In "A Life’s Work: On Becoming a Mother," the author delves into the transformative journey of motherhood, exploring the complexities and challenges that come with nurturing new life. Through heartfelt anecdotes and poignant reflections, she unveils the emotional upheavals and sublime joys that define this profound rite of passage. With unflinching honesty, the narrative challenges societal expectations and highlights the personal struggles each mother faces. As she navigates identity, sacrifice, and unconditional love, readers are drawn into her intimate world of self-discovery. This book invites you to question: what does it truly mean to become a mother?
By Rachel Cusk
Published: 2015
"Motherhood is the greatest thing and the hardest thing."
Multi-award-winning author Rachel Cusk’s honest memoir that captures the life-changing wonders of motherhood. Selected by The New York Times as one of the 50 Best Memoirs of the Past 50 Years “Funny and smart and refreshingly akin to a war diary—sort of Apocalypse Baby Now . . . A Life’s Work is wholly original and unabashedly true.” —The New York Times Book Review A Life’s Work: On Becoming a Mother is Rachel Cusk’s funny, moving, brutally honest account of her early experiences of motherhood. When it was published it 2001, it divided critics and readers. One famous columnist wrote a piece demanding that Cusk’s children be taken into care, saying she was unfit to look after them, and Oprah Winfrey invited her on the show to defend herself. An education in babies, books, breast-feeding, toddler groups, broken nights, bad advice and never being alone, it is a landmark work, which has provoked acclaim and outrage in equal measure.
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“Motherhood is the greatest thing and the hardest thing.”
A Life's Work
By Rachel Cusk
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Rachel Cusk is a celebrated British-Canadian author known for her innovative approach to fiction and memoir. Born in 1967 in Saskatoon, Canada, she has garnered critical acclaim for her thought-provoking narratives that often explore themes of identity, motherhood, and the complexities of contemporary life. Her notable works include the Outline trilogy, which has been lauded for its unique structure and deep psychological insights. In addition to her fiction, Cusk has written essays and personal reflections, further establishing her as a distinctive voice in modern literature. With her keen observational style, Cusk continues to challenge conventional storytelling and engage readers in profound explorations of the human experience.
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