BECOMING DUCHESS GOLDBLATT

Narrator Gabra Zackman’s lovely clear voice and crisp delivery enhance this touching audiobook. Voiced by J. Smith-Cameron in an airy, warm style, Duchess Goldblatt is an imaginary character—an 81-year-old novelist—who becomes a beloved figure on Twitter with 25,000 followers. She is the life-affirming, aphoristic imaginary friend of the anonymous author, whose life is in shambles because of divorce, job loss, and a custody battle. The lonely author lives through her alter ego online and makes friends with Lyle Lovett, who delivers his own voice, and with writers and editors. Duchess Goldblatt is “a piece of paper that combusts and disappears”—but leaves the listener better for having met her. A.D.M. 2021 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2020]