by Cathleen Schine
I was helping out at the Friends' Book Sale at
the Jones Library in November. Another Friend, Edith Byron, saw me perusing the
paperbacks, and handed me "The Three Weissmanns of Westport," a novel
by Cathleen Schine. Edith said it was well worth its purchase price (one
dollar) and was a quick, entertaining, light read. She was right! It was the
perfect antidote to the darkening November days; it had the warm and pleasant
feeling of a good summer read.
Two sisters and their mother move out to a
cousin’s beach house in Westport, CT to take stock of their lives, all of which
are in transition. I found myself mostly in sympathy with the characters,
especially the mother, displaced from her Upper West Side apartment and
comfortable Manhattan existence when her husband leaves her to welcome into
their home a young, manipulative woman from work. The serious, responsible
sister worries about planning and finances but learns to cut loose and have
some fun. The wild, disorganized sister finds love in unexpected ways and makes
some good decisions for the first time in her life. Each attempts in her own
way to support the mother, who floats around in a haze of grief and disbelief
at her losses, but goes out of her way to try to mother her middle-aged
daughters. According to the book jacket, the novel is a “playful and delightful
homage to Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility." I found myself charmed and
entertained, so I will pass on Edith’s recommendation to readers of this blog.
Take a break from the winter doldrums! Lose yourself in this enjoyable reading
experience!
-- Jean, member, Friends of the Jones Library
