Title: This Side of Married
Author: Rachel Pastan
Publisher: Penguin

This gem of a tale is a modern day update of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Unlike the travesty that was the recent Gurinder Chadha's Bollywood-Hollywood movie, Bride and Prejudice, Pastan's work hits all the right notes.

This comedy of domestic manners revolves around the Rubin household, where mum Dr Evelyn Rubin is unhappy that only one of her three daughters has made a match, and that too unhappily.

Alice, the eldest, is smart but so far unlucky in love; Isabel, the fiesty middle child, is married but childless; and the spoilt Tina, who spends her time dreaming of the perfect wedding.

When Alice announces a surprise engagement with the dashing Dr Anthony Wolf, everyone is pleased, none more so than Isabel. But when his best friend Simon interferes, and Anthony breaks off the engagement, Isabel - whose own marriage is floundering - is furious.

Then, when Tina makes a thoroughly disagreable match, and proceeds to destroy Isabel's life, the wheel comes full circle as Isabel now faces a test of her own courage.

Really, Pastan manages to capture the spirit of Austen's book, and even springs a surprise or two in this well-worn tale. Absolutely lovely.

Title: All About Beer (that a man needs to know)
Author: Jan Hillesland
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish

Beer, beer glorious beer! Hillesland's book celebrates this drink in all its various forms, from ale to lager, and stout to bock.

Tackling everything from the history of beer and its make up, to the various methods of brewing, classification, pouring and packaging, even its compatibility with food (with a couple of recipes thrown in) - Hillesland staggers from one topic to another with an eye to brevity.

In this, he's aided by the wonderful photographs from Isidor Astrom and Pia Sorensen that pepper this coffeetable-like book.

What comes across is an open-hearted ode to beer, as best attested by the Lad's Prayer: Our Beer, Which art in barrels; Hallowed be thy drink, They will be drunk, I will be drunk, At home as it is in the Local; Forgive us this day our daily spillage, As we forgive those who spillest against us; And lead us not into the practice of poncey wine tasting, And deliver us from alcopops; For mine is the bitter, the ale and the lager, forever and ever. Barmen. -- N. Shashi Kala