A Company of Three

September 1, 2003
In her appealing second novel, actress O'Connor (Like China) spotlights the lives of three aspiring actors in New York City in the late 1970s. Narrator Robert, who hails from New Jersey, is handsome and determined; New England trust-funder Patrick is darkly dramatic; and beautiful 21-year-old Irene, fresh off the bus from Kansas, will do anything to become a star. They quickly form an inseparable trio—Patrick and Robert, already friends, swoop in on newbie Irene after acting class and take her out for cheesecake—consoling each other over tough auditions, rejection and heartbreak, and celebrating their all-consuming love for acting. As the years pass, Robert falls in love with Irene, "the hub of the wheel of our threesome"; Patrick descends into a depression and seeks out abusive lovers; and Irene decides to sleep her way to acting success. Just as Robert and Irene finally admit their love for one another, Patrick's troubled past comes back to haunt him. In the midst of everything, Robert accepts a part in a soap opera: "I had succeeded not because I was a finer actor than Irene and Patrick," he reflects, "nor because I was smarter or stronger, but because I refused to give up. I managed to accept the rules." Robert's fame and glory shift the balance; when he moves to Los Angeles, he leaves his best friend and great love behind. But when Patrick's despair grows too deep and Irene realizes how much she misses Robert, the three friends must decide how far they'll go to save themselves and the family that they have formed. O'Connor's clean, affecting prose and her book's moving conclusion will stay with readers long after the curtain drops. Agent, Julie Barer. Author tour.

August 1, 2003
O'Connor's second novel (after Like China) follows the lives of three actors trying to make it in New York's vibrant, competitive theater scene. Robert, the narrator, is handsome and talented but emotionally obtuse. Patrick is a self-destructive former dancer. Irene is a Kansas rodeo queen and has the most innate talent of the three. Though each possesses heavy emotional baggage, they promise to "take care of each other." One character achieves material success, which seriously affects the other two. This setup could easily lend itself to cliches, but O'Connor avoids most of them. An actress herself, the author brings authenticity to the details of acting classes, auditions, and rehearsals. Though generally engaging, the novel degenerates into psychobabble toward the end, and the time frame-the late 1970s to early 1980s-seems pasted on, with references to current events sprinkled here and there that are never really woven into the fabric of the story. Recommended only for larger public libraries.-Christine DeZelar-Tiedman, Univ. of Minnesota Libs., Minneapolis

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2003
Set in the 1970s, O'Connor's novel chronicles the trials of three young hopefuls trying to make it as theater actors in New York. Robert and Patrick meet Irene in acting class, and the three soon become inseparable. Robert falls hard for Irene, but she's taken up with an aging soap opera actor. Patrick maintains an aloof attitude when it comes to his love affairs, though Robert and Irene have heard whispers about Benton, a shady lover from his past. As with any close group, the dynamics are complex and often tense. Robert becomes frustrated with Patrick's dramatic reaction to any setback, and with Irene's ambition, which leads her into an affair with an arrogant director. It is Robert's star that ascends first, after he wins a part in a soap opera and attracts Hollywood's attention. O'Connor has created a fascinating set of characters, who rely on and push each other away in equal measure, and their struggles are sure to engage readers, especially those interested in the cutthroat world of acting.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)