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ClareR (5854 KP) rated Actress in Books

May 21, 2020  
Actress
Actress
Anne Enright | 2020 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Actress is the story of Katherine O’Dell, told by her daughter. She looks back on her mother’s career as Ireland’s darling, as she works her way up through Ireland’s bus-and-truck circuit, London’s West End , Broadway and finally Hollywood. Norah lives through the more successful period of her mothers life, and then has to deal with her fall from Grace after she commits a thoroughly bizarre crime. I really loved this book, and I had to keep reminding myself that it was in fact fiction. The author, Anne Enright, read her book, and she did it so well. It really sounded like someone who was telling their own life story, as opposed to telling ‘a’ story. It was really immersive and well told. I’m not surprised that it was on the long list for the Women’s Prize 2020.

I loved the way that we watched Katherine’s slide into mental health problems through the eyes of her daughter, juxtaposed with the life that she had lived before - the whole bohemian, free living, carelessness of it. And then the reveal that all was not as it seemed. I enjoy books that explore family relationships - in fiction the opportunities are endless.

I really liked the historical element as well: the troubles in Ireland and how they impacted on Katherine and Norah. Not that it’s an enjoyable topic, but I have family connections, and the history of this fascinates me. To be honest, a lot of things impact on the relationship of this mother and daughter. It must have been very difficult for Norah to grow up in the way that she did - and again, I have to remind myself that this isn’t a true story!

This is the first Anne Enright novel that I’ve read/ listened to, and I have another book of hers on my bookcase that I’ll be moving up the ‘to be read’ pile. I think she’s an author that I’ll also be adding to me ‘read everything by them’ list!
  
“Real Strength: Build Your Resilience and Bounce Back from Anything” is another book from the psychologies magazine range by Capstone (A Wiley Brand) and I really enjoy these types of books which have questionnaires to help work out what type of assistance you need, and real techniques and actual therapies to help you through and beyond difficult situations.

“Real Strength” is about bouncing back from anything and teaches you how to deal with change, problems and opportunities in a healthy way, whilst building resilience and physiological strength in order to thrive , despite adversity.

I am sure I cannot be the only one to say that life has certainly chucked more than a handful of obstacles my way. I’m pretty good at handling that and often get told how positive I am – sometimes to a fault (so I’m told – as if I’m ignorant! Hell no!) But from what I understand from this book, being positive is nothing to do with ignorance and has everything to do with seeing the world / issue for what it is, and dealing with it the best way possible. Obstacles are challenges to overcome. I don’t bury my head in the sand, I’ve just learnt how to be resilient and accept things I cannot change.

What I love about this book, is that it takes my way of thinking even further and offers some great techniques to help you bounce back from anything.

“Real Strength” is about taking control of your life, tackling uncertainty and learning to not only see things differently, but to manage your emotions, cope with change and being more aware of the here and now. To relieve ourselves from those stress-inducing worrying thoughts that can consume us.

Each chapter encourages you to take action via exercises and real life stories. It’s a comprehensive, encouraging book and another one of which I have spent time reading and highlighting the pages. Yes I do write and draw in these self-help books, I fully believe it’s the best way to learn! Very happy to add this to my Capstone Collection.
  
The Haunting of Hill House
The Haunting of Hill House
2018 | Horror
Outstanding
I'm not familiar with the book that this Netflix show is based on, but then from what I understand this is meant to be more a 'remix' of the book anyway. All I can say though is, faithful to the book or not, this is without a doubt one of the most incredibly brilliant shows I have seen in a very long time.

The Haunting of Hill House is all about the Crain family, flitting between then, now, yesterday and varying points in their lives. From their early years of living in a haunted house and having to leave quickly one night following their mothers suicide, to adulthood and trying to keep it all together in order to live some kind of normal life. The show takes a little while to settle in and to get comfortable with who is the adult version of which child (there are 5 children in total) and where they're all currently at in their lives, but after that the show just goes from strength to strength. Taking a few episodes to cover each child's story, all the while carefully taking the time occasionally to go back to their childhood life in the house, piecing things together for us. Continuing to add layers to each character and highlighting key points in those early years that subsequently affect their behaviour towards other family members as grown ups. It's like a much darker version of 'This is Us', with added horror and jump scares!

Whenever I read any positive reviews for the movie Hereditary, everything they describe about what made it great for them is totally what I got out of this show. It's the complete opposite to what I got from Hereditary, and I came away from that just feeling angry, frustrated and hugely disappointed. With The Haunting of Hill House though, every episode gripped me, sticking with me for a long time after. Episodes featuring beautifully elaborate long takes draw you into the drama, camera weaving between and around the characters and scenery, creating opportunities for some fantastic effects, especially within the house at night. Perfectly paced storytelling, effective without overly used scares, and some truly heartbreaking sadness at times. I loved it all, from start to finish.
  
Show all 3 comments.
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Lee (2222 KP) Oct 29, 2018 (Updated Oct 29, 2018)

@Daniel Boyd I found the first episode interesting but to be honest I wasn't as keen on the second episode. However something made me stick with it and I'm glad I did. For me it was just all about that settling in period with the characters, especially as there are a few of them, both young and old versions. But maybe it's just not for you. Maybe give episode 3 a go before giving up? I remember that episode being the 1 that really got me hooked. I watched it before going to work one morning and have never felt like throwing a sickie so much in my life, it was so good! Episodes 5 and 6 are amazing too, and that's where it peaks to be fair.

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Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) Oct 29, 2018

Cheers @Lee I'll maybe give it another shot tonight.