Reviews

Arlington Park by Rachel Cusk

rebeccatulloch's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

jenonjupiter's review against another edition

4.0

You're basically following the stories of a bunch of housewives in suburbia as they grow resentment for either their husbands, their children, their environment, or all of that combined. Really enjoyed Juliet's and Maisie's story/monologues. I thought all the women brought up interesting points at some point or another, but found myself highlighting the most in those two monologues. Mind you, many of the characters have flaws in the book as many of them are privileged, some even to the point of being insufferable. First book I've read by Rachel Cusk and I've quite enjoyed it. Will definitely pick up another one of her stories in the future. I was a bit confused by the sprinkled racism throughout the book though, I think it was supposed to align with a character, as it all came from one specific character mainly. But I don't think it contributed anything to the story and was unnecessary to put in in my opinion. 

solerne's review

dark funny mysterious medium-paced

3.5

kate_cunningham's review

reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

paulinevb's review against another edition

reflective

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

3.5

alexdebibliotheque's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.75

sadiereadsagain's review against another edition

3.0

I am always interested in books about the motherhood experience, and now that I'm in my mid-30's I do sometimes seek out stories which speak to my point in life. This book did that...though not in an entirely comfortable way. I loved that this was made up of snapshots from a group of women who live in the same suburb. I did struggle a little to distinguish some of them though, and I did feel that there wasn't a lot of diversity in either their lifestyles or their approach to their lives. I think my favourites were Solly with her lodgers, and Juliet with her school book group, and I wished there had been more to their strands through the book. I've read a few of Cusk's books now, and I absolutely love her writing and the way she can capture and put into words a feeling or sense that was previously intangible. But I do struggle with a certain coldness to her approach, which at times verges on remoteness and detachment. This is the first of her fiction books I've read, and that coolness creates a barrier around the characters. I struggled to feel anything for most of them due to that (and the fact that I have a bit of issue with privilege problems, which this book is rammed with). I wanted more from this book, but it just never quite lost the chill for me.

abookishempath's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No

2.5

illicitrature's review against another edition

will continue later

kristyna11's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5