Monday, June 21, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays: The Three Weissmans of Westport

This week my teaser lines come from Cathleen Schine's The Three Weissmanns of Westport. It's a modern reworking of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, set in New York City and (you guessed it) Westport, Connecticut. I've only read a few chapters, but it's passed the 50-page test with flying colors, and is turning out to be a great summer read.

This sampling comes from page 358 of the large-print edition, and is (as usual) a bit more than two lines:
There was a pot of tea at the tea at Aunt Charlotte's, but little else. . . . Betty was glad she had brought the cake from Balducci's. The goyim, she had explained to the girls, do not feed their guests; it is not their custom, and we must respect the customs of other cultures, but that does not mean we have to starve.
I guess Betty and the girls definitely haven't spent much time in the South. Most of the goyim I grew up with were well-known for overloading their guests with goodies. After all, if you're a Southern hostess, you've got all those dishes for every occasion – you really do want to use them, right?


How about you? Got a great teaser from a book you're reading right now? Want to play along? Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by mizB at Should Be Reading. If you'd like to read more teasers, or take part yourself, just head on over to her blog.

32 comments:

  1. This one sounds like one I would love.

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  2. It does sound wonderful and I really like the cover. Glad it passed your test! Here is my TEASER

    Have a great week and happy reading!

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  3. That teaser is cute. I had to chuckle. Love the cover of the book too.

    http://tutus2cents.blogspot.com/2010/06/giveaway-particular-sadness-of-lemon.html

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  4. hahha, love it - sounds like the perfect summer read!

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  5. I haven't heard of this one. Growing up next to Westport has me curious.

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  6. Will wait for your review to see if this goes on the tbr list.
    CMash

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  7. Sounds like a cute read. I bet that goyim thing was annoying though if you're from the South and know different. Glad you're liking the book! My teaser is at The Crowded Leaf.

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  8. I have learned a lot about respecting the customs of other cultures. We've only lived in the southeast, but the culture of the N.C. mountains is different from Fl, where I was born and raised. We also lived in S.C. and GA which have different cultures.

    Thank you for visiting my `teaser`

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  9. I know this will be on TBR list. I will be looking for it the next time I am in Barnes and Noble.

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  10. I don't know about that teaser -- I've lived in Connecticut all my life and everyone I know treats guests as a great excuse for cake or other good things. That said, no-one I know is from Westport :)

    My teaser (not as food-related, alas) is here.

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  11. Interesting teaser. I hope that your enjoying your book. Here's my teaser.

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  12. This one does sound like fun. My teaser is from Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs. Happy reading!

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  13. I wouldn't want to starve either! Great teaser!

    My TT is here.

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  14. Interesting premise!

    Mine's at http://hampshireflyer.wordpress.com/2010/06/22/teaser-tuesday-18/

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  15. Interesting! It sounds like she manages an Austen-esque voice decently; does it keep up through the whole novel?

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  16. Sounds like a wonderful dramatic read!

    http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2010/06/teaser_22.html

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  17. Interesting teaser! This sounds like a book I might enjoy. I'll have to check it out!

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  18. This looks like a great read! Here is my teaser for this week.

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  19. Ooh a reworking of such a great read, very cool!

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  20. Great teaser! It actually made me laugh!

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  21. I've grown up in one of the South's most southern cities -- a former bastion of the rebellion -- all my life, but I've never see any formal kind of hospitality beyond offering drinks, that sort of thing..I wonder if it's a trend on the decline?

    My teaser is from an adventure series I'm reading; the opening sentences, in fact, which made me laugh.
    http://thisweekatthelibrary.blogspot.com/2010/06/teaser-tuesday-22-6.html

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  22. Interesting teaser!

    My TT this week is from Healer by Linda Windsor.

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  23. I wouldn't want to starve either custom or not... I'm glad your teaser runs a little long to... Mine usually can't stop at just 2 sentences...

    Thanks for stopping by my blog... here is my teaser:

    http://chrissysworldofbooks.blogspot.com/2010/06/its-teaser-tuesday-what-are-you-reading_22.html

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  24. Your teaser made me smile. My teaser this week is from How to Train Your Dragon.

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  25. Sounds like a lovely book to laze about on the weekend with. Hope you're enjoying it!

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  26. I have trouble with the two sentence rule, too. :D Love the idea of reworking Jane Austen. Thanks for sharing!

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  27. I had to smile at the teaser, i've seen a fari few odd ideas for reworkings of classics on the shelves.

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  28. I love the cover! Makes me want to read the book.

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