Product Description

The much-praised new novel from award-winning author Rachel Cusk, who was one of Granta's Best of British writers. In this profound study of human relationships, five overlapping narratives of love and detachment merge to form a powerful evocation of family identity. A young pregnant woman's misfortune; a new father's disaffection; a daughter's search for lost childhood; a mother's antagonism; a wife's secret suffering -- through it all runs the story of Victor Porter, a campaigning lawyer, and his journalist wife Serena, in whose relationship the conflict between the public and the personal, between love and morality, is played out. Rachel Cusk writes of life's transformations; of what separates us from those we love and what binds us to those we no longer understand. The Lucky Ones is a novel about creating and sustaining life. It illuminates with startling precision the texture and complexity of emotional existence within 'the bustling concourses of life.'

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #326753 in Books
• Published on: 2004-07-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
'The Lucky Ones has a theme equal to its author's wit, intelligence and genius for observation. This novel is not a particularly comfortable place to be, partly because it's so much like life and partly because Rachel Cusk is brilliant at depicting unattractive characters. But anyone who has ever lived in a family will relish it.' Cressida Connolly, Daily Telegraph 'Her prose is measured and poised. She shares Virginia Woolf's interest in making art out of the minutiae of women's inner monologues.' Stephanie Merritt, Observer 'Compelling, profound and crafted in precise prose dripping with wit.' John Harding, Daily Mail 'You want to gasp with the shock of recognition at a rarely articulated thought delivered with a visceral punch.' Independent 'Restrained, elegant and fiercely observant.' Jane Shillilng, Daily Telegraph 'Impressively written' Marie Claire 'Cusk's writing unsettles by transforming the everyday into a strange and frightening place. She has taken old concerns and given them new life. All this is accomplished with her startling prose!The nuances of relationships, of motives which cannot be understood, are given voice, and it is a magical one.' Kath Murphy, Scotland on Sunday Cusk's is a unique voice! her observations are so intelligent and multi-layered! her style has a rhythm that sucks you in and pulls you along! An intelligent read from a stong feminist voice of our times.' Time Out 'This is not a book about the joy of families, but one which will be recognised by anyone who has children as being full of uncomfortable truth.' Lesley Garner, Evening Standard Praise for THE LUCKY ONES: 'Cusk is particularly good at delineating the tortuous relationships between mothers and daughters! Her toddler's tantrums are excruciatingly authentic and, through the detail of family life across the generations, she manages to raise important issues about selfhood and relationships, belonging and ownership, the roles and games people play as lovers, partners, children and parents.' Sarah Curtis, TLS 'A distinctive stylist, she treats language with the greedy indulgence her fictional mothers lavish on their babies. While family resentments, infidelities and discord are hardly originial themes, the clarity of her observations makes this mundane world seem freshly new.' Lisa Allardice, New Statesman Praise for Rachel Cusk: 'Cusk is a highly interesting, original writer and, more unusually, she is a joy to read.' Helen Dunmore 'Goodness she can write. It takes the breath away.' Claudia FitzHerbert, Daily Telegraph Praise for The Country Life: "In this, her third novel, Rachel Cusk writes with the fastidiousness and delightful grace we have come to expect! Stella is a splendidly memorable creation." Sue Gaisford, Independent on Sunday "This book is a delight! The Country Life is remarkable for two things; its humour and its menace! Its mixture of P.G.Wodehouse, Cold Comfort Farm and Jane Austen is a pleasure to read" Tibor Fischer, Sunday Express "I was addicted. The detail is breathtaking and Cusk's descriptions of a heatwave in the countryside almost had me dripping sweat and scratching the nettle stings. It is also hysterically funny." Lisa Jewell

Independent
'Cusk writes with extraordinary perception about the compromises and confusions of love.'

Daily Telegraph
'Profound and beautifully crafted...this is a quietly ambitious work that builds into a shimmering whole.'

Customer Reviews

intriguing
I have read all of Cusk's previous work, and I must preface this review by admitting that I am a fan. Except for Saving Agnes, I have found all her novels and short stories to be mesmerizing. Two particular favorites were The Temporary and The Country Life. I would say this book is a departure, but it has been my experience that every new work by Cusk is a departure. That is why she is so readable: she will constantly surprise you with each effort. I don't know if "The Lucky Ones" will be ranked among my favorites, but I wouldn't have missed it. For the masterpiece that is the chapter entitled "Mrs. Daley's Daughter", it is not to be missed. Mrs. Daley is an instantly recognizable monster, who serves herself up to the reader with chilling self-justification. The final section was also very moving, and drew me in completely, although I felt the storyline blundered slightly into both sentimentality and shock/horror in the final pages. (it sounds impossible to have both, but read it and you will see what I mean). But whatever you might say about this book, you could never call it predictable or mundane. It is like all of Rachel Cusk's work: it pulls back the curtain on things we could only guess at before. Her psychological insights are always worth the cost of her books.

utterly dreary
Having quite enjoyed A Life's Work and The Country Life, I thought this might be better given the hype over her making the Granta BOYB list. It isn't. In fact, it's one of the dreariest novels I've read for some time. Five characters are linked by knowing a human rights laweyer, and by parenthood - which they all seem to have found as depressing and unrewarding as Cusk herself. The characters range from a stupid young woman pregnant in prison to a woman journalist who moves to the country. None of the characters are remotely believeable, sympathethic or interesting.
I don't like being as negative as this about a novel, but Cusk is old enough and experienced enough by now to know better. She can write interestingly, but style alone isn't good enough for those who have forked out £15.99.

The Lucky Ones
Boring....

it was a very dreary read, characters unbelievable, situations ditto. Book did not flow. I think Rachel used this book as a vehicle to practise her literary style, which admittedly is good, but not good enough to sustain interest.