Like all the books I’ve been reading lately, nothing really happens in “Outline.” Mostly, there are philosophical conversations about life and love. I actually enjoyed the conversations this woman has with the various people she meets in Athens; Cusk created a character that has the ability to listen and to provide responses that are thought-provoking and relevant. Though not all of Cusk’s characters were particularly enjoyable, I felt all of them were necessary to the story, or perhaps more accurately, the ambience. However, I did like Cusk’s main character, though I felt she was a bit lackluster. Perhaps because she listened so frequently to the conversations and didn’t contribute as much as I thought she should have, I felt lost in who her character was or was supposed to be. Sometimes I felt as if the story was happening to her, rather than she being an active participant, but maybe that was the point. Overall, I liked this novel.