I was hooked from the very first line.
No warm-up needed.
It was hypnotic.
Cerebral.
Analytical.
Unputdownable. Although I also put it down every couple of pages to absorb and digest what I had just read.
The writing style made me reflect and actively engage the left side of my mind. I was constantly underlining phrases. I felt like I was working alongside the author.
At one point, I could taste the sea salt in my throat. One image that keeps returning to my mind is the naked back of the neighbour. Don’t ask me why, because I don’t know what to answer.
Cold.
It blended non-fiction elements into fiction. I didn’t feel any strong emotions. Between the book and me, there was distance. It didn’t make me identify with the characters in it. After all, there were no real characters and there wasn’t even any plot development.
Instead, it’s a mosaic of themes exploring the human condition. In a way, it made me think of The Keeper of Stories, where the protagonist is sort of a human sponge that listens to others.
A marvellous mix of triggers that encouraged my introspection. Interesting read.
Author: Rachel Cusk
First Published: 2014