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'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
Independent
'Cusk writes with extraordinary perception about the compromises and confusions of love.'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have read other books by Rachel Cusk and generally enjoyed them, but not this one. The book is a sequence of stories, connected by the mention of a lawyer who is acquainted with some of the characters in each story. I didn't warm to any of the characters nor did I find them believable. In fact, I didn't care about them at all and I found the whole book a bit of an ordeal. Another reviewer suggests that Ms Cusk used this book to practise her literary style, and I have to say I agree with this.
I almost gave up on the book when I read the line 'I felt I had failed to secure the definitive territories of my family existence' - this supposedly the thoughts of a child. I have no idea what this is supposed to mean.
It is terribly difficult to read a book that is so littered with prose that tries so hard to be impressive and lyrical. It came as a relief towards the end of the book to read a page or two that had relatively normal dialogue. The author finds it hard to describe something without adding an 'as if...' or an 'as though ..' clause. The description might be thought-provoking in isolation but with often several examples on one page, it just becomes tedious.
Rachel Cusk tends to concentrate on detailing the thoughts and lives of ordinary people - this is what I generally enjoy about her writing. I like the way she picks out the real motives behind what people do, the bitter little transactions that go on in all our lives. But there has to be sympathy and compassion, the reader needs to feel some connection with the characters - in this book I didn't. Perhaps this was down to my irritation with the writing style, but I think mainly it was because I don't think the author felt any connection with her characters.
I almost gave up on the book when I read the line 'I felt I had failed to secure the definitive territories of my family existence' - this supposedly the thoughts of a child. I have no idea what this is supposed to mean.
It is terribly difficult to read a book that is so littered with prose that tries so hard to be impressive and lyrical. It came as a relief towards the end of the book to read a page or two that had relatively normal dialogue. The author finds it hard to describe something without adding an 'as if...' or an 'as though ..' clause. The description might be thought-provoking in isolation but with often several examples on one page, it just becomes tedious.
Rachel Cusk tends to concentrate on detailing the thoughts and lives of ordinary people - this is what I generally enjoy about her writing. I like the way she picks out the real motives behind what people do, the bitter little transactions that go on in all our lives. But there has to be sympathy and compassion, the reader needs to feel some connection with the characters - in this book I didn't. Perhaps this was down to my irritation with the writing style, but I think mainly it was because I don't think the author felt any connection with her characters.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The first story in The Lucky Ones left me ambivalent, but I'm very glad I continued, because the book became more compelling as it went on. The overlap between certain characters and events in the stories mean that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I agree with the reviewer who said that Mrs Daley's Daughter is a masterpiece. We all know women who cannot resist undermining their daughters when their daughters have babies, so Mrs Daley is utterly recognisable, but so well-drawn I could not only taste her resentment and control-freakery, but understand it and trace it right back to its roots. The final story is also excellent, and ties up loose threads from earlier episodes. This is the first of Cusk's books I've read, and on the strength of it I will definitely be reading more.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brilliant and affecting
I think Rachel Cusk is a fabulous writer and The Lucky Ones is one of my favourites amongst her work. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Westwood1
The Lucky Ones
Boring....
it was a very dreary read, characters unbelievable, situations ditto. Book did not flow. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2006 by Ann Wright
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. Read more
Published on 2 Jun 2003
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