A review by samarakroeger
The Cost of Living by Deborah Levy

challenging emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

this is the most liminal, existential book I have ever read.  how fitting that it is the second book in a trilogy; an in-between.  I read this in one sitting on the 15-hour night train from Munich to Rome (and it was the fourth entire book of the day).  right book, right time.  reading slump: conquered.  this is even better than Things I Don't Want to Know (which I also read on public transport) and I can't wait to start Real Estate.  I think it shows in TIDWTK how unhappy she was towards the end of her marriage, and I appreciated that she was able to reflect on that experience in The Cost of Living, published 5 years later.

as someone in a period of transition in my life (in a multitude of ways), this really hit home.  the extended metaphors of boats and trains? exquisite.  I love Deborah Levy's writing style.