'Transit' is the second book in a trilogy by Rachel Cusk featuring Faye, a British author and creative writing teacher with two young sons, who is in the process of making a new life for herself after the breakdown of her marriage (I've written about 'Outline', the first book in the trilogy, previously - you can find my review here!). What an interesting writer this author is... 'Transit' carries on in a very similar vein to 'Outline' but we are allowed to see far more of Faye and enter her day-to-day personal life. I've realised one of the things I really like about these books is that we meet so many different characters and get to know them on a deep, profoundly intimate level before moving on (for the most part; some of these characters are recurring, providing a framework for our protagonist to move within, or a foil) - it's almost like sitting beside a stranger on a bus and hearing their entire life story and then never seeing them again. This is an author who has a wonderful empathy for and curiosity in others; her characters are so deeply drawn and feel like real people, to the extent that I think about them often afterwards, wondering just how their situations have resolved. Both 'Outline' and 'Transit' are incredibly easy to read, and are essentially a collection of short stories that demonstrate the absolute core of humanity - yes, life can be painful and human beings are fragile, but they're also tough and resilient and by connecting with each other all loneliness, grief, fear and regret can be diminished and put in its place, even if just temporarily. There's a power to relaying your life story, particularly to someone you will probably never cross paths with again, at least not regularly - it's a snapshot in time, beautiful for its transience and the feeling of connection with another human being who is able to listen without any preconceived ideas of who the storyteller is. I also have in my possession the third book in the trilogy, 'Kudos' (bestowed upon me by my sister), but will give myself a little break before reading this... these books are INTENSE and I need time to process and assimilate before moving on. I should also say that the writing is quite funny in places, although it often feels wrong to laugh as the humour can be tied up in a particularly tragic situation for one of the characters. 'Transit' is very good, although it probably didn't pack the same punch for me as its predecessor - maybe because I kind of knew what to expect, being more familiar with the author's writing style, and the setting (the UK, mainly London) didn't exert the same dominance over the tenor of the book as swelteringly hot, languid Athens in 'Outline'. It's still highly recommended, however!
_________________________________________________________
While I'm here, I just wanted to briefly write about a Netflix series that we've been watching over lockdown, called 'Ozark'. This grabbed me from the beginning and although the plotting quickly took over the show (it's complicated and dramatic and super-shocking in places, featuring Mexican drug cartels and an abundance of gory violence), the first series was definitely the most atmospheric and my favourite. I was telling my sister about it and I described it as a cross between 'Deliverance' and 'Wuthering Heights'; it's set in Missouri, in the Lake of the Ozarks (though actually filmed in Georgia), and the first series in particular had a claustrophobic, low-key sinister feel, like people could be swallowed up by the landscape and never be seen again. The lake dominated the narrative, as the moors do in 'Wuthering Heights' and (for example) 'Jamaica Inn'; its stillness and darkness hiding all kind of secrets, and it was the central point around which all action revolved (everyone in this fictional town has a boat and a dock; the lake is used for pleasure and business and there is always water surrounded by dense, silent trees). I loved the photography and the tone of this series, which was somewhat abandoned as the plot became ever more all-encompassing. Don't get me wrong, it's still a great show and I've enjoyed all the plot twists, but I think the first series was very brave and the atmosphere was so beautifully rendered that I almost forgot to pay attention to the plot. Isn't it interesting how something like a TV show can evolve in this way, and take on a life of its own? Anyways! I just wanted to put it out there as I've been thinking about 'Ozark' and how, for me, it will be associated forever with lockdown and these heightened times we're living through...