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kenzasread's review against another edition
5.0
je pleure encore je pense je vais jamais oublier ce livre
the_fbc_paris's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
winninqs's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
timberdoodle's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
3.5
This is hard to consider a thriller. The story is grounded, heartbreaking, and at times difficult to get through. The hopeful ending, with the author's note at the end, really helped emphasize this book's message. Some translations and formatting can make the it a bit difficult to follow along with, though.
indiajane's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Rape and Self harm
giboulet's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
elodie2711's review against another edition
5.0
*English below*
"Le temps devrait savoir s'adapter à nos tempêtes intérieures, suivre le rythme de nos écroulements privés, de nos catastrophes individuelles."
J'ai entendu parler de "La Deuxième Femme" totalement par hasard, en écoutant distraitement l'émission "Cultissime" présentée par Louise Eckland sur la chaîne France Info. Sûrement qu'à ce moment-là j'avais envie d'un bon bouquin bien flippant.
Je n'ai pas été déçue.
J'ai fini ce roman en vingt-quatre heures - j'avais des choses plus urgentes à faire que lire mais impossible de m'arrêter. Si vous mettez le nez dans ce bouquin, y'a des chances que vous n'en ressortiez qu'à la fin !
Ce livre en fait ça commence comme un gémissement, qui se transforme peu à peu en hurlement, c'est l'impression que ça m'a fait en tout cas. C'est tellement prenant, angoissant, émouvant - au milieu du livre j'étais déjà en mode palpitations/hyperventilation/crise d'angoisse.
J'ai ressenti une telle compassion pour Sandrine, le personnage principal, j'avais envie de lui dire mais si t'es belle, te torture pas comme ça. La détestation qu'elle ressent pour son corps a résonné douloureusement en moi ; je n'en suis pas à son degré de haine mais mon rapport à mon corps n'est pas forcément idéal.
Et puis elle a rencontré son homme, l'homme qui pleure - on ne connaît jamais son prénom, juste son nom de famille - et je me suis dit cool, le regard de cet homme va peut-être changer le regard qu'elle-même porte sur ce corps détesté.
C'est tellement bien monté cette intrigue que personnellement au début, à part quelques petits trucs qui me gênaient, j'ai douté de la direction que pouvait prendre cette histoire. Je me suis attachée à Sandrine et quand elle rencontre son homme, j'étais contente pour elle.
Et puis ça bascule, petit à petit le gémissement enfle, devient voix forte, puis cri, puis hurlement...
La violence psychologique et physique est insoutenable, et le style d'écriture de l'auteur, redoutable. Ca happe, ça prend aux tripes, ça vous laisse retourné, épuisé, c'est tellement terrifiant.
*
I have heard about « La Deuxième Femme » totally by chance. I was absent-mindedly listening to a program about culture hosted by Louise Eckland on a French TV channel, and I guess at this time I needed a good old scary book.
I haven’t been disappointed.
I finished the book within 24 hours. I had more urgent things to do instead of reading but I couldn’t stop. If you stick your nose in this book, expect to read it in one sitting!
I have the feeling that this book starts like a wail that slowly turns into a scream. It’s so captivating, nerve-racking, moving, that in the middle of the book I was hyperventilating, having heart palpitations and a *mild* panic attack. Really.
I felt so much compassion for Sandrine, the main character ! I wanted to tell her that she IS beautiful and to stop torturing herself like that. The hate she has for a body resounded painfully in me (I don’t feel the level of hate that she is but my self-acceptance is rather low).
And then she met her man - her crying man - the reader never knows his first name, only his last - and I told myself that maybe, this man’s gaze will change the way she feels about her hated body.
The plot is put together so well that I was skeptical about the way the story was heading towards, even if there were some things, some little things that bothered me. I got attached to Sandrine and I was so happy for her when she met her man.
And then it happens, the wail swells, the voice grows stronger, becomes louder, a scream.
The psychological and physical violence is unbearable, and the author’s writing style is impressive. That’s my opinion at least. It just catches you, it tears your guts out, it leaves you shaken, exhausted, terrified.
"Le temps devrait savoir s'adapter à nos tempêtes intérieures, suivre le rythme de nos écroulements privés, de nos catastrophes individuelles."
J'ai entendu parler de "La Deuxième Femme" totalement par hasard, en écoutant distraitement l'émission "Cultissime" présentée par Louise Eckland sur la chaîne France Info. Sûrement qu'à ce moment-là j'avais envie d'un bon bouquin bien flippant.
Je n'ai pas été déçue.
J'ai fini ce roman en vingt-quatre heures - j'avais des choses plus urgentes à faire que lire mais impossible de m'arrêter. Si vous mettez le nez dans ce bouquin, y'a des chances que vous n'en ressortiez qu'à la fin !
Ce livre en fait ça commence comme un gémissement, qui se transforme peu à peu en hurlement, c'est l'impression que ça m'a fait en tout cas. C'est tellement prenant, angoissant, émouvant - au milieu du livre j'étais déjà en mode palpitations/hyperventilation/crise d'angoisse.
J'ai ressenti une telle compassion pour Sandrine, le personnage principal, j'avais envie de lui dire mais si t'es belle, te torture pas comme ça. La détestation qu'elle ressent pour son corps a résonné douloureusement en moi ; je n'en suis pas à son degré de haine mais mon rapport à mon corps n'est pas forcément idéal.
Et puis elle a rencontré son homme, l'homme qui pleure - on ne connaît jamais son prénom, juste son nom de famille - et je me suis dit cool, le regard de cet homme va peut-être changer le regard qu'elle-même porte sur ce corps détesté.
C'est tellement bien monté cette intrigue que personnellement au début, à part quelques petits trucs qui me gênaient, j'ai douté de la direction que pouvait prendre cette histoire. Je me suis attachée à Sandrine et quand elle rencontre son homme, j'étais contente pour elle.
Et puis ça bascule, petit à petit le gémissement enfle, devient voix forte, puis cri, puis hurlement...
La violence psychologique et physique est insoutenable, et le style d'écriture de l'auteur, redoutable. Ca happe, ça prend aux tripes, ça vous laisse retourné, épuisé, c'est tellement terrifiant.
*
I have heard about « La Deuxième Femme » totally by chance. I was absent-mindedly listening to a program about culture hosted by Louise Eckland on a French TV channel, and I guess at this time I needed a good old scary book.
I haven’t been disappointed.
I finished the book within 24 hours. I had more urgent things to do instead of reading but I couldn’t stop. If you stick your nose in this book, expect to read it in one sitting!
I have the feeling that this book starts like a wail that slowly turns into a scream. It’s so captivating, nerve-racking, moving, that in the middle of the book I was hyperventilating, having heart palpitations and a *mild* panic attack. Really.
I felt so much compassion for Sandrine, the main character ! I wanted to tell her that she IS beautiful and to stop torturing herself like that. The hate she has for a body resounded painfully in me (I don’t feel the level of hate that she is but my self-acceptance is rather low).
And then she met her man - her crying man - the reader never knows his first name, only his last - and I told myself that maybe, this man’s gaze will change the way she feels about her hated body.
The plot is put together so well that I was skeptical about the way the story was heading towards, even if there were some things, some little things that bothered me. I got attached to Sandrine and I was so happy for her when she met her man.
And then it happens, the wail swells, the voice grows stronger, becomes louder, a scream.
The psychological and physical violence is unbearable, and the author’s writing style is impressive. That’s my opinion at least. It just catches you, it tears your guts out, it leaves you shaken, exhausted, terrified.
hotgirlfiction's review against another edition
5.0
The Second Woman follows the story of Sandrine, a lonely and sad woman who finds herself drawn to the crying man on the TV despairing over his wife's disappearance; soon, she is living in his home and caring for his child, happily in love. Then, the first woman is found, with no memory of how she disappeared, and her whole world comes crashing down.
This book is immensely dark, enthralling and riveting. Sandrine is not a reliable narrator; her difficult relationship with her self image and childhood clouds all she thinks about. This makes seeing the world through her eyes very blinding and allows the novel to creep up on you, gradually holding you in its anxiety inducing grip. It describes the all consuming, intense feelings of domestic abuse and will have you feeling suffocated. This story will not leave you for a long time.
I particularly enjoyed the ending - my heart was beating fast, my throat dry, I truly felt immersed in the situation, anxiously turning the pages to find the answers I desperately needed. If you're looking for a psychological thriller written in a captivating style, this is the novel for you.
This book is immensely dark, enthralling and riveting. Sandrine is not a reliable narrator; her difficult relationship with her self image and childhood clouds all she thinks about. This makes seeing the world through her eyes very blinding and allows the novel to creep up on you, gradually holding you in its anxiety inducing grip. It describes the all consuming, intense feelings of domestic abuse and will have you feeling suffocated. This story will not leave you for a long time.
I particularly enjoyed the ending - my heart was beating fast, my throat dry, I truly felt immersed in the situation, anxiously turning the pages to find the answers I desperately needed. If you're looking for a psychological thriller written in a captivating style, this is the novel for you.