TIME

When less plot is actually more

Some were bothered by the sharp detail in Cusk’s nonfiction about her kids and divorce

AFTER WRITING SEVEN NOVELS AND three works of nonfiction, acclaimed British author Rachel Cusk began to find fiction “fake and embarrassing.” Two years ago, she explained to a British newspaper, “Once you have suffered sufficiently, the idea of making up John and Jane and having them do things together seems utterly

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from TIME

TIME2 min read
The Companies Driving The U.S. Green Revolution
The Booming Green-Technology sector has emerged as a beacon of hope, not only for investors—it’s predicted to grow to $9.5 trillion by 2030—and for the many workers it employs, but also for the planet at large. Greentech companies leverage innovation
TIME2 min read
The Pains And Paintings Of Frida Kahlo, Reanimated
Frida Kahlo’s early 1940s self-portraits, in which monkeys hang from her neck, may seem playful. In reality, she painted them during a suffocating period when she was tangled in a messy divorce and desperate for work. Frida, a new documentary produce
TIME2 min read
TIME celebrates The Closers
On Feb. 22 in New York City, TIME celebrated The Closers, a new list of Black leaders working to end the racial wealth gap, including Senator Cory Booker (top right) and actor Issa Rae (bottom right). The event was created in partnership with the Bla

Related