The Country Life

I, too, like the classical writers, as one rather pretentious reviewer indicated below, comparing some tried-and-true old frumps to the deliciously contemporary Rachel Cusk.This is a novel with CHARM and WIT and experiential consciousness-raising about disabilities. It's a love story, really, between Stella and Martin, who learn so much from each other.But I absolutely adored all the other characters - every single one: the self-absorbed Pamela, her equally spacey house-husband and country squire Piers, their narcissistic, gorgeous son, Toby and their petulant daughter Caroline. Not to mention the strange-looking and randy Mr. Trimmer.What I particularly loved is that nothing ever turns out to be what Stella expects. Just when she thinks Martin's gossipy, bossy teacher is a lonely old-maid she finds out that the woman is actually a married swinger! Just when she thinks Pamela is snobbish, Pamela turns out to be broad-minded. Just when she thinks the old "creature" at the post-office is about to do her in, he/she/whatever heals Stella's sunburn and makes her happy again. The characters are at once dysfunctional and adorable - like most people. It's the rare author who can convey this universal contradiction. Jane Austen did it and it was this compassion for the human condition that made her one of our greatest writers.I just wish this book had gone on and on forever. I want sequels! I want a movie! I want a PBS adaptation! Thanks to the author for one of the more pleasant weeks of my life.

I obtained a copy of this book after reading the Voice Literary Supplement's glowing albeit brief review--it was one of their 25 favorite books of the year. And I was glad to discover that the novel is well worth pursuing. Cusk's protagonist Stella Benson is hilarious in her awkwardness; the storytelling is absolutely spellbinding and highly literate. Cusk's situations drew me in, her characters intrigued me, and her protagonist's misfortunes were so tactile that I became nervous and uncomfortable for her (in the best possible way, of course.) I devoured this novel--it ranks among my favorite books of the year as well!

The Country Life is one of the best books I've read all year. I knew I was in for a treat after reading the first few pages in which Rachel Cusk deftly tips off readers about her narrator, Stella, by allowing us to read three rather unhinged letters of Stella's. (You can read those letters in the excerpt on this page to see for yourself.) Stella is the queen of poor judgement and a wonderfully unreliable narrator. Cusk relates the tale of Stella's numerous misjudgments, lapses, and bouts of rage with great skill--creating an uncomfortable and thoroughly foreign little world for her protagonist to blunder through. I recommend this book to anyone who likes British satire, high literacy, and a well-shaped and original plot. Why isn't this book more popular in the U.S.?

Not for the Thomas Harris crowd.You have to get used to six line sentences that you have to reread to get the point, but when you do it's worth it. I agree that, to some extent, the author is showing off. As well as the obvious Cold Comfort Farm there are a lot of other literary references in there, such as The Franchise Affair" and Farqhar's "The Country Wife." One reviewer said it contains the most amazing single line in all fiction. I assume he means the one that begins "Here's your coffee..."