Anne Enright’s novel ‘The Wren, The Wren’ is wondrous

The Irish writer’s latest is a powerful exploration of family bonds in the wake of a father’s abandonment

By Elena Lappin

Family bonds can be broken or whole, visible or hidden, forgotten or rediscovered, numb or forever raw. Anne Enright’s wondrous new novel, “The Wren, the Wren,” brilliantly explores the lasting impact of a father abandoning his critically ill wife and two young daughters. His departure reverberates through three generations of women, leaving them with a knotted legacy of pain, mystery and confusion — but also love. All kinds of love. Enright, whose previous books include “The Gathering” — a Man Booker prize winner — “The Forgotten Waltz” and “The Green Road,” is a master at dissecting family life.

Phil McDaragh walked out on his wife when she was in bed recovering from breast cancer surgery. A celebrated Irish poet, he was famous for his beautifully sad love poetry and keen understanding of women; he wooed them with words and hurt them with words — spoken or written. Read the full review at the Washington Post.