The Lucky Ones

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. '

Rachel Cusk is the author of six novels and one memoir. The first, Saving Agnes, won the Whitbread First Novel Award. A Life's Work: On Becoming a Mother, is a personal exploration of motherhood. Other works include The Country Life, which won a Somerset Maugham Award, The Lucky Ones, which was shortlisted for the Whitbread Prize, In the Fold, and Arlington Park, which was shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction. In 2003 Rachel Cusk was nominated by Granta magazine as one of 20 'Best of Young British Novelists'.

Praise for THE LUCKY ONES: '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 magazine'Restrained, elegant and fiercely observant.' Jane Shillilng, Daily Telegraph'In this absorbing work Cusk shows how good she can be. In the vicissitudes of ordinary life she has found a subject worthy of her talents.' Christina Konig, Play'Impressively written' Marie Claire'A lovely book.' Terry Prone, Irish Independent'..sharp observation of character, vivid imagistic descriptions' Michele Roberts, Independent on Sunday'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 SundayCusk'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 StandardPraise 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 StatesmanPraise 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 TelegraphPraise 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