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remigves's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
smderitis's review against another edition
5.0
Heartbreaking, emotional story, but SUCH beautiful writing! Appanah sucks you in with her gorgeous prose. A quick read, but striking nonetheless.
seonarella's review against another edition
It probably is really good just a bit depressing for now
stubbornbones's review against another edition
4.0
The moments of interiority in this are gorgeous and charming and honest. The descriptions of the everyday and the contradictions inherent to personal growth really shine. That being said, the "suspense" of the central event in the story is not well handled, and the "plot" per se falls apart ~2/3 of the way through. HOWEVER, judging for the writing not the plot I would still recommend it
internationalreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Classism, Death, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Xenophobia
Minor: Cancer
msmori's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
abby_writes's review against another edition
4.0
This is such a tragic novel. A couple, both artistic, both lonely, meet at a New Year's Eve party. Eventually they marry, thinking they will come together and create something special -- a contribution to the world of art and culture they aspire to, as well as a family and home for themselves. Anita tries to be "okay" with giving up her creative pursuits to become the perfect housewife, but she feels empty. Something is missing. Adam chafes at her unhappiness, where was his "perfect" wife, who is this unhappy creature? Anita eventually takes a job writing for a local paper and meets Adele, another woman from her home of Mauritius. Adele has her own tragedies and slowly Adam and Anita absorb her until she is a at worst, a husk, at best, a muse. They write and paint and transform her personal pain into art. However, one person cannot unilaterally lay claim to the story of another, as they will all soon discover.
Finally, this book reminds me of The Perfect Nanny. Both women are immigrants (similar to the protagonist in TPN), one is a nanny by day with her own tragic past, and the novels both begin with haunting introductions, in this one Adam is established to be in jail within the first few pages. Both are billed as thrillers, but I don't think either actually are. For me, this book was sparse, the reader kept at arms length and only able to view the characters at a distance. In comparison to The Perfect Nanny, this book suffers a bit. Perhaps I would feel differently had I read it first.
Finally, this book reminds me of The Perfect Nanny. Both women are immigrants (similar to the protagonist in TPN), one is a nanny by day with her own tragic past, and the novels both begin with haunting introductions, in this one Adam is established to be in jail within the first few pages. Both are billed as thrillers, but I don't think either actually are. For me, this book was sparse, the reader kept at arms length and only able to view the characters at a distance. In comparison to The Perfect Nanny, this book suffers a bit. Perhaps I would feel differently had I read it first.
yajna's review against another edition
4.0
Note: 3.5/5
As for the other books of Nathacha Appanah, you can recognise her distinct narrative style in this book as well! It does a very good job in keeping your attention and is a page-turner. It is a simple plot with 3 main characters whose lives are intertwined through either marriage, or common origins. Hints of two themes that I enjoy reading were present throughout the book: the integration process of a foreigner in France, and the references to Mauritius. Despite this, I related much less to this book than I did with Les Rochers de Poudre d'Or, le Dernier Frère or even Blue Bay Palace. I'd say that it remains a nice and enjoyable book with many reflections on the married life, the feeling of being out-of-place, the experience of foreigners in a foreign land.
Even though this is not central to the plot (and I'm not sure if it was voluntary on the author's part), there is an interesting juxtaposition of the two Mauritian women who seeks two different outcomes from being in a foreign land. On the one hand, Anita (the wife of the French-born Adam, and mother of Laura) looks for a complete assimilation into this community, wants to be seen as no different from a French, and goes out of her way to dissimulate her differences (erasing her accent, changing the way she dresses..). She constantly suffers from being "invisibiliser" by society. On the contrary, Adèle, came to France exactly to "disappear" and to be invisible to society.
In terms of the plot, the ending is laid down in the first couple of pages and the whole intrigue of the book is to understand how the characters end up in these positions. I felt that there was a nice pace all along, except for the last part of the book. The end felt like a rush to fit everyone in the position they were set out to be in, which I feel did not do justice to the character development throughout the book.
In all, it was a quick and enjoyable read! As in Blue Bay palace, the story is pretty grim (you get the flavor from the first couple of pages) and is not what I would normally read, but I make an exception in the case of Nathacha Appanah.
As for the other books of Nathacha Appanah, you can recognise her distinct narrative style in this book as well! It does a very good job in keeping your attention and is a page-turner. It is a simple plot with 3 main characters whose lives are intertwined through either marriage, or common origins. Hints of two themes that I enjoy reading were present throughout the book: the integration process of a foreigner in France, and the references to Mauritius. Despite this, I related much less to this book than I did with Les Rochers de Poudre d'Or, le Dernier Frère or even Blue Bay Palace. I'd say that it remains a nice and enjoyable book with many reflections on the married life, the feeling of being out-of-place, the experience of foreigners in a foreign land.
Even though this is not central to the plot (and I'm not sure if it was voluntary on the author's part), there is an interesting juxtaposition of the two Mauritian women who seeks two different outcomes from being in a foreign land. On the one hand, Anita (the wife of the French-born Adam, and mother of Laura) looks for a complete assimilation into this community, wants to be seen as no different from a French, and goes out of her way to dissimulate her differences (erasing her accent, changing the way she dresses..). She constantly suffers from being "invisibiliser" by society. On the contrary, Adèle, came to France exactly to "disappear" and to be invisible to society.
In terms of the plot, the ending is laid down in the first couple of pages and the whole intrigue of the book is to understand how the characters end up in these positions. I felt that there was a nice pace all along, except for the last part of the book. The end felt like a rush to fit everyone in the position they were set out to be in, which I feel did not do justice to the character development throughout the book.
In all, it was a quick and enjoyable read! As in Blue Bay palace, the story is pretty grim (you get the flavor from the first couple of pages) and is not what I would normally read, but I make an exception in the case of Nathacha Appanah.