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matilde_1912's review against another edition
2.0
Had no flow whatsoever of the story. Felt very rigid and forced most times.
The cover is indeed beautiful, but the writing doesn't do it justice.
The cover is indeed beautiful, but the writing doesn't do it justice.
erklel's review against another edition
4.0
a fascinating book. it was a little different than i expected, the narrator didn’t take on as big of a role as i thought she might from the description, or at least the main interest to me was the stories being told by each person she converses.
these stories are about the stories we tell ourselves. the way we seek to form a narrative around our lives, and in doing so try to imbue our lives with meaning. many of the characters find their lives - and their stories - shaken by events like a split from a spouse, or a career that hasn’t quite taken off. your sense of self becomes so dependent on the people you’re closest to, and when that goes away ....
definitely thinking a lot about how i tell the story of my own life. i wonder how close to the truth i get.
these stories are about the stories we tell ourselves. the way we seek to form a narrative around our lives, and in doing so try to imbue our lives with meaning. many of the characters find their lives - and their stories - shaken by events like a split from a spouse, or a career that hasn’t quite taken off. your sense of self becomes so dependent on the people you’re closest to, and when that goes away ....
definitely thinking a lot about how i tell the story of my own life. i wonder how close to the truth i get.
bookboy_troy's review against another edition
5.0
2nd reading:
bumped this up to five stars. It’s so funny how our thoughts on a book can change over time. Cusk is a true original if there ever was one.
1st reading:
This was a challenging and intriguing novel for me. I would call it a quietly profound meditation on human communication. I simultaneously hated it and loved it - much like I simultaneously hate and love humanity.
It so closely mirrored the actual reality and experience of listening to other people, that it often left me with a surreal feeling. Some moments were quite funny too, which I appreciated to break up some of the more tense or monotonous bits.
I feel like since Rachel Cusk’s stylistic intention (or what I perceive it to be) was achieved in such a crystal clear manner, I can do nothing but admire and reflect upon the end result, as well as the feelings it evoked within me while and after reading it.
bumped this up to five stars. It’s so funny how our thoughts on a book can change over time. Cusk is a true original if there ever was one.
1st reading:
This was a challenging and intriguing novel for me. I would call it a quietly profound meditation on human communication. I simultaneously hated it and loved it - much like I simultaneously hate and love humanity.
It so closely mirrored the actual reality and experience of listening to other people, that it often left me with a surreal feeling. Some moments were quite funny too, which I appreciated to break up some of the more tense or monotonous bits.
I feel like since Rachel Cusk’s stylistic intention (or what I perceive it to be) was achieved in such a crystal clear manner, I can do nothing but admire and reflect upon the end result, as well as the feelings it evoked within me while and after reading it.
jewitt's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
mangliu0130's review against another edition
4.0
对女性、婚姻、命运有非常好的见解，值得以后重读的书。每个小故事都是小小的铺垫，没这么多真实的人物，作者在虚构中虚构（写作课是一个明显的铺垫），自说自话。
eowyns_helmet's review against another edition
5.0
This book is stunning. Cusk is like a Jane Austen of a certain set, in this case a writer off to Greece to conduct a writing workshop. That's pretty familiar territory for a work of literary fiction, but Cusk brings to it a fierce, unsparing eye. Her narrator goes several steps beyond observant (yet is weirdly unaware of a sexual tension growing between her and an acquaintance, the one false note). In terms of describing the delicate and nuanced interactions between adults, Cusk is a master. I have never met a human being as perceptive and delicate as Cusk's characters, but in these paragraphs there's an authenticity about the human experience that is sharp and almost always sure. This isn't a fast or plotty book (about 2/3 through I skimmed until one of the last scenes, an unforgettable story about a dog). But well worth a read if you want something fresh, provocative and unsparingly insightful.
sloatsj's review against another edition
5.0
I deeply enjoyed this. Wonderful approach to a novel. As others have said, a kind of Canterbury Tales. I bought the second one today.
I'm not entirely sure it's 5 stars but damn near close.
I'm not entirely sure it's 5 stars but damn near close.
keight's review against another edition
4.0
I referred to Ben Lerner’s 10:04 as feeling at times like “a novel of anecdotes,” with many parts structured around characters telling each other stories. Entirely by chance I picked up Outline shortly after and found Rachel Cusk built it entirely around this framework. Read more on the booklog