We Play Ourselves

We Play Ourselves is a witty and intellectual novel about ambition, infatuation, theatre, film, ethics, teens, and everything else. It follows Cass, a thirty-something year old queer playwright, who receives a prestigious award and is then forced to reckon with her ambition and the chaos it creates. The novel is darkly funny and explores the cost of making art and the art of making enemies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 07 April 2022
Publisher: Atlantic Books

We Play Ourselves is a novel that delves into the complexities of ambition, infatuation, theatre, film, ethics, teens, and more. Written by Emma Donoghue, the book follows the story of Cass, a thirty-something year old queer playwright who receives a prestigious award and seems to be on the rise. However, her career takes a turn when she becomes the center of a public shaming. Seeking a fresh start, Cass moves to Los Angeles, where she is drawn into the orbit of her charismatic neighbor, a filmmaker who is making an ethically murky documentary inspired by a group of teenage girls and their underground fight club.

As Cass begins to dream of a comeback, the past catches up with her, forcing her to confront her ambition and the chaos it creates. The novel is darkly funny, exploring the cost of making art and the art of making enemies. Its bold, edgy, and strange heroine, Cass, embarks on adventures and misadventures, continually screwing up but winning the reader's love with her resilience and determination.

Weike Wang, the PEN/Hemingway-award winning author of Chemistry, praises We Play Ourselves as an excellent debut novel. Wang describes Cass as a bold, edgy, and strange heroine who has adventures and misadventures, and yet manages to win the reader's love. The novel's wit, sharpness, and modernness make it a standout in the literary landscape.

In conclusion, We Play Ourselves is a captivating page-turner that offers a witty and insightful exploration of various themes. With its memorable characters, darkly funny narrative, and bold writing style, the novel is a must-read for anyone who enjoys literary fiction with a touch of darkness. Whether you're a fan of theatre, film, or just looking for a compelling story, this book will not disappoint.

Weight: 236g
Dimension: 130 x 197 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781838954338
Edition number: Main