A review by nadiatagliani
Adèle by Leïla Slimani

challenging dark sad tense 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

3.0

There are parts of this book that I loved and other parts that felt lacking and empty. The story follows Adèle, a journalist with a seemingly perfect life, but has a sex addiction which ends up corrupting and ruining her life. The story navigates through her childhood, marital life, sexual affairs and her experience as a mother. 

 

I really liked the authors writing style - while the sentences were short and quick, her use of personification really added to the story. Adèle felt very real. While her self destructive lifestyle is frustrating, you sympathise with her, pity her, feel angry towards her. Her addiction is hard to understand as the author never takes the reader into Adèle’s mind, which does create that barrier between us as the reader and Adèle. 

An underlying theme of the book focused on being a woman and mother in a world full of men; how men see women through the male gaze and how women are objectified no matter what - It’s depressing but true. Overall, I did enjoy reading this book but it does leave you with an empty feeling.