The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic

Randall opens the novel with a description of the grandfather clock in the Revelare home. Randall introduces a magical atmosphere by using anthropomorphism to describe the clock, as Sadie observes that “even the grandfather clock, which never paid attention to time, warbled out ten sad magpie notes” before it “swung its gold pendulum as though wagging its finger in warning” (1). This use of anthropomorphism is initially ambiguous—suggestive of the kind of enchantment in which everyday objects are actually alive, though in fact this literary device reveals more about the narrative perspective than about the clock. Throughout the novel, Randall maintains a similar tone of whimsy and everyday magic, in which the reader is asked to question whether something is, or just seems, magical.

Establishment of setting is a very significant aspect of this initial section of the novel. The fictional town of Poppy Meadows functions as a minor character throughout the novel, and Randall provides vivid descriptions of both indoor and outdoor spaces. Sadie observes “the smell of leaves and mossy rocks and the promise of a sharp noon wind” (2), and details the feeling of being inside her café “A Peach in Thyme.” Randall often establishes setting through the use of food similes. For example, Sadie notes that “the air was brisk as ginger snaps as the sun made its daily commute into the sky” (17). This section of the novel thus establishes the importance of its cozy and intimate small-town setting, as well as the importance of food in both a literal and metaphorical sense.

The novel’s setting also establishes its participation in the magical realism genre. Whereas Sadie and her family are magical, and elements of the setting and domestic spaces also appear magical, Poppy Meadows is also firmly situated within a recognizably real world. Randall uses several allusions to real books and elements of popular culture. For example, when Sadie discusses Jake’s return with Raquel, she refers to him as “you-know-who.” Raquel replies “What, Voldemort?” (19). The use of a Harry Potter allusion situates the world of the text in ours, because the same popular book is present. However, the allusion to a fantasy novel also emphasizes the magical elements of The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic.

Randall also begins to characterize the town through its residents. For example, Sadie meets a neighbor she describes as taking “her duties as the town’s resident busybody seriously. There wasn’t a pie that Cindy’s finger wasn’t in” (2). When another town resident knowingly asks Sadie if she has plans to break any hearts, referring to Jake, she observes that her town is “Meddling. Always meddling” (48). While the town and its occupants are characterized as overly involved in Sadie’s life, her tone is affectionate toward them. The whimsy of the setting and light tone in which Randall describes it mean that meddling is characterized as an annoying but homey aspect of the small-town setting, rather than suggesting something more ominous.

Each chapter of the novel is followed by a recipe. While the narrative is in close third-person perspective focusing on Sadie’s thoughts and feelings, the interludes are in first person, narrated by Gigi. They are standard recipes with a list of ingredients and directions, but most are preceded by an introductory note that includes some history about the recipe or a recommendation about its use. For example, the first recipe interlude is for carrot cake cookies that Sadie attempted to make in the previous chapter. Gigi’s description notes that “I adapted this recipe from my Uncle Sun, who brought back a bag of lunar white carrot seeds from his tour in Vietnam” and that the recipe will “humble the eater and remind them of their roots, where they came from—you know” (14). Randall thus uses these recipe interludes to provide additional information about characters’ history and the narrative of the preceding chapter. For example, roots are related to Jake’s return to Poppy Meadows, and Seth’s potential return to town. Randall uses the recipes to add additional layers of meaning to the narratives that precede them.