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This Side of Married Audiobook
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(2.10) - 271 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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 witty, intelligent, and utterly delicious.
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. We meet them at a Sunday brunch, where Dr. Rubin is scheming to introduce her eldest daughter, Alice, to a doctor who is almost too good to be true. But why hasn't Alice, who is beautiful and smart, been able to find a husband on her own? Is her sister Isabel genuinely happy in her marriage—and if so, why won't her husband cooperate with her attempts to get pregnant? And is Tina, the youngest of the sisters, as shallow as she seems, or is she something worse than shallow?
Like a modern Jane Austen, Rachel Pastan gives us an utterly delicious novel in which "the mating habits of the subspecies we might call Very Intelligent Women are examined by a writer whose eye is sharp, whose wit is keen, and whose heart is open to the possibilities that love offers" (Ann Packer).
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"Not high brow literature, but a wonderul, clever modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. And, really, can you ever have too many of those? "
— Rebecca (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Rachel Pastan has written a novel about families and falling in love that is at once moving, funny and true. This Side of Married is a wedding bouquet of great wit and affection.”
— Meg Wolitzer -
“This Side of Married is the kind of smart, funny first novel you read with a perpetual grin, eager to learn the next plot twist, sad to turn the final page.”
— Stephen McCauley -
“This Side of Married is a three-sisters treasure: tender, witty, and filled with love. Rachel Pasten is a wonderful writer.”
— Luanne Rice -
“Smart and insightful, with just the right combination of common sense and cynicism…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
This Side of Married Listener Reviews
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" I read this one in 3 days while UP North in Michigan. It is a story of 3 sisters and I loved it. I am passing iton to Sara...as usual! "
— Callee, 2/19/2014 -
" Touted as a modern day retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Snooze. I hated it most of the time, the characters were awful, and the writing dull. Told by the perspective of the middle of three sisters one married (but about to get divorced) and two unmarried. Don't waste your time. "
— Stacey, 2/9/2014 -
" Not high brow literature, but a wonderul, clever modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. And, really, can you ever have too many of those? "
— Rebecca, 2/7/2014 -
" Very quick read - maybe 6 hours max. I liked that I started this book and finished it within a day or two. I needed something quick and girly. Something light while I'm trying to make it through Anna Karenina. I think I'm looking at years before I finish that one. ;) "
— Courtney, 1/25/2014 -
" I listened to this book. It's pretty fluffy, but I surprised myself that I liked it so much. - For example: even though I finished this book over a week ago, I still think of the characters and wonder about them. "
— Ellen, 1/12/2014 -
" I really wanted to like this book after Lady of the Snakes. However, I found the characters unbearable and the plot dull. I had to force myself to finish it - a most uninteresting book. "
— Stephanie, 1/11/2014 -
" this book was alright. I didn't like the main character very much, but I was rooting for her by the end and it had a good, appropriate ending. "
— Heather, 12/30/2013 -
" this book made me glad i don't have sisters! don't waste your time w/this one! "
— Susan, 12/30/2013 -
" A book primarily about three sisters and their mother which revolves around marriage. I didn't think the prose was as "spot on" an imitation of Austen's style as Catherine Schine's is in The Three Weismann's of Westport. But still worth a read for Austen fans. "
— Sharon, 12/17/2013 -
" Read it twice. Will definitely read it again, and again, and again... "
— Jill, 12/5/2013 -
" I like anything with an Austen feel to it. The characters were interesting and engaging, but without much depth. "
— Suzanne, 11/22/2013 -
" This is a light and easy read "
— Dana, 11/21/2013 -
" Very light, facile, happy ending -- and sometimes that is just what I want. I had recently read pride and prejudice, and liked the similarity. "
— Tamarah, 11/21/2013 -
" Read in an evening. Not ba "
— Cindy, 11/16/2013 -
" Callee sent this book to me. I felt like I knew each of the sisters as well as the mother. It was a good story. "
— Danthony74, 9/7/2013 -
" I'm at a loss as to why this is the most popular adult fiction title on Overdrive. It's drivel. "Oh, poor me!" and "My life is terrible" that just goes on and on and on. "
— Kathy, 7/13/2013 -
" Although the story was to have been about 3 sisters and their mother's attempt to have them successfully married - touted as a modern day Pr "
— Jenger, 7/6/2013 -
" Listened to the audio version - so well done! Witty and charming "
— Nancydrew, 5/7/2013 -
" In my opinion, the summaries and reviews of this book featured on the book jacket are very misleading. It is marketed as an upbeat comedy of manners, and I found it to be neither funny nor upbeat. "
— Katie, 4/7/2013 -
" Pleasant but highly predictable. Most characters flat & forgettable. The audiobook worked as background for multitasking. "
— Deb, 3/25/2013 -
" only so-so ar best. well, it was on clearance for a reason, i guess! "
— Bridgette, 3/3/2013 -
" This was a very modern day version of Pride and Prejudice. I liked it for the most part. I could relate to Isabel as far as not seeming interesting because she didn't have a job. Believe it or not, I get that reaction quite a lot. If they only knew.... "
— Becky, 1/27/2013 -
" It was a cute story, but this author should not be compared to Jane Austen! I enjoyed the references to Philly. "
— Janet, 3/29/2012 -
" A "chick lit" book inspired by Pride and Prejudice. The youngest sister entirely unlikeable. The middle sister the focus. An OK Saturday read, but not something to spend money on. "
— Jennifer, 11/3/2011 -
" i was at my inlaws, i was unable to sleep, i saw this book on the shelf, picked it up, read it, and thought, hmm that was kinda lame, oh well i guess i'll go to bed now. "
— Kirin, 1/23/2011 -
" It was a cute story, but this author should not be compared to Jane Austen! I enjoyed the references to Philly. "
— Janet, 1/9/2011 -
" I'm at a loss as to why this is the most popular adult fiction title on Overdrive. It's drivel. "Oh, poor me!" and "My life is terrible" that just goes on and on and on. "
— Kathy, 8/3/2010 -
" Touted as a modern day retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Snooze. I hated it most of the time, the characters were awful, and the writing dull. Told by the perspective of the middle of three sisters one married (but about to get divorced) and two unmarried. Don't waste your time. "
— Stacey, 4/28/2010 -
" Read it twice. Will definitely read it again, and again, and again... "
— Jill, 4/21/2010 -
" Didn't have high expectations for this one, but it was better than I thought. Light, quick read. "
— Rochelle, 8/28/2009 -
" I like anything with an Austen feel to it. The characters were interesting and engaging, but without much depth. "
— Suzanne, 5/15/2009 -
" i was at my inlaws, i was unable to sleep, i saw this book on the shelf, picked it up, read it, and thought, hmm that was kinda lame, oh well i guess i'll go to bed now. "
— Kirin, 5/5/2009 -
" Eh. It took me a long time to get into the book but for some reason I just couldn't. :( I really wanted to immerse myself into it.I love anything Pride & Prejudice related by Jane Auston but this was ok. "
— Laura, 1/6/2009 -
" A "chick lit" book inspired by Pride and Prejudice. The youngest sister entirely unlikeable. The middle sister the focus. An OK Saturday read, but not something to spend money on. "
— Jennifer, 11/29/2008 -
" Callee sent this book to me. I felt like I knew each of the sisters as well as the mother. It was a good story. "
— Danthony74, 11/22/2008 -
" Cool to read about Philadelphia. Typical mother with daughters. "
— Mary, 10/13/2008 -
" This was a very modern day version of Pride and Prejudice. I liked it for the most part. I could relate to Isabel as far as not seeming interesting because she didn't have a job. Believe it or not, I get that reaction quite a lot. If they only knew.... "
— Becky, 10/2/2008
About Rachel Pastan
Rachel Pastan is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her short fiction has appeared in a range of publications and earned a number of awards, including the PEN Syndicated Fiction Prize. She lives with her family in Pennsylvania.
About Barbara Rosenblat
Barbara Rosenblat, one of the most awarded narrators in the business, was selected by AudioFile magazine as one of the Golden Voices of the Twentieth Century. She has received the prestigious Audie Award multiple times and has earned more than fifty AudioFile Earphones Awards. She has also appeared in film, television, and theater, both in London’s West End and on Broadway.