The Country Life: A Novel
A New York Times Notable Book of the Year
Winner of the Somerset Maugham Award
The Country Life, Rachel Cusk’s third novel, is a rich and subtle story about embarrassment, awkwardness, and being alone; about families, or the lack of them; and about love in some peculiar guises.
“A brilliant oxymoron—a serious farce . . . Cusk’s ability to keep us interested in innumerable human collisions is uncanny.” —The New Yorker
Stella Benson sets off for Hilltop, a tiny Sussex village housing a family that is somewhat larger-than-life. Her hopes for the Maddens may be high, but her station among them—as au pair to their irascible son, Martin—is undeniably low.
What could possibly have driven her to leave her home, job, and life in London for such rural ignominy? Why has she severed all contact with her parents? And why is she so reluctant to talk about her past?
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
Yes it’s a story but it doesn’t really have a beginning and an end.
I found the main character Stella to be irritatingly inept. She is described as a solicitor but seems to have no experience of people or life. There is a rather dark undercurrent to all the characters and relationships as if Stella had been sucked into some weird fictional world. I found myself asking if the story was about her or about Martin finding the hope of some brightness or escape in his life.
The writing style is verbose and every possible opportunity for a simile is used volubly. Not in a hurry to read this author again.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.