I have some pretty forceful ideas about the world - obviously I do. But I suppose I can only really speak about them from within the protection of a literary form. Rachel Cusk forcefulformidea Change image and share on social
For years I had lived in my body half-consciously, ignoring it mostly, dismissing its agendas wherever I could, and forever pressing it into the service of mental conceptions that resulted, almost as a by-product, sometimes in its pleasuring and sometimes in its abuse. Rachel Cusk abuseagendabody share on social
Honest criticism, I suppose, has its place. But honest writing is infinitely more valuable. Rachel Cusk criticismhonestinfinitely Change image and share on social
I think men and women are the same. Even as parents, I think we're the same. We're just conditioned to think that we're different. Having said that, it's true that motherhood is a particularly vulnerable area. It's an open wound, really. A woman is exposed to being turned into a different kind of person by the experience of motherhood. Rachel Cusk areaconditionexperience share on social
If I know somebody is coming 'round, it is incredibly difficult for me to work because I'm waiting for this interruption - even the children's comings and goings are interruptions. Cake-making is a good way of coming out of that space. Rachel Cusk cakechildcome share on social
I'm a novelist, not a social scientist or a commentator. Rachel Cusk commentatornovelistscientist Change image and share on social
The distinctive feature of my family was intolerance of sensitivity and emotion - 'Everything's great, it all has to be great all the time and why do you have to spoil it?' Whereas probably the most fundamental and important thing to me has been defending my right to tell the truth about how I feel. Rachel Cusk defenddistinctiveemotion share on social
The British have always made terrible parents. Rachel Cusk britishmakeparent Change image and share on social
What other grown-up gets told how to do their job so often as a writer? Rachel Cusk growjobtell Change image and share on social
Like the child, the creative writing student is posited as a centre of vulnerable creativity, needful of attention and authority. Rachel Cusk attentionauthoritycentre Change image and share on social