Why people recommend it
Outline by Rachel Cusk is a critically acclaimed contemporary novel known for its minimalist style and unique narrative structure where the protagonist reveals herself primarily through the stories told to her by others. On The Book Review podcast, Judith Schvitz praised Rachel Cusk as a wonderful writer and expressed being a huge fan of her Outline trilogy, describing the three recent books as exceptional works. Pamela Paul reminded listeners of the title at the conclusion of a segment, while John Williams listed it among recommended summer reading selections from Dwight Garner. During subsequent episodes, John Williams referenced the follow-up novel Transit, noting it as a continuation of Outline, and Gilbert Cruz compared another author's framework to Cusk's recent work where the central figure remains in the background. Jen Salai included the book on a new Vanguard list, and Greg Coles discussed Transit as a sequel to Outline, which he noted was previously named one of the ten best books of the year. Finally, Greg Coles mentioned Outline again while talking about Kudos, recalling how memorably the earlier novel opens with the protagonist Fay on an airplane, highlighting the lasting impact of Cusk's distinctive literary technique across multiple discussions on the podcast.
Who recommended it
- Pamela Paul Recommended
- John Williams Recommended
- Gilbert Cruz Discussed
- Greg Coles Discussed
- Jen Salai Discussed
- Judith Schvitz Recommended
- Jenny Schuessler Discussed
Pamela Paul — 5 mentions
“this one story that's told in that novel which is the first in the outline Trilogy which is outline and then Transit and the final volume is called Kudos”
“Heidi jivitz is here to talk about her review this week of Rachel cusk's new novel outline”
“um the book again is Outline by Rachel kusk”
“Outline by Rachel kusk the sellup by Paul batty”
“although the Rachel kusk outline it's autobiographical in negative the narrator is always deflecting any kind of autobiographical take”
John Williams — 3 mentions
“speaking of complex women um I'm reading Rachel cusk's new novel Transit which comes out this month and it's a follow-up to her previous novel outline”
“I'm rereading Rachel cusk's outline in preparation for reading the third book in that”
“and so the 10 books that he listed then in quick succession are um outline the novel by Rachel kusk”
Gilbert Cruz — 2 mentions
“the framework makes it sound so much like Rachel cusk's recent work outline is very much the woman in the background”
“Heidi jivitz will tell us about her review of Rachel cusk's new novel outline”
Greg Coles — 2 mentions
“I'm reading Rachel cusk's novel Transit which is just kind of an extension a sequel to her novel outline which was one of our 10 best a couple years ago”
“I'm glad that you mentioned outline this book like outline opens with Fay on an airplane and where outline opens very memorably”
Jen Salai — 1 mention
“Outline by Rachel kusk”
Judith Schvitz — 1 mention
“she's a wonderful writer and I'm a huge fan of her outline Trilogy which are the most recent three books that she's written”
Jenny Schuessler — 1 mention
“Rachel C's last novel outline she's a writer I had never actually read”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“it put me in mind a little bit of Rachel cusk's recent books outline and Transit”
“um I I have enthused on this show before about the first two books in Rachel cusk's outline Trilogy outline and Transit”