Alex’s Reviews > Actress in the House > Status Update

How are you finding it? The 200s were the century of Actress in the House that I found most challenging; for sure. The first 100 and final 50 a breeze; comparatively, but gosh, that McElroy can write.

The First Week section is definitely more dense. I’m trying to keep up the pace just so that I don’t lose mental access to those details-that-later-become-dots-for-connecting. McElroy certainly has his own way of telling a story. What else of his have you read?

I've read Lookout Cartridge once and Ancient History twice; as well as one of his recent essays on water and that's it! I have Women & Men as well as Cannonball resting on my shelf with large eyes waiting for the right day. Yes, all of the Wolf stuff in 'Actress' can be very disorienting. I was shocked at the emotional whiplash - how ultimately simple - this novel proves to be. It's a cleverer mechanism than in maybe any other novel I've ever read. Not my favorite novel but nothing - even the few other McElroy texts I've read - operates in quite the same way. I do recommend keeping the pace up if you can manage it. I faltered a little in the back half and my comprehension of one key narrative element certainly suffered for it.

I actually started reading Actress because I had a dream about reading Ancient history but don't own it. Sometimes my subconscious gives decent advice. That and Lookout Cartridge are worth getting my hands on?

That’s perfect advice. Cartridge is real expensive to find these days but there’s a reasonably priced Ancient History out there and that book is a full blown masterpiece (it’s also a lot easier than this one - still challenging) so, definitely!