A Life's Work cover art

A Life's Work

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

A Life's Work

By: Rachel Cusk
Narrated by: Antonia Beamish
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £12.23

Buy Now for £12.23

Summary

When first published in 2001, it divided female critics and readers. One famous columnist wrote a piece demanding that Cusk's children were taken into care, that was she was unfit to look after them. Oprah Winfrey invited her on the show to defend herself and the book as protests grew about the its honest, gritty account of the misery of those early months.

It is a seminal, stand-out book on the complications of being an ambivalent mum in an age of white-washed, Annabel Karmel'd new families.

©2020 Rachel Cusk (P)2020 Faber & Faber Motherhood Parenting & Families Relationships Sociology
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c
All stars
Most relevant
This is a brilliantly written, raw and honest account of pregnancy and motherhood. However, I think it’s important to warn that some of the content might be difficult to listen to if you are in early parenthood or experiencing depression/anxiety. Listen when feeling robust.
Something grated on me, which was the discussion of co-sleeping in ‘primitive’ societies. I think a lot of the Asian countries where it’s very common would be pretty offended by that description! Also, discussion of Ferber method without full context. But I appreciate the author’s aim isn’t to provide any kind of manual. The issue is that the author’s style is quite authoritative and so any missings seem problematic.

Brilliant writing but watch out for tough content

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I’m relieved to see the author is now happily living her best life in Paris with a new partner.

The drudgery and misery of childbirth & childrearing is not for everyone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This brings back a lot of chilling memories of a child's early days, beautifully written.

Magnificent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I listened to this book as it came up in a podcast and then in one of the 2 for 1 deals.

I like that, for when it was published in 2001, the book depicts a different side to motherhood and although I think she does make some valid points, the narrative is so negative, it borders on farcical.

Still, I’m glad I listened, the narrator is very good, the book is quite short and it’s nice to have my own opinion about these somewhat controversial/marmite books.

Marmite

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved this book, because it told the ugly truth about motherhood. not everyone got amazing partners or family around to help. it brought me back to those early years with my daughters and it was amazing to relive that and be grateful that I got through that. I love my children and I would die for them, but it was bloody hard and still is.

truth

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews