Duchess Goldblatt

The anonymous author of "Becoming Duchess Goldblatt" is a lost and lonely soul. Her husband took her by surprise when he asked for a divorce, and the couple subsequently agreed to joint custody of their young son. The writer's father, whom she adored, passed away, and now that her marriage is over, she will have to move out of her home. Making matters worse, most of her friends and relatives no longer keep in touch with her, and she also loses her job at a publishing house. At loose ends, and seeking a distraction, she decides to create a fictional character, whom she names Duchess Goldblatt. She remains anonymous, and presents her alter-ego as an elderly woman with a Dutch cap in a seventeenth-century Frans Hals portrait. The Duchess posts saucy comments on social media. She is outspoken, outrageous, and attracts thousands of fans who are amused by her bon mots and touched by her empathy.

This is an entertaining and poignant memoir. When she writes candidly about her compassionate and loving dad; mourns the death of her dream to be part of a happy and intact family; and describes her intense loneliness on the days when her son is with her ex, the author's pain is palpable. She comes across as an insecure, bright, but depressed woman who needs to kick-start her life. Duchess Goldblatt is a breath of fresh air, and she captures the hearts of readers who adore her humor, sympathy, and originality.

It is easy to understand why the Duchess has such a large following. Her posts are humorous, sweet, poetic, and clever. Unbelievably, Lyle Lovett—the author's favorite musician, whose songs she knows by heart—befriends the Duchess and the two eventually meet. Ultimately, the author realizes that some of the Duchess's best qualities are traits that she possesses but, until now, had kept hidden. It is heartening to see her emerge from her doldrums, become more assertive and gregarious, and shine at a new job that she enjoys. "Becoming Duchess Goldblatt" is a moving example of someone who reaches out to others, and in the process, is transformed into the person she always wanted to be.
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