Reviews - Second Place | The StoryGraph

1.98k reviews for:

Second Place

Rachel Cusk

3.66 AVERAGE

aestinson's review against another edition

2.5

mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

thmei's review against another edition

i found this book really impressive but not compelling, lifelike and natural in its character work, and beautiful in a clean, curated way. you’re carried in someone’s head for a time while they go about their life. the main character’s inner monologue was, though pretentious, convincing and poignant. the definition, for me, of « that was a good book. i didn’t enjoy it. » is it a good book then? i don’t know. it’s surely an achievement, a wonderful capturing of real personal introspection and an honest reflection on relationships. i just don’t think it’s a great story.

bobthebookerer's review against another edition

3.0

This novel is deceptively short and deceptively simple, luring you in with a series of letters from our narrator to a character we never quite meet.

The letters seem to get progressively desperate, confused and outraged, as we are led through a story where the characters and their relationships are stretched and made more tense.

Without spoiling it, there is a character whose spite and anger towards the end of the book feels visceral and quite unsettling, and it’s well handled.

My first book by Cusk, and, judging by this book, I doubt it’ll be my last.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

cameronwaller's review against another edition

2.0

I love Rachel Cusk, but I skimmed the last third of this book in order to get it over with. I just... stopped caring :/

Perhaps it says more about me than the quality of the novel, but I was never able to fully give myself over to this story or it’s narrator.