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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was featured on a list of books that people couldn't put down. I love a good thriller so I was excited. The beginning immediately draws you in. A child is dead, another child will die soon, the culprit is in critical condition. How did we get there?
Wish I could tell you. The book is a great story of people and truly captures a feeling of claustrophobia as Louise comes to rely so heavily on Myriam and Paul (and vice versa). But we never REALLY find out how we got to the gruesome scene we started with. Was it because Louise felt the children hindered the creation of a new baby? Was she punishing Myriam and Paul for pulling away from her/starting to resent her? And what was the deal with the whole Stephanie storyline?
I assumed Stephanie was included to show that Louise wasn't the perfect caregiver she appeared. She hated her own daughter and even abused her. But I was sure Stephanie would be more important. Honestly, I figured the end would reveal that Stephanie had committed the murders, that Louise was innocent or a victim herself. But no. We just got no real answers.
The most disappointing part is that the book WAS engaging. I read most of it in a day. So the Buzzfeed list hadn't lied. But to put all that time in and to have no real payoff was sad.
Wish I could tell you. The book is a great story of people and truly captures a feeling of claustrophobia as Louise comes to rely so heavily on Myriam and Paul (and vice versa). But we never REALLY find out how we got to the gruesome scene we started with. Was it because Louise felt the children hindered the creation of a new baby? Was she punishing Myriam and Paul for pulling away from her/starting to resent her? And what was the deal with the whole Stephanie storyline?
I assumed Stephanie was included to show that Louise wasn't the perfect caregiver she appeared. She hated her own daughter and even abused her. But I was sure Stephanie would be more important. Honestly, I figured the end would reveal that Stephanie had committed the murders, that Louise was innocent or a victim herself. But no. We just got no real answers.
The most disappointing part is that the book WAS engaging. I read most of it in a day. So the Buzzfeed list hadn't lied. But to put all that time in and to have no real payoff was sad.
This was a quick, compulsive read. At times, it was quite disturbing, but ultimately The Perfect Nanny had a great deal of substance and a whole lot to say between its thrills.
This was such a let down. The book opens with a murder and ends with that same murder. The 200+ pages in between just pisses you off because it leads to more questions that will go unanswered. You’ll probably get more closure reading the Wikipedia article about the true crime this is loosely based on.
I don’t know how this was an international bestseller. Perhaps some things got lost in translation.
I don’t know how this was an international bestseller. Perhaps some things got lost in translation.
I honestly don't know if I really liked this book or hated it ... but it's very French: vague, fragmented and unanswered. It did hold my interest until the end. I want to hear other reviews from friends.
3.5
Beautiful character study, lonely and melancholic. This review is going to ramble a little, but in the whole second half, I was anticipating a dramatic for the moment for her to snap on the parents/kids & maybe even see the murder, but then I realized: is me wanting to bear orthographic witness to the murder of two innocent children indicative of brain rot from hyper-violent American media? I had this same pseudo-epiphany when I watched the movie Funny Games (a movie that I 100% recommend!!) But Funny games is not itself a condemnation of violence, but rather an exercise that gets the audience to think critically about their relationship and perception of violence and its depiction. I don't feel like this book was going for that same sort of meta, but was just kind of trying to subvert audience expectations for almost no reason? Like, the whole book was seemingly leading up to the moment where the kids die, and its not as if we don't learn the details of their death in graphic detail. Without some sort of crux/climax, this is just a series of vignettes about a relatively boring working-class life with some unsettling scenes interspersed. This probably sounds like me whining that I didn't get to see some unhinged nanny slit the kids' throat but I really questioned the decision not to show *something* or some moment of her snapping. I guess what I really want more than seeing the crime is just more of a why. And That's great writing tbh now that I think about it because we can never really know why someone does some crazy shit like this. So I respect that! Still feel a little cheated tho lol.
Beautiful character study, lonely and melancholic. This review is going to ramble a little, but in the whole second half, I was anticipating a dramatic for the moment for her to snap on the parents/kids & maybe even see the murder, but then I realized: is me wanting to bear orthographic witness to the murder of two innocent children indicative of brain rot from hyper-violent American media? I had this same pseudo-epiphany when I watched the movie Funny Games (a movie that I 100% recommend!!) But Funny games is not itself a condemnation of violence, but rather an exercise that gets the audience to think critically about their relationship and perception of violence and its depiction. I don't feel like this book was going for that same sort of meta, but was just kind of trying to subvert audience expectations for almost no reason? Like, the whole book was seemingly leading up to the moment where the kids die, and its not as if we don't learn the details of their death in graphic detail. Without some sort of crux/climax, this is just a series of vignettes about a relatively boring working-class life with some unsettling scenes interspersed. This probably sounds like me whining that I didn't get to see some unhinged nanny slit the kids' throat but I really questioned the decision not to show *something* or some moment of her snapping. I guess what I really want more than seeing the crime is just more of a why. And That's great writing tbh now that I think about it because we can never really know why someone does some crazy shit like this. So I respect that! Still feel a little cheated tho lol.
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My first selection in the book subscription service I received from my sister for Christmas, this book was a doozy.
The story is told through an omniscient viewpoint so we get insight into all of the characters: Myriam, the mother who suffered some postpartum depression, who returns to work, who feels equally guilty and delighted by the nanny. Paul, the husband, who supports Myriam but who is first to question the nanny. Mila, the girl child who is a trial and who is often at odds with the nanny. Adam, the baby boy who only knows comfort from the nanny. Various characters related to the story, and ultimately, there is Louise, the nanny herself.
The very first chapter of the book reveals what happens. I was annoyed by that at first, but then the tale that is woven to come to that final act was so interesting, intricate, deliberate. It becomes almost as if you think the outcome will be different. But then you start seeing the cracks, the changes, and how the intentions & desires fluctuate.
I read this book quickly because it was very compelling. If you like suspense and psychological thrillers, this book is a good one.
The story is told through an omniscient viewpoint so we get insight into all of the characters: Myriam, the mother who suffered some postpartum depression, who returns to work, who feels equally guilty and delighted by the nanny. Paul, the husband, who supports Myriam but who is first to question the nanny. Mila, the girl child who is a trial and who is often at odds with the nanny. Adam, the baby boy who only knows comfort from the nanny. Various characters related to the story, and ultimately, there is Louise, the nanny herself.
The very first chapter of the book reveals what happens. I was annoyed by that at first, but then the tale that is woven to come to that final act was so interesting, intricate, deliberate. It becomes almost as if you think the outcome will be different. But then you start seeing the cracks, the changes, and how the intentions & desires fluctuate.
I read this book quickly because it was very compelling. If you like suspense and psychological thrillers, this book is a good one.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced