To The Best of Our Knowledge

from Wisconsin Public Radio
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Sure you get to throw a great party and drink lots of champagne, but once the celebration's over the grueling work of marriage begins. It's hard to believe in the fairy tale any more with so many divorces. If Cinderella were around today, she might just shack up with Prince Charming and keep her day job. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, is there still meaning in marriage? Also, the legendary union of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas.

Cheryl Jarvis tells Anne Strainchamps about her idea, "The Marriage Sabbatical" which is also the title of her book. Jarvis says it's a time one spouse can pursue an individual dream, while maintaining their commitment to the marriage. Also, Daniel Cere, director of the Newman Institute of Catholic Studies at McGill University in Montreal, tells Steve Paulson that the marriage bond is unique and enjoys a primordial power.

6:01 - 31:21

Carina Chocano is a staff writer at salon.com. She provides advice based on the popular "the Rules" books, especially "The Rules III- Time Tested Secrets for Making Your Marriage Work." Also, Nuala O'Faolain, best known for her memoir "Are You Somebody?" has written a novel: "My Dream of You." She tells Jim Fleming it's based on an adulterous affair across class lines in Ireland during the potato famine, and reflects on how much their sex lives mean to people.

31:54 - 46:20

Lola Pashalinski and Linda Chapman are actresses who wrote and perform a play called "Gertrude and Alice." They tell Steve Paulson about Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, who inspired the play, and perform a brief excerpt from it. They say the two considered themselves husband and wife and thoroughly enjoyed their long relationship.

46:51 - 58:30

Books:

• Nuala O'Faolain, My Dream of You (Riverhead)
• Cheryl Jarvis, The Marriage Sabbatical: The Journey that Brings You Home (Perseus)
  

Distribution dates:

• week of 09/01/2002 - hour 2
• week of 04/15/2001 - hour 1