AUGUST BLUE

Alix Dunmore's lilting voice and English accent capture the musicality of this audiobook. The cadence of her narration works well, and her tones mimic the interior conflicts of Elsa, a virtuoso pianist whose career is at a standstill. In response, she dyes her hair blue and sets about inventing a new persona. The pandemic is taking place as the plot moves from Greece to Paris, London, and Sardinia. Elsa's quest is aided by a doppelganger whom she first encounters in Greece and who then reappears--sometimes as a person, sometimes as a figment of Elsa's imagination. Recurring symbols--two mechanical toy horses--are introduced in the opening. Levy expertly creates scenes packed with meaning as Elsa comes to understand her provenance, passion, and place in the world. A.D.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2023]