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NewsKPBS Public MediaAugust 26, 2026San Diego

Review of Rachel Cusk's novel 'Life of M'

This article reviews Rachel Cusk's 13th novel, 'Life of M,' which explores the intersection of celebrity, identity, and the act of writing through a fictionalized autobiography of a famous actor. The narrative examines how fame and public image can obscure a person's core, while questioning the boundaries between reality and artifice.

literaturefictioncelebrity cultureidentityRachel Cusk
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Why It Matters

The novel serves as a commentary on the challenges of maintaining personal authenticity in a world dominated by public image and celebrity.

Key Facts

  • Rachel Cusk is the author of the novel 'Life of M'.
  • The novel features an unnamed narrator who attempts to write the autobiography of a famous actor known as M.
  • The character M is rumored to be based on actress Natalie Portman.
  • The novel explores themes of self-definition, the impact of celebrity, and the nature of fiction.
  • The narrative style is described as plotless and interrogatory, consistent with Cusk's previous work.
  • The book contrasts the specific, luxurious settings of the actor's life with the vague, unnamed locations of the narrator's world.
  • The subject of the book, M, objects to the manuscript, claiming it portrays her as lacking humanity.

Who's Mentioned

personGertrude Stein“Author of 'The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas'.”personRachel Cusk“Author of the novel 'Life of M'.”personNatalie Portman“Rumored inspiration for the character M.”otherLife of M“The novel being reviewed.”