| The Three Weissmanns of Westport: A Novel |  | Author: Cathleen Schine
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Category: Book
List Price: $25.00
Buy Used: $4.99
as of 9/9/2010 07:54 CDT details
New (52) Used (62) Collectible (3) from $4.99
Seller: CDC Books
Rating:  74 reviews
Sales Rank: 14,795
Media: Hardcover
Edition: First Edition
Pages: 304
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.6 x 0.9
ISBN: 0374299048
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780374299040
Publication Date: February 2, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| • | ISBN13: 9780374299040 | | • | Condition: New | | • | Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed |
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Product Description
Jane Austen’s beloved Sense and Sensibility has moved to Westport, Connecticut, in this enchanting modern-day homage to the classic novel When Joseph Weissmann divorced his wife, he was seventy eight years old and she was seventy-five . . . He said the words “Irreconcilable differences,” and saw real confusion in his wife’s eyes. “Irreconcilable differences?” she said. “Of course there are irreconcilable differences. What on earth does that have to do with divorce?” Thus begins The Three Weissmanns of Westport, a sparkling contemporary adaptation of Sense and Sensibility from the always winning Cathleen Schine, who has already been crowned “a modern-day Jewish Jane Austen” by People’s Leah Rozen. In Schine’s story, sisters Miranda, an impulsive but successful literary agent, and Annie, a pragmatic library director, quite unexpectedly find themselves the middle-aged products of a broken home. Dumped by her husband of nearly fifty years and then exiled from their elegant New York apartment by his mistress, Betty is forced to move to a small, run-down Westport, Connecticut, beach cottage. Joining her are Miranda and Annie, who dutifully comes along to keep an eye on her capricious mother and sister. As the sisters mingle with the suburban aristocracy, love starts to blossom for both of them, and they find themselves struggling with the dueling demands of reason and romance.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 74
Great beach read September 3, 2010
M. Villanueva (Chicago, IL)
It is sometimes difficult to read a book after having been exposed to even the smallest information about it, the experience becomes cloudy with expectations and the brain goes on high alert for clues to signal revelations and connections. I realize it is with extreme irony that I write this (I am writing a review). However, reviews are still extremely helpful in deciding what to read amidst the millions of books the world has to offer and the short time that you have to read them. I try not to read in-depth reviews when I pick a book. Yet so much has been said about Cathleen Schine's novel's homage to Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility that one can't help make comparisons, look for tie-ins to the plot, where it diverts, where it surprises and inevitably, where it fails to stand up to the original. Though ultimately, Schine's book stands remarkably well on its own: funny, irreverent, heartbreaking in parts, frustrating in others - there is always that shadow (very large and very formidable) of Jane Austen which lurks behind it and reminds the reader that Austen is a brilliant writer, often imitated, never duplicated (unless you just copy everything word for word and throw in some zombies).
Once I shake myself of Austen's ghost and immerse myself in Schine's novel, I begin to like it. I think part of my problem is that in Austen's setting, it was easy to accept wealthy, educated women who become destitute and come to rely on the kindness of strangers (or relative strangers). And even though I'm sure such things happen now, what with overextended credit lines and upside-down mortgages, one can't help but to be either frustrated by the dumbness of characters you want to be supportive of or simply not find them believable. Schine does come up with a fairly believable plot on how such genteel women can become poverty-stricken, albeit temporarily, but the characters seem almost implausible and one-sided. They lack the fullness and complications of real women. I know women who spend money like crazy even when they are broke, but they actually worry about it. They don't nonchalantly buy Tiffany earrings and not give it a thought. They may still actually buy it but they are wracked with guilt and worry because smart women know at some point, they will need money. The elder Weismann (Betty) and her free-spirited daughter, Miranda, become caricatures at certain times, as does steady, uncomplicated Annie who bears the burden of keeping the boat afloat for the rest of the family. They seem to be locked in their 18th century English character assignments, unable to move freely and exert their 20th century sensibilities.
Inspite their rigorous confines however, Schine manages to narrate a story that becomes endearing and entertaining. It is when Schine departs from the Austen plot lines that the story becomes engaging and energized. It is also the juxtaposition of Austen plot lines set against unlikely pairings - our heroines are older, Jewish, New Yorkers - that the novel comes to life. And ultimately, it is in Schine's acute portrayal of everyday, commonplace tragedies - a husband trading in his wife of 49 years for a newer model, a self-absorbed, brooding author sleeping with his young nubile house sitter, a rich elderly dowager swindled by a handsome con-artist - that I enjoy the novel the most. Heartbraking in places, irreverently funny in others, strikingly insightful all around, The Three Weissmans of Westport is a great summer read, just try not to prep for it by re-reading Jane Austen before you pick it up.
 Women on the Verge August 24, 2010
Ciaramine (Barrington Hills, IL United States)
After 70-something Betty is dumped by her husband for a younger woman, the love she instilled in her daughters Annie and Miranda comes full circle as they join her in a cottage in Westport loaned to them by their cousin Lou. Middle-aged and as lost as Betty, the daughters try their best to help their mom while taking stock of their own lives.
Cousin Lou, a generous man for whom everyone "is like family," takes them under his wing and expands their world.
This is a bittersweet novel that could be summed up with the saying, "It's never too late, until it's too late." The pages are filled with humor, family angst, romance, regrets, forgiveness and in the end, new families are formed. I loved this book and I think its story will stay with me for a long time. I wish I had a cousin Lou who would loan me his beach cottage in Westport.
 Austen's book is a classic. This is not. August 24, 2010
GatsbyFan (Chicago, IL)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book was a huge disappointment. I bought the book as a result of seeing a glowing review in the New York Times. Other reviews I read suggested this was going to be a funny book about a mother and her daughters exiled in Westport. Either Schine forgot to bring the funny or these reviewers have a wildly different definition of what is funny compared to me.
I found myself struggling to finish the book. After about 100 pages I thought about giving it up but since I actually bought the book I felt like I should see it to the end. I also kept thinking that it would improve. It did not.
The women in the book were annoying and weak. I wanted to care about Betty, Annie and Miranda and their plights but I couldn't be bothered because I never felt any sort of connection to them or any of the other characters. The only character I did enjoy was that of a young child, Harry, who ends up being cared for by Miranda.
Lastly, I think if Jane Austen were to read this book I really don't think she would be happy with the comparisons to Sense and Sensibility. That book is a classic. This is not.
 Unbelievably Boring! August 19, 2010
Stephanie Robinson (Collegeville, PA United States)
This book was horrible. I had to renew it 3 times from the library because I was not even excited to pick it up. Usually I quit once I am not into a book but I felt compelled to finish what I started. I scanned the last half of the book, starting in Palm Springs when Amber and Crystal came in the mix. The whole Kit story was predictable and boring. The characters were silly- Roerts, The Mole, all of them......Boring Boring Boring....
Cliche, predictable and boring August 13, 2010
S. Herling (NY)
I can't believe the reviewers compared this to Jane Austen. The story and characters are all ridiculous. Sorry I spent my money on this.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 74
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