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

TIME1 min read
Behind The Scenes
Patrick Mahomes, Dua Lipa, and Yulia Navalnaya—seen here, clockwise from above, at their photo shoots—all sat down with TIME to discuss the impact of influence and their plans for the future. Go online to read those interviews and watch video extras,
TIME2 min readAmerican Government
Bolsonaro And Trump, Apart Yet Together
A president facing a tough fight for re-election warns his followers that corrupt elites want to steal power from them. He loses the election and calls on his supporters to defend him. Unable to block the transfer of power, he retreats to Florida. Hi
TIME4 min read
A Jumbled Parable With A Glowing Core
Even when a movie is far from perfect, you can tell when a director has poured his soul into it. Dev Patel’s directorial debut Monkey Man—he’s also the movie’s star—is trying too hard, and for too much. It wants to be a political allegory, a somber s

Related Books & Audiobooks