This Side of Married

By: Rachel Pastan

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

This is Jane Austen updated, a sparkling novel of love, marriage, and manners.

The Rubin daughters are three eligible sisters from an affluent suburban Philadelphia family whose well-meaning but domineering mother is single-mindedly determined to see them all happily married.

Reminiscent of the work of Laurie Colwin, This Side of Married is a brilliant, ironic, domestic comedy of manners. Full of surprises, yet filled with feeling, it is a witty, intelligent, and utterly delicious novel.

©2004 Rachel Pastan (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Pastan cunningly reveals the myriad sides of being married, the good, the bad, and the ugly, in an engaging look at the current state of love and courtship." (Booklist)

Jane Austen Updated? NOT

I expected so much more from this book, it was disappointing. I mean, when you mention Jane Austen.....I expected some brightness and it only seemed blighted. I found it hard to like any of the characters, they were not developed well and the story was sluggish. The only reason I finished it was I was on a business trip and had not downloaded anything else.

Book has to compete with bad narration

I have tried to listen to this book several times. Every time I try to listen, the narrator's mouth noises make me switch to another book. I can't tell whether she has "dry mouth" or too much spittle, but I hear it with every word. Sometimes the narration is only due to poor editing, but it is impossible to listen to this book. I think I will have to read it on paper.