In literary studies, the marriage plot refers to the popular storyline of many novels in 18th and 19th century novels: the often complicated rituals and family dynamics surrounding marriage of a young woman. Eugenides set out to write a modern day novel of this type, and the result is a splendid story set in the 70s and 80s, a love triangle involving Madeleine, an aspiring Austen scholar(!), Mitchell, the religious studies student who loves her who sets out after college to find himself in India, and Leonard, the troubled biology student who Madeleine loves. 
 The audiobook to which I listened has a brief interview with the author at the conclusion. I'm looking forward to reading Middlesex next.