Rachel Cusk challenges the novel with 'Life of M'

Rachel Cusk, the Canadian-born British author celebrated for the 'Outline' trilogy, returns to bookstores with 'Life of M', a brief and idiosyncratic novel that challenges narrative conventions. Published by Knopf Canada, the work questions whether a novel can stand without a conventional plot and character development, replacing them with abstract observations and commentary.

The story follows an unnamed author, whose gender or characteristics are not revealed, tasked with writing the autobiography of a mega-celebrity known only as M, whose resemblance to Natalie Portman is described as 'striking'. The author-narrator observes M from an impassive distance, relying primarily on her on-screen performances and public persona.

Cusk, who denies basing the character on Portman despite a personal acquaintance (one of her previous books was selected by the actress's book club), offers through these 192 pages a sharp commentary on fame, authenticity, and the psychological impact of being constantly observed. Themes such as life imitating art and art imitating life dramatize how celebrity can obscure a person's true self.

The deliberate vagueness regarding setting, plot, and characterization may prove distracting for readers seeking a connected narrative. However, for those who appreciate the parts more than the sum of a work, 'Life of M' reveals itself as a rewarding read, though for others it may come across as an elegant muddle of disarray.