THE CHALK ARTIST

Narrator Orlagh Cassidy conjures vivid descriptions of both the everyday and the fantastical. Goodman's novel explores the conflicts between real life in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the virtual reality of sophisticated multiplayer video games. Cassidy paints convincing vocal character portraits of the earnest teacher, the charming underachiever with whom she begins a relationship, the impudent video gamer, and various impassive teenagers. One challenging aspect of the audiobook, however, is that it can be difficult to keep track of the many different character names. Nonetheless, Cassidy's narration of the otherworldly creatures and settings that comprise the imaginative virtual realities helps listeners imagine being enveloped by these extraordinary worlds. S.E.G. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2017]