The Three Weissmanns of Westport

The Three Weissmanns of Westport

By Cathleen Schine (292 pages)

Published by Picador

Bookish rating: 4.25

This wry, snarky novel—an updated take on Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility—follows three women as they relocate from swanky Manhattan apartments to a dingy cottage in Westport. And there, they tinker in love.

Betty, the somewhat silly matriarch, is left by her husband (who decides to keep the apartment) after 48 years of marriage and dramatically refers to herself as a widow. Miranda (based on Austen’s Marianne) is the theatrical and rather naïve literary agent whose career just went down in flames. And steadfast Annie (based on Austen’s Elinor) moves in with her mom and sister to keep an eye on them. She’s the only one who watches the household budget or is gainfully employed.

 Schine mimics Austen’s ironic tone, but she does so with a New York (and often Jewish) twist, and the result is hilarious but also sort of poignant. The women are so flawed but believable—in a ridiculously non-believable sort of way. I can’t quite explain it. Schine also narrates from an omniscient point of view, flawlessly bouncing from one character’s point of view to the next. The result is delightful observation and introspection, with nothing muddled or sloppy about it.

 If you’re an Austen-phile, you may read along the entire book, thinking you know how it ends. You don’t. And that was one of my favorite parts of this novel.

It’s refreshing to read a novel as well-written as Three Weismanns, with line upon line of wit, irony, parody, droll observation, and even a little romance. Recommended.