My thanks to the author and Macmillan Audio for my gifted advance listeners copy via NetGalley.

Second place was full of snippets of observations and feelings that I sense are inside me too. Despite the fact that this book was based on the main character, I did not like it as much as I thought I would. The story as a whole was less so than the snippets were for me. In general, I can appreciate that it is a well-written and knowledgeable book. Why was it so difficult to live day after day with people and still remember that you were distinct from them and that this was your one mortal life? This was my first time reading anything by Cusk and I would read more of her work in the future.

This is my first novel by Cusk, and I am now intrigued to read more. It's a lush literary novel that explores themes of art and gender and privilege. I am sure there are elements I missed in my reading, but it's one that made me think.

Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

M is a middle-aged woman, a writer with some small success. She is living with her second husband, Tony, in the marshes of England in a remote location and her daughter has recently moved back home as well. Surrounded by family, M should be happy but she feels that she is cut out for a more artistic life and that she needs inspiration. While Tony was clearing their land, he finds a cottage which the couple sets up as their 'second place', somewhere they can invite guests.
M had admired the paintings of L, an artist who had been quite famous at one time but had now fallen into obscurity. She invites him to come stay with them and is delighted when he agrees. She imagines long talks with him and that his work will be reimagined and vibrant once more due to their location. She sees herself as a patroness of the arts.

The first clue that things will not work out is on L's arrival. Instead of coming alone, he arrives with a young woman with whom it is obvious he has a relationship. It is obvious that the couple think little of M and Tony, believing more that they are gracing them with their company rather than feeling any gratitude. L is interested in painting Tony and M's daughter but has no interest in M and seems to avoid her as much as possible. This sets the stage for conflict between M and L, and between M and Tony as he tries to put his foot down on her behaviour.

This book has been nominated for the 2021 Booker Prize. Rachel Cusk has a long history of writing awards including the Whitbread Award for First Novel and nominations for the Orange Prize, the Bailey Prize, the Giller Prize and others. In this work, she explores the feelings of a middle-aged woman, someone whose first age of beauty has passed and who is working out what the rest of her life will be. M is someone the reader will want to shake. Her husband is caring and loving, his only thoughts to watch over her and protect her but M almost ignores him in her quest to become important to another man and to fulfill her expectations of being a patron of the arts. Similarly, she isn't sure how to relate to her daughter and M's self-image can only be filtered through the thoughts and actions of those around her. The narrator of the audio version is Kate Fleetwood who does an admirable job. This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.

My first Rachel Cusk. So, going in I had no expectations other than knowing that for some she may be considered a quality writer since she's previously been nominated for literary awards. This was very much a character-driven novel. It wasn't one I was necessarily compelled to return to again and again. This is the story of a woman who invites a male artist to come and stay with her at her coastal home. It is a quiet, contemplative novel where not much happens plot-wise. it is more a pondering of male privilege and what it means to be a woman. It pokes at relationships and forces us the reader to think about life as the characters are thinking about their lives. This is a book for quiet times, a book for pensive times. The writing was good but it didn't grip me as much as I'd hope. But, I will still try more of Cusk's book in the future.

There are some truly beautiful moments throughout this book, but unfortunately, they weren't enough to make up for the complete lack of connection I felt to the story. This could be the fact that I read this as an audiobook--some of these lasting points might have struck harder if I could focus on them on a page. but the characters lacked redeemable qualities for me and made it difficult to care about the end results of the story. I'll still be trying again with Cusk, but this one fell flat for me.

This is the type of book that I enjoy more for the writing itself than any particular element of the story. The plot is interesting but quiet, introspective. Same for the characters, they are interesting, though-provoking, but I'm not attached to them. The setting is isolated, a bit detached, like the story. Still, I want to know about this woman who wants to be defined in this man's art. I listened to an audio version of this book, and it is one to sit and listen to, it's not the type of book you hear while doing the dishes. It's the type of book you will want to rewind in parts. even better, read along; ideally a paper version with highlighter in hand.

This was SO interesting. The beginning was so compelling I listened to it several times. I love these short, thought-provoking, obscure stories. I don't really know what to say about this, other than the writing style and voice was absolutely beautiful and it had such subtle depth.

I feel like Rachel Cusk and everyone who has already read and reviewed her latest novel, Second Place, is smarter than me. By a lot. Like they’re all in Mensa, and I’m over here eating paste in the corner.

In fact, I have to admit I’d never even heard of Cusk before - even though she’s clearly a literary genius. Can I tell you why I chose to pick this book up then? No. Can I tell you if I’m glad I did? Yes.

Second Place is as literary as modern literary fiction can get. There could easily be an entire university course on the novel itself, demanding students of the written word unpack and interpret every potential meaning behind the title and story.

And what is the story? A middle aged woman invites a painter to stay in her guesthouse with the hope he’ll use her as the subject of one of his masterpieces. When does it take place? No idea - could be 1921, could be 2021. Where does it take place? Also no idea - could be Europe, could be America.

What I do know is that I was captivated by the audiobook from start to finish. Kate Fleetwood’s moody narration enhanced the heady atmosphere, transporting me to a time and place I’m too dumb to fully understand but smart enough to appreciate.

My thanks to the author and Macmillan Audio for my gifted advance listeners copy via NetGalley. Second Place is now available.