I loved this story of a complicated mother, narrated by her daughter Norah, the child of a celebrity and no stranger to scandal. I love even more the ways in which Norah's life stands in contrast with her mother's. Norah never comes across as bitter; her life lacks the fame and celebrity of her mother's (not to mention the drama and trauma), but she is a successful writer and happily married mother, who manages to see her mother with clear eyes and loves her anyway.

I really think Enright is brilliant. Period. She takes us straight to the heart of her characters and she does it in perfectly crafted sentences. She writes about difficult people with grace and humor, and I found this a pure pleasure to read.