Chloe Zhivago's Recipe for Marriage and Mischief

Rosalyn Landor's portrayal of psychotherapist Chloe Zhivago's mid-life crisis is pitch-perfect. Chloe is a likable character, distinct and yet familiar, a successful woman wading through the middle of her life, searching for relief from boredom and restlessness. Enter Ivan, a sultry, handsome Russian who turns his attention to Chloe. Lichtenstein's novel is filled with quirky characters--a Czech nanny and her lover, a best friend flirting with a drug addiction, and a husband who spends his free time writing complaints to the Parking Commission. Landor's narration is especially effective as the tension rises. Overall, this is a sassy and surprisingly poignant story. D.J.P. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

June 4, 2007
The endearing debut from BBC documentarian Lichtenstein features 43-year-old psychotherapist Chloe Zhivago, living in Queen's Park, London, with her doctor husband, Greg, and their two adolescent children. Despite success on all fronts, Chloe and friend Ruth Zimmer are in marriage-career-mommy ruts and desperate to get in touch with their erotic selves. An enticing Russian, Ivan, seems to offer Chloe the spark she badly wants, while Ruth spirals downward after reaching the top of the corporate ladder. Add in misbehaving clients, Chloe's kook brother and wise father, a gay Czech au pair and recipes that nicely punctuate many chapters, and the results are poignantly comedic.