A Little Bit Married: A Novel [Paperback]

Debra Borden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 24, 2007

Even before college, Bitsy Lerner had her whole life figured out: marry, have kids, move to the suburbs, and spend heavenly days packing lunches and driving carpools.

At age 43, things have gone exactly as planned. With a solid marriage, two great kids, and a darling house, so what if her husband is vague about his business dealings. Or her overbearing mother-in-law finds novel ways to torture her. And her parents radiate constant disapproval. And her friends are shallow. And her daughter’s clothes never cover her navel. And her son spends all his time playing sports. She’s living the charmed life she always wanted. Right?

Then, one sunny morning, everything changes. As her husband lies unconscious, an empty bottle of pills on the nightstand, unable to recognize her or the children, Bitsy is forced to answer these questions and more. Why is the mail filled with bank notices and overdue bills? Where are her so-called friends? Why is her son’s school principal suddenly so attractive? And for the first time, instead of wondering when things will get back to normal, Bitsy wonders if things were ever normal in the first place.

Come along for the hilarious and poignant ride as Bitsy gets help from the unlikeliest of sources and discovers that all the little “bits” of herself might actually be stronger than she, or anyone, knew.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Borden's middling second novel (following Lucky Me) features Bitsy Lerner, 43 and a mother of two in the 'burbs, gets jolted out of her routines when she finds her husband, Alan, on the floor, overdosed on Vicodin. With Alan in rehab, Bitsy, shocked by her family's debt-ridden finances and crumbling emotional infrastructure, flashes back over her idyllic childhood, ambivalent college art studies and single-mindedness about marrying. In this dark finding-myself comedy, the arrival of housekeeper Bebe (courtesy of Grandma) and a focus outward and artward may save Bitsy's inner sanctum, sense of self and recalcitrant brood—just in time for Alan's return. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Bitsy came of age in the 1980s and anachronistically set her goals to be a 1950s-style wife and mom. Through sheer will and planning, she achieved it all--businessman husband, perfect suburban home, two accomplished children--until she finds her husband near death from an overdose. He survives, but his memory doesn't. Managing on her own forces her to see the cracks in the facade that were always there, but she also recaptures the pleasure she derived from art. Bitsy finally grows up, remembers her name is Barbara, finds a job, and has her eyes opened to other people's troubles as well as her own. A lot happens in the six weeks of her husband's recovery. When he regains his memory, he also remembers his mistress. Bitsy finds maturity, wisdom, strength, creativity, friends, and, of course, a new romance. Her perfect, planned life was hollow, but what she builds from the wreckage is pretty good. Solutions come awfully quickly, but this is fiction. Enjoy it. Danise Hoover
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (April 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400082242
• ISBN-13: 978-1400082247
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.9 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,456,221 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars don't Miss this book!, May 5, 2007

By 

Mtn. Reader (Vail, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Little Bit Married: A Novel (Paperback)

Completely different from Ms. Borden's first book, but once again her bok gave me the chance to evaluate life in the suburbs. This time I got to laugh and cry out loud as I recognized both myself and my neighbors in the characters of A Little Bit Married. I found myself rooting for Bitsy, hoping that she would find the way to create "a little bit" perfect life for herself and her children. It was a totally enjoyable read, one that any woman who has raised her family in the suburbs can relate to and appreciate.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Too predictable and cheesy for me!, December 12, 2008

By 

Anonymous "anonymous" (Cincinnati, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Little Bit Married: A Novel (Paperback)

I know that books in this genre tend to follow a certain formula (woman thinks life is great, bottom drops out, she finds the strength to find her real self, etc) but this book was so predictable it was irritating. Every bad thing that happened to her somehow magically was fixed shortly thereafter - i felt like i was watching an episode of some cheesy 80's sitcom! When the main character decides she needs a lawyer, she goes to her son's baseball game shortly there after and what do you know - she runs into a lawyer there that is not only the kind of lawyer she needs but someone who she knows she'll become good friends with! When she decides she needs a new job, when she goes in to speak to the principal there is a job posting at the school! Magic! Additionally, the main character in this book is so blind to her problems before they present themselves that it me made me think she was totally dense to have been so oblivious in the first place.
The thing i like about this kind of women's lit is that the characters really face hard times and even though help may not be around the corner (or sitting at their son's baseball game the next day), they persevere. They don't have solutions to their problems magically drop in their lap, because in reality thats not how it works either. This book is too sacchrine for me - if you want a more empowering character to follow, i'd recommend reading "She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb or any book by Marian Keyes .