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Katie Kitamura Explores the Complexities of Identity in New Novel “Audition”
Renowned author Katie Kitamura recently took a moment to indulge in the pastries at Lafayette, an elegant café just north of SoHo where she once enjoyed dinners with friends before her children arrived. Now, those gatherings have transformed into breakfast meet-ups, yet the bakery items have remained untested—until now.
As she samples a bite-sized piece from her artisanal croissant, with its perfectly flaky layers, she shares her thoughts. “Really good,” she chuckles. “It’s really good.”
This pastry experience coincides with our discussion about her latest novel, Audition, in which Lafayette serves as an unnamed yet significant backdrop. The narrative follows a middle-aged woman revitalizing her acting career alongside her collaborators and family, frequenting the café for post-theater dinners filled with wine and pastries. Kitamura recalls, “My actor friend mentioned that it was funny I frequented Lafayette because that’s where we always went after shows.” The book ingeniously interweaves food with deeper psychological themes, using pastries both as comfort and as symbols within the characters’ dynamics.
The narrator’s daily visits for baked goods, initially a mundane routine, transform into a powerful testament to her relationship. Kitamura crafts this ritual as a psychological exploration—showcasing her characters’ emotional intricacies. Just as celestial bodies dance in space, the characters orbit around one another, maintaining a delicate balance that could shift at any moment, particularly with the introduction of Xavier, a mysterious figure who believes the narrator may be his birth mother. This ambiguous dynamic drives the novel without a traditional plot, creating an exhilarating reading experience that feels unstoppable—much like a carnival ride spun free from its anchor.
In many respects, Audition resonates with themes previously explored in Kitamura’s acclaimed novels, including 2021’s Intimacies and 2017’s A Separation. Both previous works feature unnamed female protagonists grappling with intricate relationships, yet Audition pushes her fascination with role-play to the forefront of a theatrical backdrop, integrating elements of her life’s context as she resides in New York with her family.
Despite the autobiographical echoes in her characters, Kitamura distinguishes herself from her narrators. She mentions how A Separation received the label of autofiction, despite dramatic plot twists that diverge from her personal narrative. “If I’m reading something in first person, I find myself tethering to the author, even though I know better,” she reflects.
Contrary to the persona one might derive from her novels, Kitamura doesn’t project the archetypal cool detachment one might expect. Instead, she is personable and engaging, offering insights in a thoughtful manner accompanied by a smile. Her aversion to not delving deeply into backstory highlights her belief in the fluidity of identity. “People aren’t fixed; we’re capable of change,” she emphasizes, underscoring the complexities we often overlook in our attempts to fit into societal roles or archetypes.
Through our conversation, Kitamura connects this idea to a wider cultural commentary on identity and narratives. She notes how many stories encourage readers to see themselves in rigid categories or roles. “Even if you wear a label as a jock or a nerd, on closer examination, layers of complexity emerge,” she elaborates, pointing to a generational tendency to seek comfort in archetypes, especially among younger people.
This exploration of identity becomes layered within the context of contemporary challenges. Despite not intending to write a pandemic novel, Kitamura acknowledges that her narrative inevitably reflects the times, depicting characters sharing cramped living spaces. “Every novel is an artifact of the reality we’re living in,” she adds, highlighting the interconnectedness of art and life.
As our conversation unfolds in the buzz of the café, the larger world intrudes—politics and crises linger in the background. Kitamura reflects, “In my work, I’m drawn to performance—the way it shapes reality. We’re witnessing how certain figures wield performance to create their fantasies.”
When asked about the juxtaposition of her book tour against the chaos engulfing society, she admits, “It’s very strange. I find my anxieties about publication are overshadowed by the world’s anxieties.”
Kitamura grapples with her role as an author, expressing discomfort with the authority often ascribed to her. “My books question certainty and authority; they deal with uncertainty,” she shares. “I muddle through, trying to embody that performance without feeling entirely convincing.”
As we wrap up, I see her thoughtful engagement, a blend of intellect and warmth, as she nibbles on the remnants of her croissant—a metaphor for the delicacies of life and literature she navigates with ease.
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