An Attar of Roses

by Jane Eschrich

Poor Geneva Aberdeen. Although she has a boyfriend, a stable (albeit lowly) job at an Indian catering company, and an important position in the local literary society, she does not have Nikolaus Gaetjens, the love of her life. Enter said love-an older music history professor with a family-and the ensuing flirtation ultimately threatens Geneva's relationship with her boyfriend as well as her sister, who was once involved with Dr. Gaetjens herself. Can Geneva glean any words of wisdom from the nineteenth-century Russian author Ivan Turgenev before it is too late?

482 pages, Hardcover

First published May 28, 2014

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tension of this novel consists of wondering if two main characters will ever get together. The woman is 40 and in a relationship; the other is an older married man who was her college professor years ago. Is the interest mutual? Adultery: yes or no?

Meanwhile, we wade through elaborate literary critiques of Turgenev's novels, which were mainly incomprehensible to me since I've only read one of his works. But Turgenev's views on love illumine our heroine's own. I'm sure that the more Turgenev you've read, the more you'll appreciate these involved discussions!

We also spend time in the back kitchen of an Indian restaurant, where love and marriage Indian-style is portrayed. I wish those characters had been as fully developed as the literary book club friends were.

The novel was a bit long, but finally there's a satisfying conclusion on the very last page.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the phrasing and word choices harkening back to a writing style reminiscent of Jane Austen and the late 18th and and 19th century writers, but in a modern setting. The ever popular theme of unrequited love was handled in a unique way. There was an impressive amount of research poured into the book to provide detailed information on such topics as Tolstoy, Indian customs and cuisine, botany, historical sites around Washington D.C. and Montreal, and early music.