Reviews

Transit by Rachel Cusk

anna6carnegie's review

5.0

I adore her writing. The perfect blend of not too hard to think about but deeply philosophical too. My favourite writer. easy to read like drinking single cream. I am dairy free but it felt like that. delicious and thought provoking.

thurs's review

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

lenaportmann's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

decoincidenza's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

duncbell's review against another edition

4.0

Still great but not quite so gripping as Outline. At times the psychological articulacy of the dialogue pushed the boundaries of credibility. In fact it exceeded those boundaries even in the first book, but here it didn’t sit so well and sometimes feels a little cod. For example the ex-boyfriend describing how losing his partner’s dog was the event that was required in order for them to properly form a bond.

I also found the portrayal of the couple downstairs, two of the only non-middle-class characters to be particularly uncharitable. Although my dislike of that perhaps says more about my own sensitivities; or maybe I’m wrong in applying the lack of compassion or understanding to the author, as opposed to the character.

nooneyouknow's review

4.0

Goes well with coffee, grey skies, and early middle age.

At times a little glacial, but with a purpose. Themes repeated and developed from Outline. Interested to see how the thread continues in Kudos. Engaging project.

isobel_laura's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

andy5185's review

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Masterful storytelling. I liked Outline better but I am going to continue with the series.

gnoelproduction's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

emilybilodeau's review

“I’d forgotten, I said to him, how relieving the anonymity of city life could be. People weren't forever having to explain themselves here: a city was a decipherable interface, a sort of lexicon of human behaviour that did half the work of decoding the mystery of self, so that you could effectively communicate through a kind of shorthand. Where I had lived before, in the countryside, each individual was the unique, often illegible representation of their own acts and aims.
So much got lost or mistaken, I said, in the process of self-explanation; so many unfounded assumptions were made; so many words failed to maintain an integral meaning.”

Rachel Cusk!!!!!!