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Title:
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Actress |
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Authors:
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Enright, Anne |
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Genre:
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Fiction |
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Pages:
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263 |
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Year:
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2020 |
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Publisher:
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Jonathan Cape |
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Language:
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English |
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Description:
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Who better to recall the rise and fall of Irish theatre legend Katherine O'Dell, than her daughter Norah. After all, she has been present in the wings for much of this dark and dazzling life. From Hollywood and Dublin to London's West End, Norah bears witness to many of her mother's on and off stage performances.
Lyrical and emotionally insightful, this is a tender portrait of a fictional mother and daughter's intertwined lives, anchored with an enduring love and shaped by cultural expectation and exploitation.
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Categories:
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Fiction, Literary, The Arts, Feminism, Gender Issues, Grief/loss, Relationships, Ireland, England, 2022 Titles, Larger font |
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Reviews
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By: ROTO 010
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2024-09-21 09:35:57 |
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Book was liked and not liked, with one member giving it a -5! Most thought the narrative wandered too much. Other members found the writing beautiful, and one from Ireland recounted a very similar tale of her own movie star mother, very relatable whereby the daughters had to 'maintain her story'. Discussed fabrications and dominance of the mother figure, and if there are any secrets we want from our mothers before they pass, or we need to reveal as mothers. |
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By: TEAWA 004
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2023-10-25 10:19:38 |
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Enjoyed by all members. |
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By: TIMAR 007
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2023-03-13 10:24:51 |
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Beautiful writing as usual from Anne Enright, but not everyone enjoyed it. |
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By: WAIHEK 002
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2023-01-12 14:45:56 |
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For those who enjoy Irish writing this was much enjoyed. For the others it was not an easy read. |
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By: WHANG 008
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2022-09-08 11:25:22 |
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An intriguing and enjoyable book which gradually reveals its secrets. Beautifully written. |
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By: DUNED 015
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2022-08-29 11:35:47 |
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Our group was rather underwhelmed by this Anne Enright novel. Found the obtuseness and structure over complicated for no good reason. |
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By: WELL 142
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2022-08-18 11:26:19 |
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Not an easy book to read. We found some difficulty in being sure which character was speaking or spoken about, and the shadowy reference to the husband of the narrator. An accomplished writer with a vivid use of language. Really seemed about a life of pretence on the mother's part, and her difficult relationship with the daughter. |
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By: AUCK 135
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2022-06-27 11:42:34 |
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An interesting account of theatre life in that period. Complex plot and well researched. |
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By: ALEXA 004
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2022-06-23 11:57:17 |
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Mixed reaction from the group. Beautiful writing but less interest in the actual story. |
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By: CHCH 319
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2022-04-22 12:52:31 |
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Mixed feedback. Some couldn't finish it while others found it well-written. |
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By: KATIK 005
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2022-04-11 13:21:20 |
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The responses to 'Actress' were variable - several of the group had not completed the book; three commented on how well-written the novel was, but found the story either difficult to engage with or tedious. Another thought the use of memoir writing as a device was a clever technique and added authenticity to the characters and location within the novel. |
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By: AUCK 038
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2021-08-02 09:20:42 |
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Well-written as always, but the plot wandered! |
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By: NELS 014
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2021-07-05 10:21:25 |
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A light read, funny and enjoyable - loved some of the Irish expressions. |
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