Katie Kitamura: Exploring Horror in Literature and Life

Katie Kitamura, an acclaimed novelist and 2025 Guggenheim Fellow, is making waves in the literary world with her insightful exploration of human emotion and performance in her latest work, “Audition.” This novel, which delves into the nuances of midlife crises and familial dynamics, resonates with themes prevalent in horror in literature, inviting readers to confront the unsettling truths hidden beneath the surface.Before her engagement at Harvard’s Mahindra Humanities Center, Kitamura shared her reflections on the role of performance in fiction, suggesting that our everyday interactions often mimic theatrical acts.