-
The Chalk Artist
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Orlagh Cassidy
- Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 06-13-17
- Language: English
- Publisher: Random House Audio
- Whispersync for Voice-ready
Regular price: $33.60
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Publisher's Summary
A tender affair and the redemptive power of art are at the core of this compelling novel from National Book Award finalist Allegra Goodman, "a romantic realist who dazzles with wit [and] compassion" (The Wall Street Journal).
Collin James is young, creative, and unhappy. A college dropout, he waits tables and spends his free time beautifying the streets of Cambridge, Massachusetts, with his medium of choice: chalk. Collin's art captivates passersby with its vibrant colors and intricate lines - until the moment he wipes it all away. Nothing in Collin's life is meant to last. Then he meets Nina....
The daughter of a tech mogul who is revolutionizing virtual reality, Nina Lazare is trying to give back as a high school teacher - but her students won't listen to her. When Collin enters her world, he inspires her to think bigger. Nina wants to return the favor - even if it means losing him.
Against this poignant backdrop, Allegra Goodman paints a tableau of students, neighbors, and colleagues: Diana, a teenage girl trying to make herself invisible; her twin brother, Aidan, who's addicted to the games produced by Nina's father; and Daphne, a viral-marketing trickster who unites them all, for better or worse.
Wise, warm, and enchanting, The Chalk Artist is both a finely rendered portrait of modern love and a celebration of all the realms we inhabit: real and imagined, visual and virtual, seemingly independent yet hopelessly tangled.
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Overall
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4 out of 5 stars
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- Ken L.
- 07-21-17
another great novel from a really fine writer
What about Orlagh Cassidy’s performance did you like?
Very good narration -- nice job with the different characters.
Any additional comments?
Goodman is a really terrific writer and I have been following her for years. This book has a very well constructed story with interwoven plots involving a teacher, her boyfriend/artist, a virtual reality game, and a high school student addicted to the game. It was a page turner and raises interesting ideas about the forging of relationships both real and imagined, as well as passion, obsession and art.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 06-07-18
Great concept
I enjoyed the book very much and loved the idea of a chalk artist. I admit to having fast forwarded through much of the gory detail about the video games and their creation. Lots of believable characters.