Claire Berlinski, Lion Eyes

Lion Eyes

Claire Berlinski

Ballantine, January 2007, $23.95

ISBN: 1400062950

After writing her first book, Loose Lips author Claire Berlinski is contacted by an Iranian archaeologist, Arsalan Sefani who lives in the Iranian town of Isfahan. He read the first chapter of her book on the Internet, but cannot obtain the book, as no one, even the online sellers send to his town. He asks her to help him obtain a copy. She sends him a PDF file of the manuscript which leads to exchanges of email.

Unlike some of these relationships, there is nothing romantic between Claire and Arsalan, but a friendship forges. He tells her about his work, the death of his mother, the need to prepare a special dinner for a big shot donor, and the care of his late mothers cat. She gives him advice and encouragement.

When she fails to hear from him after awhile, she worries. When he finally reestablishes contact, Arsalan says he is going to Paris for a conference and would like to meet her. She agrees. Her CIA friend Sally also wants to meet him in an official capacity. After they meet, he and his belongings vanish from her flat, leaving Claire to wonder what happened to her Iranian guest.

This is a serio-comic novel loaded with humor due to a secondary cast of oddballs and eccentrics, including a woman masquerading as a man who falls in love with a female and a psychiatrist on the three minute date diet seeking Ms. Right. These and others give the novel a sense of zaniness, which leads amused readers to wonder about their 'credentials', as they advise Claire regarding Arsalan. The protagonist, like many, finds herself drowning in email relationships (some companies have email-less Fridays), even while Claire wonders how cyberspace compounded by a simple visit has left her life spinning out of control.