A review by kairhone
The Bradshaw Variations by Rachel Cusk

reflective slow-paced

3.75

Tonie is head of her department; disconnected from mothering her self serious daughter Alexa while her husband is staying home on sabbatical with their kid and tenant Olga. Thomas quietly resents his wife's distance from maternity. 

The oldest son, Howard, follows through on commitments to the detriment of his malleable wife, Claudia. Thomas thinks his brother is a phony upper middle class ponce. 

The youngest brother has always been reminded by his mother that he was a mistake; his wife Susie is working class and he is impassioned to defend her when his privileged family passively makes fun of her. 

Brexit commentary through Olga: she meets a Lithuanian man who works at a porter in the same hospital she is a maid. He says "this is a bad country" "why should it be worse than other countries" "it is our position here that brings out the bad. Like the mouse brings out the bad in the cat"