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gbrad's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was an easy read and the style of the authors writing is nice. I do wish it was more descriptive and in depth as I found myself unable to go beyond the book and really imagine or feel the writing. This meant a lot of the book I felt like I was aimlessly reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Child death
Moderate: Racism
brothena's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Was turn for a NEW to TBR and this was the only one I'd added within the last year that was immediately available through my library. Had heard of through the Book Talk, etc. podcast. Consumed on kindle.
This book is critically hailed but I found myself the John Travolta Pulp Fiction gif at the end of it. I did not feel I had a sufficient understanding of the WHY, which I am SURE was the point, but still found frustrating as a person with a very concrete mind.
There is a lot of unease throughout, which is fun to explore and I could see making for good discussion, but as I was reading this on my own didn't love it.
This book is critically hailed but I found myself the John Travolta Pulp Fiction gif at the end of it. I did not feel I had a sufficient understanding of the WHY, which I am SURE was the point, but still found frustrating as a person with a very concrete mind.
There is a lot of unease throughout, which is fun to explore and I could see making for good discussion, but as I was reading this on my own didn't love it.
skipper1513's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
colleenscamera's review
3.0
the premise was there but i would have like things to be better fleshed out
freddie's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting and quick read. It follows a wife whose husband killed an entire family - the parents and three kids. The story explores the motivation(s) of the killing, linking issues such as racism, class relations, and personal failing, and subtly comments on the fallibility of humans.
chana_aurora's review
4.0
This is a really short book that should’ve only taken me a day to read but I had too many other books I needed to read and return to the library first.
Any way this book is written by a non American author which is really cool to hear a different voice and style.
Any way this book is written by a non American author which is really cool to hear a different voice and style.
ellisroseh's review
dark
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.0
henrymarlene's review
3.0
An atmospheric read, Sedira provides a fictionalised novella to a true-life crime committed in 2003. I ended up reading this over two nights – I could have completed it in one sitting but I needed a break from the unfolding tension. Anna, the wife of the man who murdered their neighbours, tells us two tales. The tale of their family leading up to the crime, and te tale from the courtroom to the first time she is about to see her husband again.
I am not sure about the motive of racism as described in the Author’s Note– yes there was a class struggle, and murders, no less – however I am unconvinced that this was a targeted racist act. Racism was obvious within the conversations of characters at home in a working-class village of Carmac. That is not excusable for these characters, nor anyone, however I am not entirely convinced that it was a motivator for the actions of Constant Guillot. The fact that Constant had entrusted Bakary with everything he had, and it was disregarded because its worth was considered to be so low to those who were so much more entitled. This was more telling about human behaviour. There were many more monsters in this book apart from Constant, and I think that was the message that struck me when I finished reading.
"There's no such thing as monsters. Only humans.”
I am not sure about the motive of racism as described in the Author’s Note– yes there was a class struggle, and murders, no less – however I am unconvinced that this was a targeted racist act. Racism was obvious within the conversations of characters at home in a working-class village of Carmac. That is not excusable for these characters, nor anyone, however I am not entirely convinced that it was a motivator for the actions of Constant Guillot. The fact that Constant had entrusted Bakary with everything he had, and it was disregarded because its worth was considered to be so low to those who were so much more entitled. This was more telling about human behaviour. There were many more monsters in this book apart from Constant, and I think that was the message that struck me when I finished reading.
"There's no such thing as monsters. Only humans.”
nina_reads_books's review against another edition
3.0
I read People Like Them by Samira Sedira (translated by Lara Vergnaud) last week. Then realised I had accidently joined in with Women in Transition month!
Anna and Constant Guillot live with their children in a small village in France called Carmac. This is a fairly insular community that all know each other so when a new family arrives they are objects of fascination not least of all because they are black. Bakary and Sylvia Langlois and their three children are wealthy and they immediately begin showing off this wealth through hosting lavish dinners with their neighbours. The two families initially form a friendship but soon money comes between them. One of them is pushed to their limit and a truly awful crime is committed.
The synopsis asks: How could a seemingly normal person commit an atrocious crime? How could that person's loved ones ever come to terms with it afterward?
Translated from French and based in part on a true story this is a short and sharp read. Billed as a psychological suspense novel, I found that the book held my attention right until the final stages. However it then seemed to peter out a little and I was left wondering what the ending meant and what the point of telling the story was.
The structure was interesting. It is told from the POV of Anna Guillot. The chapters are either her talking about things that have happened either now or in the past. In it she refers to her husband as you - "you sat there" or “you said this” leaving you with a feeling that the whole book is a letter to Constant Guillot.
I really felt the feelings of unease and dread as the story unfolded. The writing really captured those heightened emotions but I just felt like it lost its way a little at the end. Nevertheless this was a gripping psychological read!
Thank you so much to @bloomsburypublishing for my #gifted copy of this book.
Anna and Constant Guillot live with their children in a small village in France called Carmac. This is a fairly insular community that all know each other so when a new family arrives they are objects of fascination not least of all because they are black. Bakary and Sylvia Langlois and their three children are wealthy and they immediately begin showing off this wealth through hosting lavish dinners with their neighbours. The two families initially form a friendship but soon money comes between them. One of them is pushed to their limit and a truly awful crime is committed.
The synopsis asks: How could a seemingly normal person commit an atrocious crime? How could that person's loved ones ever come to terms with it afterward?
Translated from French and based in part on a true story this is a short and sharp read. Billed as a psychological suspense novel, I found that the book held my attention right until the final stages. However it then seemed to peter out a little and I was left wondering what the ending meant and what the point of telling the story was.
The structure was interesting. It is told from the POV of Anna Guillot. The chapters are either her talking about things that have happened either now or in the past. In it she refers to her husband as you - "you sat there" or “you said this” leaving you with a feeling that the whole book is a letter to Constant Guillot.
I really felt the feelings of unease and dread as the story unfolded. The writing really captured those heightened emotions but I just felt like it lost its way a little at the end. Nevertheless this was a gripping psychological read!
Thank you so much to @bloomsburypublishing for my #gifted copy of this book.
adrianjd's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Pacey and keeps you engaged. Terse, brittle sentences but that is the appeal. A short read but one I kept coming back to.