Actress

Anne Enright

From Shelf: The 2020 Women's Prize for Fiction Longlist

Longlisted for the 2020 Women's Prize for Fiction One of Time's 100 Must-Read Books of 2020 "A critique, a confession, a love letter-and another brilliant novel from Anne Enright." -Ron Charles, Washington Post

Katherine O'Dell is an Irish theater legend. Every moment of her life is a performance, with her daughter, Norah, standing in the wings. With age, alcohol, and dimming stardom, however, Katherine's grip on reality grows fitful. Fueled by a proud and long-simmering rage, she commits a bizarre crime.

As Norah's role gradually changes to Katherine's protector, caregiver, and finally legacy-keeper, she revisits her mother's life of fiercely kept secrets; and Norah confronts in turn the secrets of her own sexual and emotional coming-of-age. With virtuosic storytelling, Actress weaves together two generations of women with difficult sexual histories, touching a raw and timely nerve.

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