The Wig My Father Wore

Grace works as a TV producer in Dublin, creating segments for a dating show. Her routine life changes when an angel named Stephen appears at her door and moves in with her. Grace navigates her relationship with Stephen while grappling with memories of her father, who experienced a head injury that led him to wear a wig. Her work at the television studio becomes increasingly surreal as Stephen's presence affects her perspective on reality. The story alternates between Grace's present-day experiences and her recollections of growing up with her father. The narrative spans both earthly and supernatural realms as Grace confronts questions about love, death, and memory. Through stark prose and dark humor, the novel explores the intersection of the miraculous and mundane, questioning how people construct meaning from personal histories and supernatural encounters.

Readers found this novel challenging to follow due to its non-linear structure and supernatural elements. Many reviews note the unique writing style and dark humor, particularly around Irish family dynamics and relationships. Liked: - Poetic language and imagery - Commentary on modern Irish life - Exploration of father-daughter relationships - Blending of reality and fantasy Disliked: - Confusing narrative jumps - Lack of clear plot direction - Some found the angel character unconvincing - Dense, abstract writing style that requires multiple readings One reader noted: "Beautiful sentences but I often had to reread passages to understand what was happening." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (300+ ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (30+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.6/5 (40+ ratings) Many reviews mention this is not an ideal starting point for new Enright readers, recommending The Gathering instead as an introduction to her work.

The Red Car by Marcy Dermansky A woman grapples with death, memory, and her complex past through surreal encounters that blur reality and imagination.

Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter A father and his sons process the death of their wife/mother through visits from a mythological crow figure who embodies their mourning.

Solar Bones by Mike McCormack The ghost of a man reflects on his life and death in a stream-of-consciousness narrative that unfolds over a single All Souls' Day.

Hotel World by Ali Smith Five linked narratives explore death, time, and human connection through the perspectives of women connected to a hotel tragedy.

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders The spirit of Abraham Lincoln's deceased son navigates the afterlife among a chorus of historical ghosts who reflect on life, death, and grief.

🎭 The novel's protagonist, Grace, works as a TV producer on a dating show while living with an angel named Stephen who has committed suicide in 1934. 📚 Anne Enright wrote this surreal, darkly comic novel early in her career (1995), before winning the Man Booker Prize for "The Gathering" in 2007. 👻 The book explores themes of Irish identity and sexuality through a unique blend of magical realism and contemporary Dublin life. 🎬 The television production setting draws from Enright's own experience working as a producer for RTÉ (Radio Telefís Éireann), Ireland's national broadcaster. 💫 The title refers to Grace's father's hair piece, which serves as a metaphor for artifice and pretense in modern life, themes that run throughout the novel.