Anne Enright Divides Us

Published Jan 10 2008, 10:53 PM by Sharon Steel

Courtesy of The New Yorker

An interesting little literary roundtable of sorts happened in our corner of the Phoenix HQ today. We were discussing our fondness for a story in The New Yorker's winter fiction issue by Anne Enright, called "Natalie." Nina MacLaughlin (the other half of Word Up) and our colleague Adam Reilly, however, had recently read Enright's 2007 Booker Prize winning The Gathering. Despite both admitting that they sped through the book -- Adam even said he stayed up late nights finishing it -- each came away disappointed, and somewhat unsatisfied.

The reason we liked "Natalie" so very much was because we were entranced by how the narrator discovered things about herself through her bad-to-worse, awkwardly forced relationship with the title character. Often, we think, people like Natalie can bring about certain revelations about the type of individual you are, and the type of individual you can never be. There is an inherent beauty and free-fall in that discovery, and that is what the story meant to us. Plus, the photo (see above) that The New Yorker chose to accompany the piece was utterly perfect. For us, it evokes the same feelings the story does: loss, desolation, exhilaration, fear, lust, the world at your feet with nothing and everything to lose.

We are about to approach The Gathering, then, with all of these thoughts in mind, but we wondered whether Anne Enright was as polarizing to anyone else's little world as it was to ours. Tell us, if you like.

Filed Under: Author Rants, Reading about Writing, The New Yorker, Things We Love

Back to WordUp

Problems, Solved

Follow the Boston Phoenix

All Blogs

Laser Orgy (34)
Phlog (1,420)
On The Download (2,163)
Dont Quote Me (518)
Talking Politics (1,523)
Outside The Frame (305)

Filed Under: Author Rants, Reading about Writing, The New Yorker, Things We Love

Boston Phoenix
Heart of Darkness
Published 6/11/2008 by Sharon Steel
Andre Dubus III's The House of Sand and Fog was probably THE saddest, most wrenching book we ever r...

Boston Phoenix
More "Fine Lines": Why obsess over the NYTBR when you can obsess over 80's YA?
Published 2/26/2008 by Importer
Hell to the yes. "Fine Lines," the newish Friday feature at ultimate lady-blog Jezebel just keeps ge...

more by Sharon Steel

Interview: Leanne Shapton | March 24, 2009

Interview: Joss Whedon | February 09, 2009

Review: Dollhouse | February 09, 2009

Faking it | January 06, 2009

Bad girls | October 16, 2008

See all articles by: Sharon Steel

Latest Comments

City Council Forums - Dear comrads! Is it a problem to convert iTunes to MP3? I say NINE :) Its really uhrrr not being able...

By Sweet_November on 11-28-2009 in Talking Politics

The Guitar Hero/Band Hero kerfuffle considered - Christian Louboutin shoes are available at attractive rates in all outlets across the world. Turn your...

By Gucci Sneakers on 11-28-2009 in Laser Orgy

Khazei Sneaking Up? - Mrs. Kennedy, why wouldn't you prefer Congressman Capuano to succeed the late Senator? Congressman Capuano...

By Ernie Boch, III on 11-27-2009 in Talking Politics

City Council Forums - сын насилует маму всегда на это дрочу!! http://pxgmyzzcug.jimdo.com анорексия фото http://vmpfpxkwxl...

By Homogon on 11-27-2009 in Talking Politics

City Council Forums - <b>GPS оборудование </b> GPS - глобальная система позиционирования, определение местоположения...

By BimaIdedirm on 11-27-2009 in Talking Politics

Latest Comments from WordUp

Anne Enright Divides Us

Leave a Comment