharmacist. A big deal for a woman during this time. Now, 60 years later, she is a feisty 80 year old who has relocated to Florida having been forced to retire. And who does she run into? No other except her first love, Irving.
What I enjoyed was the path this character took as a woman. Influenced by her great aunt who was a healer and how she entwined both the natural and the science of medicine into a career as a pharmacist- following in her dad’s footsteps.
What I didn’t like was the melodrama. At 80, I would hope, there would be a little less hysteria and more sensibility rather than love sick and misunderstood teenagers. This didn’t work for me and actually caused the dreaded eye roll.
Overall it was ok but the most it did for me was inspire me to make some chicken soup 💕
3.75⭐️
This is a love story. A Love that was abandoned in 1922 leaving Augusta brokenhearted and devasted for decades. She never married -focused instead on her career as a pharmacist. A big deal for a woman during this time. Now, 60 years later, she is a feisty 80 year old who has relocated to Florida having been forced to retire. And who does she run into? No other except her first love, Irving.
What I enjoyed was the path this character took as a woman. Influenced by her great aunt who was a healer and how she entwined both the natural and the science of medicine into a career as a pharmacist- following in her dad’s footsteps.
What I didn’t like was the melodrama. At 80, I would hope, there would be a little less hysteria and more sensibility rather than love sick and misunderstood teenagers. This didn’t work for me and actually caused the dreaded eye roll.
Overall it was ok but the most it did for me was inspire me to make some chicken soup 💕
3.75⭐️
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Reading Progress
September 17, 2024
– Shelved
September 17, 2024
– Shelved as:
to-read
November 6, 2024
–
Started Reading
November 10, 2024
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction
November 10, 2024
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 75 (75 new)
message 1:
by
Jayme
(new)
Nov 10, 2024 04:10PM
Sounds like my eyes would be rolling as well! Wonderful review! 💞
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Just got this one Jen. Good review
Great review, Jen. At least you got some chicken soup out of it. 🤗💕
Lovely review. Chicken soup goes with latte and croissants? Non????I have this book on my Christmas list that has been given out to my family. If I don’t receive it, then I may pass. ❤️
Completely agree, Jen! The 80s timeline was much OTT. It was odd to see 80 year olds behave that way. This was a big disappointment. Glad to have you on this side of the rating.
Jayme wrote: "Sounds like my eyes would be rolling as well! Wonderful review! 💞"Thanks Jayme....maybe it's just me? 🤷♀�
� Sandi � wrote: "Just got this one Jen. Good review"Hope you enjoy it, Sandi. The earlier timeline worked better for me! Looking fwd to your thoughts 😊
Tracy wrote: "Lovely review. Chicken soup goes with latte and croissants? Non????I have this book on my Christmas list that has been given out to my family. If I don’t receive it, then I may pass. ❤️"
Chicken soup does go with latte and croissants, Tracy!! You may love this one - many do. I have a low tolerance for bad behaviour lol....Cheers! Enjoy that snow!
Great review, Jen! I’d probably be rolling my eyes as well.
lol Tis the season for some good chicken soup anyway 😆
Fantastic review! 🧡 Hope you are loving your current read.
She should be solving crimes like all the other 80 year olds.
Jan wrote: "She should be solving crimes like all the other 80 year olds."That made my laugh, Jan!
Shelley's Book Nook wrote: "Great review, Jen. At least you got some chicken soup out of it. 🤗💕"It wasn't a bad story at all, Shelley...I just had higher expectations. And I did make some chicken noodle soup yesterday! So overall, I would have to say it was a bit of a success...haha.
Oh Jen, I'm in a community that I think the average age is 73. Believe me, the drama here is INSANE! I have removed myself from the social committee...couldn't stand the drama.
Great review, Jen!
Proof that no matter how old one gets we still "are who we are"? The eye-roll did it for me!
Jasmine wrote: "Great review, Jen! I’d probably be rolling my eyes as well."It worked for so many others...I do feel a bit disappointed it didn't for me, Jasmine. The overall story good...the later in life love story fell short!
Love your review Jen, especially the closing paragraph!
Wonderful review, Jen! Sorry it was a disappointment. Hope your next book is a 5⭐️ read. 🙄
Agreed. I enjoyed the younger portrayal of the character, but she was a very bitter older woman.
Diana wrote: "lol Tis the season for some good chicken soup anyway 😆"Tis right about that, Diana!
Mary Beth wrote: "Fantastic review! 🧡 Hope you are loving your current read."Thanks MB 😊
Barbara (sad about notification changes) wrote: "Oh Jen, I'm in a community that I think the average age is 73. Believe me, the drama here is INSANE! I have removed myself from the social committee...couldn't stand the drama."Seriously, Barbara?! Oh my. Some people have too much time on their hands! How disappointing but good call. You don't want to be sucked into that crap!
A good honest review Jen. Sorry it didn’t resonate with you. Hope your next read is fabulous!
Tara (Semi Hiatus—focusing on my husband's health and recovery ❤️�) wrote: "Great review, Jen!"TY Tara!
Carmel wrote: "Proof that no matter how old one gets we still "are who we are"? The eye-roll did it for me!"Apparently this is the case, Carmel 🤣
Oops the eyeroll? No thanks. Sounds like a fair review Jen! Onto a better read! 👍
Fantastic feedback Jena. There is something about herbs and concoctions that draws me in...
Maureen ( Wants email notifications Restoring) wrote: "Love your review Jen, especially the closing paragraph!"TY Maureen! 😁
I love the premise of this novel (and the cover art), but your thoughtful comments make me think I would have the same reaction you did. Hope your next read is a 5-star one!
Great review, Jen! I have a feeling I’d have a similar reaction. I do love homemade chicken soup! Bon appetit!
Oh no� Sorry it wasn’t better for you!
Great review, though!
Debbie wrote: "Wonderful review, Jen! Sorry it was a disappointment. Hope your next book is a 5⭐️ read. 🙄"I hope so too, Debbie!! TY
Keri wrote: "Agreed. I enjoyed the younger portrayal of the character, but she was a very bitter older woman."The younger years were so much better, Keri!
I’ve been on the fence with this book Jen, I’m increasingly finding with my books the good part is the history and the present day a disappointment - think I’ll leave it for now, and hope you find a 5 star read in your next book 😊
I just finished it and I have to agree with your review. It did make me hungry for good chicken soup (I prefer matzo to kreplach) and brisket. The earlier timeline was more interesting than the latter to me.
Suzanne wrote: "A good honest review Jen. Sorry it didn’t resonate with you. Hope your next read is fabulous!"Glad it worked for you, Suzanne!
Tina wrote: "Oops the eyeroll? No thanks. Sounds like a fair review Jen! Onto a better read! 👍"The dreaded eye roll, Tina....but there were good parts too :)
Annette wrote: "Fantastic feedback Jena. There is something about herbs and concoctions that draws me in..."Yes that part was fascinating for healing...now as a love potion, nah....Thanks Annette!
K wrote: "I love the premise of this novel (and the cover art), but your thoughtful comments make me think I would have the same reaction you did. Hope your next read is a 5-star one!"K, do look at some other reviews as some of our trusty friends loved this....the hf part was great....the current timeline not so much -for me at least!
The dreaded eye roll! That seals it for me. Off the list!
Antoinette wrote: "Great review, Jen! I have a feeling I’d have a similar reaction. I do love homemade chicken soup! Bon appetit!"Merci! Tis the season, Antoinette!
Wonderful review, Jen, I enjoyed the historical fiction part of the book much more than the high schoolish rich people retirement village part of the story, too.
Karen wrote: "Oh no� Sorry it wasn’t better for you!
Great review, though!"
Oh how I wanted to, Karen!!! I'm glad you loved it!
Megan wrote: "I’ve been on the fence with this book Jen, I’m increasingly finding with my books the good part is the history and the present day a disappointment - think I’ll leave it for now, and hope you find ..."TY Megan!! Glad we are friends now as you are always in my feeds! Some authors can really make it work - many who loved this one - but as you mention, some just don't. I just didn't find it realistic although I loved that this feisty 80 year old was doing laps in the pool. I just thought the drama was too much and a let down! Onwards I go 😊
Jen , thank you for the add- ☺️ . The occasional random choices of books I read is due to the fact I’m in my final year of a literature degree- there is no one in there right mind who would read a restoration satirical play by choice !
Carol wrote: "I just finished it and I have to agree with your review. It did make me hungry for good chicken soup (I prefer matzo to kreplach) and brisket. The earlier timeline was more interesting than the lat..."😊
Diane wrote: "The dreaded eye roll! That seals it for me. Off the list!"It could just by my eyes, Diane! 🙄
MarilynW wrote: "Wonderful review, Jen, I enjoyed the historical fiction part of the book much more than the high schoolish rich people retirement village part of the story, too."Birds of a feather :) Thanks Marilyn!
