Product Description

When first published in 2001, it divided female critics and readers. One famous columnist wrote a piece demanding that Cusk's children were taken into care, that she was unfit to look after them. Oprah Winfrey invited her on the show to defend herself and the book as protests grew about the its honest, gritty account of the misery of those early months. It is a seminal, stand-out book on the complications of being an ambivalent mum in an age of white-washed, Annabel Karmel'd new families.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18839 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
"'Deeply fascinating... nakedly honest, witty and eloquent.' Helen Dunmore"

About the Author
Rachel Cusk was born in 1967 and lives in Bristol. She is the author of six novels, including Saving Agnes, which won the Whitbread First Novel Award, The Country Life, In The Fold and most recently, Arlington Park. In 2003 she was chosen as one of Granta's Best of Young Novelists.

Customer Reviews

motherhood
I eagerly awaited the arrival of this book, having heard of Cusk's work - and the resultant criticisms. I was hoping for a voice which I could relate to as a mum, and the ambivalence of my feelings towards motherhood.

This book made me laugh, not only out loud, but with tears rolling down my face. I got my identification. I would especially recommend it for a mum to be, or someone with little kids/babies - if they can find the time to read it.

Fantastic
One of the most moving, profound and hilarious books on motherhood (or, indeed, on any subject) that I've read. I honestly think that those who concluded the author did not love her children must have been reading some other book.

I loved this book!
As a new mother I didn't have time to read anything in the early months of my son's life, but my husband bought me this book for Mother's Day and from the first page I couldn't stop reading. I had no idea there was any controversy over the book until reading the description just now on Amazon. I thought it was one of the most literary and beautifully real expressions of how, at least I, was feeling in those first months as a first-time mother. Reading this book was like talking to a good friend. I am also glad to have discovered such a wonderful writer and look forward to reading more of her books now that I have more time.