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Title: Actress
Authors: Enright, Anne
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 263
Year: 2020
Publisher: Jonathan Cape
Language: English
Description: 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.

Categories: Fiction, Literary, The Arts, Feminism, Gender Issues, Grief/loss, Relationships, Ireland, England, 2022 Titles, Larger font

Reviews

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By: TEAWA 004 2023-10-25 10:19:38
4.5 
Enjoyed by all members.

By: TIMAR 007 2023-03-13 10:24:51
3.5 
Beautiful writing as usual from Anne Enright, but not everyone enjoyed it.

By: WAIHEK 002 2023-01-12 14:45:56
4 
For those who enjoy Irish writing this was much enjoyed. For the others it was not an easy read.

By: WHANG 008 2022-09-08 11:25:22
4.5 
An intriguing and enjoyable book which gradually reveals its secrets. Beautifully written.

By: DUNED 015 2022-08-29 11:35:47
3 
Our group was rather underwhelmed by this Anne Enright novel. Found the obtuseness and structure over complicated for no good reason.

By: WELL 142 2022-08-18 11:26:19
3 
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.

By: AUCK 135 2022-06-27 11:42:34
3.5 
An interesting account of theatre life in that period. Complex plot and well researched.

By: ALEXA 004 2022-06-23 11:57:17
3.5 
Mixed reaction from the group. Beautiful writing but less interest in the actual story.

By: CHCH 319 2022-04-22 12:52:31
3 
Mixed feedback. Some couldn't finish it while others found it well-written.

By: KATIK 005 2022-04-11 13:21:20
3 
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.

By: AUCK 038 2021-08-02 09:20:42
3 
Well-written as always, but the plot wandered!

By: NELS 014 2021-07-05 10:21:25
4 
A light read, funny and enjoyable - loved some of the Irish expressions.

 
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