THE DATING GAME

Paris Armstrong never thought she'd be divorced at 46, or at any other age. Her husband has dumped her for a younger woman just as their youngest child is leaving for college. Picking up the pieces, Paris discovers new resources and talents in herself. Sam Freed refrains from the mawkish sentimentality so pervasive in Steel's work, instead focusing on the humor and developing the characters' vocal personalities. Paris's gay employer in San Francisco sounds both flamboyant and likable. Freed's portrayal of Paris herself carries conviction even beyond the material in the text. His finest work in this novel centers around the ridiculous people she encounters, from obnoxious blind dates to a spaced-out massage therapist. R.P.L. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 03]