Love and Biology at the Center of the Universe by Jennie Shortridge
Release date/ Length: 2008 / 367 pages
Synopsis (from the back cover): Mera Serafino can see the headlines: Girl Scout-Leading, Homeless-Feeding Science Teacher of the Year Goes on Wild Rampage of Sex, Drinking, and Drugs. Well, let her small town of Pacifica, Oregon, think what it will. Forty-five-year-old Mira — the obedient daughter, the supermom, the loyal wife — has left the building since learning that her college-sweetheart husband has been seeing another woman.
First line: “Her father looked like the man on television, the handsome Italian they watched sing on Saturday nights, drink in one hand, cigarette in the other.” 
Review: I recently read (and loved) Shortridge’s latest (When She Flew) and immediately requested one of her earlier novels from the library. I think my opinion of this novel is too much tempered by my love of Flew, although I did enjoy spending an afternoon with Mira and her family.
My primary reservation with this novel was it didn’t quite accomplish what it could have — or maybe it tried to accomplish too much? I almost felt as if this was a sequel — that I was expected to already know Mira’s father, brother, and grandmother. I think this was an effect of how the narration jumped around in time and in perspective — even within chapters.
Secondly, most of the characters irritated me a bit. However, they irritated themselves much more — which was a saving grace. I did feel empathy with all of the characters, even when they were making really bad decisions or treating each other terribly.
When She Flew was nearly flawless — Shortridge hit her stride immediately and did not let up. But Love and Biology seemed a little uneven or maybe as if it was searching for its focus. One more issue — on a personal note — Mira seemed much older than forty-five (I just turned forty). She was much more in the throes of perimenopause than I expected and viewed herself as quite over-the-hill physically. However, this may because I’m on the front-end of this decade and have not yet experienced any symptoms or self-doubt due to age yet.
So, there’s my review! I bet I would have enjoyed this more if I had read it before When She Flew — but will definitely read her other two novels soon!
I just check out Love and Biolofy from the library on Friday. I didn’t get it started this weekend like I’d hoped to. I haven’t read When She Flew so I won’t have the comparison problem. I’m looking forward to reading it.
Be sure to stop back and weigh in!!