Mrs Zjivago och hennes hemliga liv

by Olivia Lichtenstein

Chloe Schiwago, 43, ist seit einer gefühlten Ewigkeit mit Greg verheiratet, der täglich sein Gedächtnis auf nervtötende Weise trainiert - indem er den Wasserkessel in der Waschmaschine, Schokoriegel im Buchregal oder Teebeutel im Putzeimer versteckt. Chloe ist eine erfolgreiche Psychotherapeutin, hat zwei Kinder, ein Au-pair-Mädchen, eine beste und eine berühmt-berüchtigte Freundin. Sie hat alles. »War's das?«, fragt sie sich. Werde ich nie wieder mit einem anderen Mann schlafen? Die Versuchung begegnet ihr in Gestalt des attraktiven Iwan. Soll sie eine leidenschaftliche Affäre wagen, bevor die Schwerkraft den Kampf mit ihrem Körper gewinnt? Wie man die Prüfungen eines ganz gewöhnlichen glücklichen Ehelebens übersteht, schildert Olivia Lichtenstein in ihrem humorvollen und warmherzigen Debütroman.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Humor

Paperback

First published October 3, 2007

Reviews

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The recipes annoyed me a little. But the book isn’t my go-to genre so I struggled and didn’t think I’d finish it. Nothing spectacular and I found the main character whiny

[Zarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gem of a book! Chloe Zhivago is a great character - it's easy to feel for her and with her, but the problem with the book is that it's just TOO easy to see why she is cheating, because her husband? Well, can't say I like him much! Anyhow. This book is adorable and jam packed with fun and interesting characters. Even people running shops and restaurants get a real personality, and there are several I like - but my fave is always Chloe's dad. ♥
A fun thing, is the recipes in the books. There are a few I've been meaning to try and now (that I've re-read the book) I think I'll actually get around to it. ;)

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does it seem like I give everything four stars? Anyway...

I really enjoyed this audiobook. This is definitely NOT a title that I would have chosen if I just saw the book(or CD) sitting on the shelf. The title suggests something that really wouldn't be my thing. I picked it because I did a search of audiobooks read by Rosalyn Landor. I've become a great fan of hers lately. This is the second book I've listened to that she's read. She's just so fantastic! She really sucks you in and gets you very interested. I can't wait to get stuck in traffic or at a light.

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novela fresca que, pese a su comienzo, consigue enganchar y, sobre todo, encierra grandes mensajes. Aunque el título es acertado, pues toda la novela gira en torno a la vida de Chloe, narra más que eso; ensalza el valor y la importancia de la familia, haciéndonos reflexionar al respecto.

[Nereia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Francamente me ne infischio #1

Perché me ne infischio di questo libro? Andiamo con ordine. La trama, essenzialmente, è questa (non sarà proprio fedele alla quarta di copertina ma, appunto, ce ne infischiamo): una donna di quarantanni, sposata con un medico di nome Greg, è annoiata dalla vita e dal suo matrimonio. A darle una mano, comunque, è lo squilibrio mentale in cui riversa suo marito che, terrorizzato dalla possibilità di ammalarsi di Alzheimer, nasconde gli oggetti per casa e, in più, per hobby si diverte a lamentarsi di qualunque cosa con il comune o le associazioni di qualunque tipo. Quindi, che fa una donna annoiata dalla vita che frequenta solo donne annoiate dalla vita? Si fa l'amante. In questo caso bello e russo: Ivan. Chiaramente, se non te lo fai almeno bello come un dio greco, che te lo fai a fare l'amante? Al cliché della donna annoiata, la nostra cara Olivia Lichtenstein, aggiunge pure il cliché dell'amante bello e straniero.
Insomma, gira che ti rigira, Chloe intraprende questa storia di sesso/amore con questo dio greco russo e per tutto il libro non farà altro che domandarsi se lasciare il marito o meno, se lasciare l'amante, se rimanere sola, se cambiare amante, come preparare una zuppa di pollo e altre nefandezze di questo tipo. Cento altri personaggi inutili, oltre a lei, le amiche annoiate e il marito pazzo, riempiono la vita della protagonista: un fratello hippie, un padre musicista famoso (e te pareva, mica poteva essere un padre qualunque), due figli scemi, due ragazze alla pari lesbiche e una vicina di casa con la demenza senile vittima di un grave lutto. Perfetto, abbiamo anche tutti gli altri cliché che potevamo trovare.
Chloe, purtroppo, oltre che annoiata è anche noiosa, bacchettona e, fatemelo dire, antipatica. Fa e dice cose stupide e da brava bacchettona. Come se non bastasse pensa che gli adolescenti siano dei mostri che parlano in modo strano. In più sembra non importarle affatto che sua figlia (la sua eh, mica una presa in prestito) e la sua migliore amica (che pare viva da lei a giorni alterni) si vestano da piccole frequentatrici del marciapiede acquistando i vestiti da H&M. Il signor H&M certamente non ha gradito questo tipo di pubblicità. Tra l'altro, non contenta, anche lei ad un certo punto comprerà dei bei vestiti da "ragazza di strada" proprio nello stesso negozio. Devo essermi persa il pezzo in cui H&M si trasforma in un negozio erotico.
Detto ciò. poteva fregarmene qualcosa di questo brutterrimo libro? No.

Recensione ospitata dalla prima puntata di Francamente me ne infischio sul mio blog.

[Kelly Sachleben · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book - but definitely didn't love it. Thought the topic (of what happens to marriages over time) was definitely something timely and worth much conversation.
I wasn't impressed with some of her character development (or lack therof)
I know it's fiction, but had a hard time with how much she caricatured some of the characters; also, did not believe the ease with which she and her father shared their secret in common.
I also thought she described some characters very early in the book and then didn't bring them back again for a long time - and I thought there was too much of a gap between their initial description and when they actually became "live" in the story.
Overall, it was an easy read and kept my attention.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia Lichtenstein is an amazing author. Maybe the title could be a little shorter :) It was a lot too say as I raved about this little gem. There was a lot of things I loved about this book.
1) It was written in English...I love that!
2)I literally would laugh out loud in public reading this.
3)I had conversations with Chloe as I read. For instances, when she is talking about the compulsiveness of her husband I literally said in front of my own, "He does that too, seriously?" and lastly Olivia Lichtenstein spoke so many truths about love, marriage and that baby carriage I couldn't contain all my emotions.
This is a fun read with a lot of truth, some great humor and to me a story of a woman who just wants to feel like a woman.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Urăsc această copertă şi eticheta chick-lit nu i-a oferit vreun avantaj cărţii. Când auzi chick-lit te gândeşti la o poveste de dragoste a unei eroice parcă picate din cer, atmosfera în care te înveleşte povestea este vivace şi plină de umor dulce. În schimb “Doamna Jivago din Queen's Park” ne prezintă o poveste unei femei cu capul pe umeri, trecută de 40 de ani, neglijată de soţul ei, care încă mai tânjeşte după o dragoste cutremurătoare. Umorul are o tentă sarcastic, iar cartea permite o lectură rapidă. Frustrarea pe care o simte Chloe în legătură cu legătura emoţională cu soţul ei te ţine în priză. Aceasta e genul de poveste în care nu există alb sau negru, ci mai nuanţe, adesea multicolore.

[Sashi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book somehow tells about marital life after some years. The honeymoon time will always fade away but after that what keeps the marriage continue is a fine thread. It always take hardwork and patience in any relationship to keep it going. This book talks about the very thing every marriage need- understand and tolerance and lots of love.

[Mary Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this when we were on vacation. It's kind of an interesting mix of funny and dramatic, with a detailed examination of a woman's thoughts as she has an extramarital affair. A good pool-side read.

[Ashlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty, fun, depressing, hilarious all in one. This british novel was a very real life situation. Sometimes things are funny, sometimes they are good, sometimes things are just a plain mess. Lichtenstein did a good job capturing a woman in her mid life crisis.

[Patricia Sands · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy books that make me laugh out loud and Ms. Lichtenstein certainly is successful at that. She also draws the reader into her characters' lives giving us poignant looks at the intricacies of their relationships.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

lettura molto scorrevole, personaggi sompatici, pasticcioni, incasinati e veri come nella vita reale...
inizio promettente ma poi diventa farraginoso e un poco difficile da seguire. l'hofinito con fatica. peccato!

[Rey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this at another used book store and I was happy with it. It's written in English and some of the English references went over my head but overall it was a good read. I would recommend this to any married woman who is thinking of straying, it sure made me scared to ever wander.

[Bex · Rating 4 out of 5]

how to make chicken soup

[Mokamonkey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reasonably interesting book about a woman who cheats on her husband, because they've not had sex in almost a year.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple entertainment based on marriage issues. Funny, honest and enlightening while still being a good read.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

entertaining tale of .....marriage and mischief.....

[Peter Grimsdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly fabulous, honest and amusing portrait of a lovable woman in a quandry that so many will recognise and empathise with. Wonderful clear style.

[Mrs. S · Rating 3 out of 5]

not your typical chick-lit! a solid book with funny observations and musings by the protagonist and a real-life - rather than fairy tale - ending.

[Patricia Sands · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the way this author writes. She's laugh-out-loud funny and still gets to the very heart of relationships.

[Feodora · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a nice, funny and sad story with much to learn from. I love jiddish humor. Even the receips are part of the story. Lot of moral combined with a nice family story.

[Jackie Bacani · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny and an easy read.... :)

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the edition I have, but that one's not on Goodreads. I read (and have) the Dutch edition in paperback (ISBN 978-90-225-4636-9)

[Taffy Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Loved the different characters. Glad her husband found out in end and she was able to fall in love with him again.

[Morolake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comical twist, excellent use of words. Focus on Marriage ever after, lessons to learn as well

[Dorothy · Rating 1 out of 5]

One word sums up this book, especially the main characters: UGH!

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here's the perfect recipe for mischief: Take one sexually neglected woman and one dashing, romantic foreigner (with a delectable accent). Add a craving for adventure plus a few drops of heady desire . . . then stand back, because in Olivia Lichtenstein's sparkling and sharply observed comedy of lust, longing, and marital unrest, this mix proves to be deliciously volatile. Chloe Zhivago has it all: a successful career, two teenage children who still speak to her, a faithful best buddy, a Famous Friend from hell (so decadently self-indulgent that one can't help but admire her and hate her at the same time), and Greg, her husband of seventeen years, a family-practice doctor who has the annoying habit of hiding the teakettle (to keep his memory sharp) and who occupies his time writing letters to the parking commission. And then it suddenly hits her. Is this all there is? When did wild weekends of passion become nights of chaste kisses and snoring to wake the dead? Will she ever savor sweet whispers of desire, or knowing glances filled with longing? What happens when the kids leave the nest but the husband stays behind? Enter Ivan. Married but questing and quixotic, he proffers notes of seduction written in Russian (necessitating awkward pleas for translation from a nearby shopkeeper) and lures Chloe to the precipice of one glorious, fortuitous fling. Does she dare? This wonderfully funny, sexy novel asks a vital question-how do you keep love alive in a marriage?-and answers it with poignancy and pure irresistible comedy.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was just okay for the most part. It has a slow start, but it gets to a point at about page 200 that it reads pretty quick to the end.

I wish there was a way to create fiction about women of "an age" that didn't include adultery. The characters, for the most part, are likable enough, although several are just lousy "people."

[Michelle Shine · Rating 1 out of 5]

An easy read. Some funny moments. Conflict was always sidetracked by the author which I found frustrating. Everyone seemed to get away with everything and the overuse of 'darling' to address everybody was a bit too twee for my liking.