The Bradshaw Variations Audiobook

" I was disappointed with this book. I read an excellent essay by the author in Granta and decided to seek out her fiction. It was told from multiple points of view (about 8), and it wasn't obvious what some of these points of view added to the story. All of the characters seemed more or less the same, it had very little narrative arc. There was some very good writing and some keen insights, and it wasn't so bad that I had a hard time finishing it. The main story was about a couple who decides that the husband, Thomas, will stay home with his daughter while the wife, Tonie, goes off to work, which reverses the roles that they have had since their daughter was born. The other points of view are both sets of their parents, the three brothers and their wives, and the main couple's housekeeper. It sounds like more of a mess than it is, but it still somewhat of a mess. "

" This novel started out so promising. The quality of the writing is really superb. However, the characters lack any hint of joy, to the point of unbelievability. Selfish, privileged, miserable Brits. I finished the book simply because it was so short. "

" Hmm... though I am intrigued by the midlife crisis, this just didn't cut it. Too much analysis, not enough story or character development. "

" The usual realism from Rachel Cusk, and the familiarity of real life beautifully written about. I just didn't take to her characters as much this time. Still, their emotions were played out and you could totally sympathise, maybe looking back their was just too much to take in in this novel. "

" To be honest, I don't think I really 'got' this book. I didn't really feel any of the themes or ideas were fully developed and it just left me feeling rather miserable and lacking any sense of knowing the characters or why they did what they did. "

" If I can get the Kindle away from Alex, this is next. Financial Times recommended and they are ALWAYS right. "

" A bit abstract. Quite a quick read, but hard to identify with any of the characters - possibly because it was too short. It was very detailled in terms of feelings and emotions, which I suppose was the point, but left little room for actually getting to like the characters. "

" I love Rachel Cusk (yes she may be a narcissist...but aren't we all!) and the way she captures the details of ordinary life, elevating the domestic sphere to a political level. I didn't feel as gripped by the characters in this book as in some of her other work, but really enjoyed it nonetheless. "

" Ug, I feel bad about listing this as read because I couldn't even finish it. "

" I could not get "into" this book. Too many characters and I could not really relate to their angst. "

" Started to read before I left for vacation and couldn't take it with me. Didn't really care about any of the characters. "

" beautifully written, a story which exposes intense emotions even within everyday life's complexities "

" I managed to finish it in the hope of discovering some kind of plot but, alas, nothing really happens. Maybe the novel was supposed to be some kind of joke, with these truly dull characters described in ludicrously overblown prose? Whatever her intention, it's all pretty tiresome. "

" I have almost put this book down many times in the past few days. I am continuing with it because there is something in Cusk's characters that interest me -- otherwise, it's a little too domestic-focused and a little too ruminative for me. "

" beautifully written, a story which exposes intense emotions even within everyday life's complexities "

" If I can get the Kindle away from Alex, this is next. Financial Times recommended and they are ALWAYS right. "

" Ug, I feel bad about listing this as read because I couldn't even finish it. "

" Hmm... though I am intrigued by the midlife crisis, this just didn't cut it. Too much analysis, not enough story or character development. "

" I could not get "into" this book. Too many characters and I could not really relate to their angst. "