The Chemistry of Tears

Broken. The protagonist of Peter Carey’s novel, The Chemistry of Tears, finds herself brokenhearted at the sudden death of her lover. Catherine Gehrig hides her grief because her lover was a married man, and few knew about their relationship. Her boss offers a chance toward healing by offering a new work assignment: the restoration of a nineteenth century mechanical device. Catherine becomes obsessed with the device and its commissioner, Henry Brandling, who saw the device as a way to heal his ill son. Carey weaves together the stories of Catherine and Henry through the use of lyrical prose and deep insight into human behavior. I was captivated by Carey’s fine writing and enjoyed the display of his talent and cleverness. Intelligent readers with patience to accept indirect plot and satisfaction with the unresolved messiness of life are those most likely to enjoy this novel. Rating: Three-star (Recommended) Click here to purchase The Chemistry of Tears from amazon.com.