Aftermath

On Marriage and Separation

By: Rachel Cusk

Narrated by: Antonia Beamish

A masterly work of divorce and its consequences, Aftermath is a ruthless, rigorous record of the largely unwritten journey back to order from the chaos of separation.

In the winter of 2009, Rachel Cusk’s marriage of 10 years came to an end. Candid and revelatory, Aftermath chronicles the perilous journey as the author redefines herself and creates a new version of family life for her daughters. She discovers previously unknown strengths and freedoms, but also finds herself suddenly vulnerable to outsiders, unwelcome advice, social displacement, and the absence of a clear authority. The pressure to reconstruct a “normal” life for her daughters competes with the sense that nothing feels normal at all.

Aftermath is a classic: a masterly work in which the author, at her most ruthless and rigorous, charts the largely unwritten journey back to order from the chaos that is left when a family breaks apart.

©2012 by Rachel Cusk (P)2020 Faber and Faber

Insightful

A raw account of the aftermath and fallout of separation and divorce from the authors perspective. It’s brittle, messy, rambling at times but also insightful. Divorce isn’t pretty and Cusk will definitely make you uncomfortable with her thoughts. If you need the “dirty details or why” of the divorce this isn’t the book for you.

Mixed Feelings

I found this book to be beautiful and thoughtful, but riddled with metaphors and similes. So many, that it became annoying and too difficult to ignore. Often, there were 3-4 consecutive sentences with similes or metaphors, one without, and then it would start again. So distracting.

overwhelming

it's not a good look for anyone to say a lot of this stuff

Brilliant and searing

The language is precise, unsentimental and lucid. No one is better than Cusk at getting at the heart of female experience.

Good book great author

I really enjoyed this book and the subtlety and strength of the writing and the story