Who Are You?

Anna Kavan

1963

March, 2024

8.5/10

Kavan turns nature, what would otherwise be beautiful, into something haunting. The way she describes people is also very evocative, both good and bad people. The book focuses on these two ideas to create a story that could almost be categorized as horror.

As is typical of Kavan, the emphasis on state-of-mind is what makes the book great. While not much actually happens, the way the characters' mentalities are expressed is perfect for understanding what other people go through. In particular, the wife's helplessness stands out. The story, in essence, is about why she was helpless — what it's like to be unable to act.