Audition: A Novel

"Intimacies opens with an unnamed actress in New York meeting a young man in a restaurant. This eerie encounter with Xavier, who insists she is his mother, sets the tone for the novel’s central tensions. The book unfolds in two mirrored halves, each presenting a distinct version of events that challenge the reader’s perception of truth and memory. Through this dual narrative, the novel carefully examines questions of identity, perception, and the moments that can ripple outward to reshape the understanding of a life. Each half offers its own perspective, inviting the reader to navigate the shifting ground between reality and interpretation. To some extent, it is one of those mesmerising books that insists on being read on its own terms. It is a book in which reality shifts in both unsettling and arresting ways. It is such a thoughtful exploration of the porous boundaries between acting and being."