The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern

“She had no interest in learning to knit, studying a new language, or filling her plate at some overcrowded cruise ship buffet. She did not want to ‘slow down,’ take ‘time for herself,’ or surrender to any other nonsensical euphemism designed to make her feel better about being made to give up the work she’d been doing for most of her life.”

These opening sentences define Augusta’s character. She is inclined to sternness, a quality which is a play on her family name. These lines paint a picture of the conventional or expected activities of older individuals, which Augusta rebuffs. This passage also defines work and ambition as the drivers of Augusta’s life, setting her up for a character arc that will turn away from these and toward personal connections.

“To his customers, he was priest and rabbi, social worker and secret keeper. The precision with which he formulated his treatments—whether pills or powders, creams or tinctures—was lauded by everyone in the neighborhood. His medicines made everyone well.”

This introduction of Solomon Stern and his work at Stern’s Pharmacy establishes the background for Augusta’s love of pharmacy and also introduces the status that Solomon holds. The analogy to a rabbi suggests his remedies have nearly a sacred power. The reverence accorded to healers is a theme of the novel, as are questions about what medicine can and cannot heal.

“It makes no difference what anyone calls me. I know exactly who I am.”

Esther’s declaration speaks to the theme of The Persistence of Identity, which surfaces in various ways throughout the novel, including a meditation about what aspects of one’s identity persist throughout life. Esther, who is nearly 90 at this point, has earned her self-knowledge, and she serves as a foil to young Augusta, who is only beginning to understand her passions.