Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Faber & Faber (2018), Edition: Main
Description
"When Myriam, a French-Moroccan lawyer, decides to return to work after having children, she and her husband look for the perfect nanny for their two young children. They never dreamed they would find Louise: a quiet, polite, devoted woman who sings to the children, cleans the family's chic apartment in Paris's upscale tenth arrondissement, stays late without complaint, and hosts enviable kiddie parties. But as the couple and the nanny become more dependent on one another, jealousy, resentment, and suspicions mount, shattering the idyllic tableau. Building tension with every page, The Perfect Nanny is a compulsive, riveting, bravely observed exploration of power, class, race, domesticity, and motherhood--and the American debut of an immensely talented writer"--… (more)
Media reviews
One can see why the judges were wowed. The voice of Slimani's omniscient narrator is chill and precise; her plot spares neither her characters' fates nor her readers' sensibilities.
User reviews
LibraryThing member arubabookwoman
This book has been described as the French Gone Girl, and it won the Goncourt Prize. We know from the first page that two young children are dead, murdered by their nanny, who is unconscious with slashed wrists. The mother has just discovered them and is in shock.
Paul and Myriam hired Louise, the
This is not really a thriller, although its premise is probably every parent's nightmare. From personal experience (long ago) I know how difficult it is to leave your baby with someone who is basically a stranger. And since the fears this book evokes are so universal, I'm guessing that is why it has garnered so much praise. The fact that every parent can relate to a story about children being harmed by their caretaker does not, however, does not turn this into a good book.
I somehow was never able to buy Louise's final actions. They were illogical, did not seem to naturally evolve over time, and did not seem characteristic of what we know of her. She had issues, and Paul and Myriam sometimes took advantage of her and underpaid her, but I'm not sure how those led to her final actions. One of the reviews on Amazon said that Louise's "transition from diligent worker to murderer wasn't all that convincing...."
2 stars
Paul and Myriam hired Louise, the
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nanny, when Myriam decided to go back to work. At first, Louise seemed perfect, and went above and beyond the call of duty, cooking gourmet meals, cleaning, and baby sitting on late nights. However, there are some troubling signs, mostly brushed off by Paul and Myriam. There are alternating chapters from Louise's point of view, and we see some of the things that are going on while the parents are not there. Louise is not as perfect as she seems, and she certainly has a lot of her own problems.This is not really a thriller, although its premise is probably every parent's nightmare. From personal experience (long ago) I know how difficult it is to leave your baby with someone who is basically a stranger. And since the fears this book evokes are so universal, I'm guessing that is why it has garnered so much praise. The fact that every parent can relate to a story about children being harmed by their caretaker does not, however, does not turn this into a good book.
I somehow was never able to buy Louise's final actions. They were illogical, did not seem to naturally evolve over time, and did not seem characteristic of what we know of her. She had issues, and Paul and Myriam sometimes took advantage of her and underpaid her, but I'm not sure how those led to her final actions. One of the reviews on Amazon said that Louise's "transition from diligent worker to murderer wasn't all that convincing...."
2 stars
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LibraryThing member Acia
I read the portuguese version, translated by Sandra M. Stroparo and attended a talk with Leila Slamani in Sao Paulo, where she explained her motivation for writing the book and the process involved.
As a mother, I was very interested in the subject matter. Not only the ambiguity of motherhood but
Definitely worth reading.
As a mother, I was very interested in the subject matter. Not only the ambiguity of motherhood but
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also how the complex relationship between mother (parents) and nanny develops. What fascinated me most about the book was how the author was able to delve into the nanny’s excruciating existential pain and how the parents so keen to have an ‘arrangement’ which would allow them to live the life they had dreamed of, despite their children and all that is involved, managed to overlook. Definitely worth reading.
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LibraryThing member cmt100
Well constructed and tightly written, but its main strength is the creation of the characters. As I read it I thought, well, this is good, but I don't see why the NYT (and others) chose it as one of the 10 best books of the year.
But with some distance, the book rose in my esteem. For one thing, the
But with some distance, the book rose in my esteem. For one thing, the
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characters (and the story) continue to occupy my mind. The nanny and the children especially. I followed the nanny's descent into madness and murder, and found it completely believable and comprehensible, every step of the way. Show Less
LibraryThing member seasonsoflove
This book is the definition of chilling. Slimani tells readers in the very first sentence exactly what the end of this story is going to be, but somehow manages to keep the suspense at both a slow burn and a fever pitch.
On the surface, this is the tale of a family who hires a nanny, Louise, when
But all is not what it seems.
Slimani is masterful at ripping off the facade, of showing what it is that truly boils under the surface of a human being, especially one in a determined role of subservience. Louise is family, but she's not. She is loved, but she's not. Louise seems perfect, but she's not. Besides the chill of what you know is coming from sentence one, there is also the chill of the way the characters treat each other, the way humans can treat each other. And then there is a scene with a chicken carcass, and that's all I'm going to say about that so as not to spoil anything, but it just might be one of the eeriest, creepiest, most haunting things I've read in a long time.
This is a quick read, not just in length, but because this is a book that will not let you put it down.
On the surface, this is the tale of a family who hires a nanny, Louise, when
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the mother goes back to work. They hire a nanny who their children love, who keeps their house clean and cooks meals their friends are envious of.But all is not what it seems.
Slimani is masterful at ripping off the facade, of showing what it is that truly boils under the surface of a human being, especially one in a determined role of subservience. Louise is family, but she's not. She is loved, but she's not. Louise seems perfect, but she's not. Besides the chill of what you know is coming from sentence one, there is also the chill of the way the characters treat each other, the way humans can treat each other. And then there is a scene with a chicken carcass, and that's all I'm going to say about that so as not to spoil anything, but it just might be one of the eeriest, creepiest, most haunting things I've read in a long time.
This is a quick read, not just in length, but because this is a book that will not let you put it down.
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LibraryThing member ElspethW
My only complaint about this book is that I wish it were longer. This was an amazing read. Leila Slimani pulled off the difficult feat of shifting between many perspectives without losing connection with any of the characters. Each character feels fully realised and I enjoyed getting to know so
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many of them. While you know the outcome from the beginning, seeing the slow unravelling of the murderer from the "perfect nanny" to what she becomes is fascinating. Really puts you right there in her head as she goes down her dark path. Show Less
LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
This isn't a thriller. We know that the nanny murders her small charges in the first chapter of French author Leila Slimani's novel. The question isn't who, but why, with the tension slowly rising as the parents fail to take seriously Louise's deterioration.
When it's time for the mother of two
There's a sense of remove to this story, with the characters remaining opaque. It is very much not a suspense novel, or even a crime novel. It's more a look at how people relate to one another, the expectations and disappointments that color how they see each other, and about loneliness.
When it's time for the mother of two
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very young children to go back to work, she and her husband choose a nanny to care for their children. They are nervous, but Louise fulfills all of their needs and more, keeping the small apartment spotless and preparing wonderful dinners for them. They quickly grow dependent on her. At the same time, Louise is in crisis and as her situation worsens, the couple begin to have doubts about her, but they manage to set them aside because she has grown vital to the family's functioning. There's a sense of remove to this story, with the characters remaining opaque. It is very much not a suspense novel, or even a crime novel. It's more a look at how people relate to one another, the expectations and disappointments that color how they see each other, and about loneliness.
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LibraryThing member judithrs
The Perfect Nanny. Leila Slimani. 2016. This French novel has been compared to Gone Girl. The main characters in each novel are unlikable and mentally ill. The Perfect Nanny was more horrifying to me because there were children. Myriam and Paul decide to hire a nanny when Myriam decides to return
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to work. She has found being a stay-at-home mother is not as fulfilling as she thought it would be, and she jumps at the chance of joining the law practice of an old school chum. Paul agrees and so they hire Louise. Louise seems perfect. She is older and the children come to love her. Not only does she care for the children, she also keeps house and cooks. Before long she is indispensible. But slowly, very slowly Myriam and Paul began to wonder exactly who is in charge. We know from the first chapter what happens, but the suspense still builds and the twists and turns are exciting. I finished the small book in two days! Show Less
LibraryThing member jfe16
Myriam Masse decides to return to work; she and her husband, Paul, hire a nanny to care for their children. Louise is quiet, polite, and devoted. She’s perfect. Until she isn’t.
The story has a tendency to bounce from the present to the past without warning, an often-used plot device that here
Based on the 2012 nanny-murders of Lucia and Leo Krim, the narrative is compulsive in that readers, who already know the barbaric outcome of the hiring of the nanny, are looking to understand how this could possibly have happened. The explosive beginning [“The baby is dead.”] pulls them into the story; now they’re seeking the “why’ of the murders of the children.
Louise seems to come to the Masse family [father, mother, toddler Mila, baby Adam] with more than enough child care experience; she’s efficient and the parents come to depend on her, not realizing that things are very, very wrong until the horror has played out. They miss even the most blatant of warning signs.
Tension and creepiness invade the narrative as the story unfolds, but none of the characters . . . except for the children . . . are even remotely likable and readers are likely to find it difficult to connect with them. Paul and Myriam are only tangentially involved in the parenting of their children and their situation isn’t likely to evoke much sympathy from readers.
This cashing-in on a real-life horror story revolves around paranoia and plays into every parent’s worst fears. In the telling of this tale, readers will find no wisdom has been imparted. There are no insights into parenting, no suggested remedies for the existing disproportionate cultural inequity. There’s no societal “message” for today.
As the story reaches its abrupt, less-than-satisfactory end, readers will find no suitable explanations; instead, there’s an inadequately-explained descent into madness. It’s supposed to explain it all.
It doesn’t.
The story has a tendency to bounce from the present to the past without warning, an often-used plot device that here
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keeps the story from flowing as the pages turn. Additionally, this translation from the original French sometimes seems a bit clunky and awkward.Based on the 2012 nanny-murders of Lucia and Leo Krim, the narrative is compulsive in that readers, who already know the barbaric outcome of the hiring of the nanny, are looking to understand how this could possibly have happened. The explosive beginning [“The baby is dead.”] pulls them into the story; now they’re seeking the “why’ of the murders of the children.
Louise seems to come to the Masse family [father, mother, toddler Mila, baby Adam] with more than enough child care experience; she’s efficient and the parents come to depend on her, not realizing that things are very, very wrong until the horror has played out. They miss even the most blatant of warning signs.
Tension and creepiness invade the narrative as the story unfolds, but none of the characters . . . except for the children . . . are even remotely likable and readers are likely to find it difficult to connect with them. Paul and Myriam are only tangentially involved in the parenting of their children and their situation isn’t likely to evoke much sympathy from readers.
This cashing-in on a real-life horror story revolves around paranoia and plays into every parent’s worst fears. In the telling of this tale, readers will find no wisdom has been imparted. There are no insights into parenting, no suggested remedies for the existing disproportionate cultural inequity. There’s no societal “message” for today.
As the story reaches its abrupt, less-than-satisfactory end, readers will find no suitable explanations; instead, there’s an inadequately-explained descent into madness. It’s supposed to explain it all.
It doesn’t.
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LibraryThing member atticusfinch1048
Lullaby – Short and Stunning
Lullaby by Leila Slimani is a short but stunning psychological thriller, that will have you gripped from beginning to end. This book has also been excellently translated from French by Sam Taylor, and I do not believe anything has been lost in translation. On reading
From the opening we know that the nanny has killed one of her two charges, the other is hanging on, but only just. What follows is the story of the nanny and her descent into a psychosis via obsession and wanting total control over her charges and the parents.
Myriam, a French-Moroccan mother and lawyer decides she wants to return to work and carve out her career at the Bar. Her and Paul, her husband, must find the perfect nanny to take care of their children. When they find Louise, whose references make her second to none, a quiet and devoted nanny they give her the job.
Louise and the family become deeply dependent on each other as the weeks pass. While at the same time Louise grows more obsessive about her charges and the family they have and wishes to be more involved within it, without actually being noticed. It is from this obsession that her break down will grow from.
This is a fascinating and wonderful read as we watch the Louise’s life slowly unravel around her obsession, while at the same time being given a flavour of her life and background. This really is a clever thriller, that works on all levels.
Lullaby by Leila Slimani is a short but stunning psychological thriller, that will have you gripped from beginning to end. This book has also been excellently translated from French by Sam Taylor, and I do not believe anything has been lost in translation. On reading
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Lullaby, it is easy to understand why this is a prize-winning thriller.From the opening we know that the nanny has killed one of her two charges, the other is hanging on, but only just. What follows is the story of the nanny and her descent into a psychosis via obsession and wanting total control over her charges and the parents.
Myriam, a French-Moroccan mother and lawyer decides she wants to return to work and carve out her career at the Bar. Her and Paul, her husband, must find the perfect nanny to take care of their children. When they find Louise, whose references make her second to none, a quiet and devoted nanny they give her the job.
Louise and the family become deeply dependent on each other as the weeks pass. While at the same time Louise grows more obsessive about her charges and the family they have and wishes to be more involved within it, without actually being noticed. It is from this obsession that her break down will grow from.
This is a fascinating and wonderful read as we watch the Louise’s life slowly unravel around her obsession, while at the same time being given a flavour of her life and background. This really is a clever thriller, that works on all levels.
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LibraryThing member MM_Jones
Disappointing. Not the masterpiece, "page-turner" I expected from reading print reviews. I kept hoping the novel would improve, but sadly it didn't. Whether it was the translation or the original writing, I found the style unattractive; sentences were short & choppy. Selfishness of the characters
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was emphasized, everyone seemed to be looking out for their own desires. Might accurately portray current life, but not what I want to read. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookwormteri
I don't get what all the hype is regarding this book. Read the first chapter and you know what happens. Everything started rosy and I felt like it was going to devolve horribly, or even subtly, but it barely manages that. I would pass.
LibraryThing member jess_reads_books
Miriam and Paul are the parents of two young children. Miriam has been a stay-at-home mother for some time now and has recently gotten the itch to head back in to the workforce when she bumps into an old acquaintance. The kids aren’t old enough to take care of themselves and parents watching them
Louise connects with the children in a way that makes caring for them effortless. She sings to them, plays games with them, and hovers over them like a doting surrogate parent. Louise goes the extra mile in her duties, by taking care of the house, staying late most nights, and cooking the family elaborate meals. Soon Miriam and Paul feel like they can’t live without Louise and Louise is beginning to feel the same. Are Miriam and Paul blinded by Louise’s charms? How far will Louise go to make this family love her?
Leila Slimani opens THE PERFECT NANNY by telling the reader exactly how the book is going to end. The revelation makes it clear that Louise isn’t quite so perfect. But what lead her to this terrible ending? THE PERFECT NANNY is the ultimate character study of a woman desperate to find her place in the world and gain the affection of those around her. Over the years Louise has faced rejection from those around her including her daughter and late husband. She now lives a life under the mask of perfection, constantly going above and beyond to prove her worth to those around her. One can only live this way for so long. This novel is not a thriller despite the shocking introduction Slimani gives readers. THE PERFECT NANNY is a slow-burning, eloquently worded trip into the mind of a woman losing control and the impacts her actions have on those around her.
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isn’t an option, so the couple decides it’s time to find a nanny. After interviewing a few terrible candidates, the couple is over the moon to find Louise, who appears to be the perfect nanny. Louise connects with the children in a way that makes caring for them effortless. She sings to them, plays games with them, and hovers over them like a doting surrogate parent. Louise goes the extra mile in her duties, by taking care of the house, staying late most nights, and cooking the family elaborate meals. Soon Miriam and Paul feel like they can’t live without Louise and Louise is beginning to feel the same. Are Miriam and Paul blinded by Louise’s charms? How far will Louise go to make this family love her?
Leila Slimani opens THE PERFECT NANNY by telling the reader exactly how the book is going to end. The revelation makes it clear that Louise isn’t quite so perfect. But what lead her to this terrible ending? THE PERFECT NANNY is the ultimate character study of a woman desperate to find her place in the world and gain the affection of those around her. Over the years Louise has faced rejection from those around her including her daughter and late husband. She now lives a life under the mask of perfection, constantly going above and beyond to prove her worth to those around her. One can only live this way for so long. This novel is not a thriller despite the shocking introduction Slimani gives readers. THE PERFECT NANNY is a slow-burning, eloquently worded trip into the mind of a woman losing control and the impacts her actions have on those around her.
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LibraryThing member hikatie
This was *almost* a read-in-one-sitting book, but I finally had to get some sleep about 30 pages from the end. Structurally I think it's fantastic - it set up and maintained tension I was hungry to read through from the beginning - but by the end I had some complaints about characterizations and
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details that I felt could have filled in a bit more (I'm sort of baffled by Louise's finances, for one). And while I'm not in a position to judge since I don't speak or read French, I suspect the translation might have been a little awkward and rushed. In spite of my complaints, though, it was still essentially a book I read all at once, hungrily and happily. Show Less
LibraryThing member CaroPi
I really liked this book. Is brutal it starts with the murder of two kids, jump to sme happy times and bring you back to those hard parts, it seems as it singing to you a Lullaby to send you to sleep but instead of dreams you have Freddy Kruger nightmares, someone is showing you that dark part of
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the story that you do not imagine, it can be the nice Paris setting, with kids playing in the parks, but the book do not forget to remind you that at the night those parks belong to others....I for sure will never recommend this book to any of my friends that have kids, but I will for the others. But only those with guts. Show Less
LibraryThing member Opinionated
In French this is known as The Perfect Nanny, but Lullaby seems a better title somehow as it captures the false sense of absolute trust Miriam and Paul, and their children Mia and Adam, have in the perfect nanny Louise. Louise is hired when Miriam who has spent years as full time mother, gets the
But inevitably Louise has troubles of her own, troubles that she can't communicate to anyone, especially to Paul and Miriam who appreciate Louise but have no empathy at all for her as a human being. And this leads inevitably to the opening scene of the book, with the children dead and their murderer Louise, bleeding on the floor from her own failed suicide attempt
It might be the translation, but just as Paul and Miriam fail to understand or have empathy for Louise, neither does the author. The nature of her troubles are not clearly outlined - she has money worries, but its unclear exactly why or why she can't approach her employers for a pay rise. She is lonely and in need of companionship but its not clear how or why this situation came about. And its not at all clear what triggers her final crisis. The author is very good at exploring the bourgeois middle class Paul and Miriam, but for me, hasn't quite nailed who exactly Louise is
This is engrossing, but there is something missing and perhaps its better read in the original French. Its a Prix de Goncourt winner after all. Still very much recommended though
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opportunity to revive her career. Of course, at first she feels guilty but gradually accepts the outsourcing of her children's upbringing - it really is much more convenient. Especially as Louise is not only the perfect nanny but an impeccable cleaner, gourmet cook, and general household goddess. Soon the household is wholly centred around LouiseBut inevitably Louise has troubles of her own, troubles that she can't communicate to anyone, especially to Paul and Miriam who appreciate Louise but have no empathy at all for her as a human being. And this leads inevitably to the opening scene of the book, with the children dead and their murderer Louise, bleeding on the floor from her own failed suicide attempt
It might be the translation, but just as Paul and Miriam fail to understand or have empathy for Louise, neither does the author. The nature of her troubles are not clearly outlined - she has money worries, but its unclear exactly why or why she can't approach her employers for a pay rise. She is lonely and in need of companionship but its not clear how or why this situation came about. And its not at all clear what triggers her final crisis. The author is very good at exploring the bourgeois middle class Paul and Miriam, but for me, hasn't quite nailed who exactly Louise is
This is engrossing, but there is something missing and perhaps its better read in the original French. Its a Prix de Goncourt winner after all. Still very much recommended though
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LibraryThing member asxz
Really classy bit of writing about alienation and loneliness that morphs into obsession and murder. Never graphic, but always creepy. It may be that the idea of reading this book in translation contributed to the sense of distance and inability to truly understand the multiple points of view here.
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I had avoided this for a while until it appeared on the Tournament of Books longlist, but it's a fine bit of work from an assured and fascinating voice. Show Less
LibraryThing member starbox
The cover says it's the new 'Gone Girl' but it's much better than that, because it's entirely believable.
Myriam and Paul are a rather yuppie-ish couple in Paris. Professionally ambitious, but with two demanding small children, Myriam is eager to spend half her salary on childcare just to escape to
But we know from page 1 that there's a terrible ending. Slimani does a brilliant job of portraying Louise's escalating mental chaos; the growing tensions between herself and her employers.
Myriam and Paul are a rather yuppie-ish couple in Paris. Professionally ambitious, but with two demanding small children, Myriam is eager to spend half her salary on childcare just to escape to
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the office. And nanny Louise seems so perfect- her life revolves around the children; she cleans,cooks and never minds how late she stays.But we know from page 1 that there's a terrible ending. Slimani does a brilliant job of portraying Louise's escalating mental chaos; the growing tensions between herself and her employers.
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LibraryThing member Carlathelibrarian
You will learn how the story ends on the first page of the novel. It opens with a brief graphic scene of violence depicting the death of two young children at the hands of their nanny. This almost had me closing the book, but I continued to see what happened next. I was uncomfortable reading most
The scary part to me is how the loving parents unknowingly invited a madwoman into their home. They were so lucky to have found The Perfect Nanny. When Myriam began to suspect there was something wrong with Louise, it was too late. The characters could be anyone, anywhere. A mother who wants to return to work, then works crazy hours. A father who works a lot but does not feel guilty because they have a wonderful Nanny taking care of the children at home. That is another thing that makes it terrifying, it could happen anywhere to anyone. A short book that I read quickly and recommend to suspense and family drama lovers.
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of this book, there was just a funny feeling in my stomach as I learned more about Louise, "The Perfect Nanny". The story is told in the third person from different view points. As I read, I learned how Louise went from the perfect nanny to a murderess. We go from the ending right to when she is originally hired by Myriam and Paul to look after their two children. As the story unfolds we find out about previous jobs she had, her marriage and her daughter. All of these play a part in her descending to madness. The scary part to me is how the loving parents unknowingly invited a madwoman into their home. They were so lucky to have found The Perfect Nanny. When Myriam began to suspect there was something wrong with Louise, it was too late. The characters could be anyone, anywhere. A mother who wants to return to work, then works crazy hours. A father who works a lot but does not feel guilty because they have a wonderful Nanny taking care of the children at home. That is another thing that makes it terrifying, it could happen anywhere to anyone. A short book that I read quickly and recommend to suspense and family drama lovers.
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LibraryThing member brangwinn
Well maybe not so perfect after all, as the story unfolds about a Parisian couple who hire a petite blond woman to be nanny to their children. As the story unfolds, the perfect nanny begins to fall apart ending with the death of the children. The reader knows from the beginning the that children
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are dead…it’s the first thing learned, and then the story begins at the beginning. Show Less
LibraryThing member Carol420
Parts of it were what might be called "riveting" ...I couldn't wait to read the next page and then the next chapter. Other parts though... actually too many parts, were simply building background giving insight into the not so perfect side of Louise, the nanny. Based on the very first page of the
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book the reader knew something horrible beyond words had happened and that is what really drove me to read more and more. It's a short book with short chapters and has a lot of promise. Show Less
LibraryThing member Circlestonesbooks
"Her face is like a peaceful sea, its depths suspected by no one." (page 17)
Content:
Paul and Myriam live in Paris. They have two children, babyboy Adam and a little girl, Mila. Myriam, a lawyer, after a happy time as a mother, desperately wants to go back to work. When a former classmate offers her
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a job in his law firm, she is looking for a nanny. Miriam with her arabic roots definitely does not want a North African nanny for her children. Then comes Louisa, a blonde widow over 40 and perfect. Soon Louise becomes an indispensable part of the family ...Theme and genre:
This psychological thriller is about modern parenting, the difficult job of nannies, the complex place they have in the family they work for. This novel also shows how class and race can influence the whole life of a person.
Characters:
Myriam, happy mother of two, with the months as a housewife passing, falls into a serious depression. Back in the law firm, she works on her carrier, often overhours, and sometimes feels bad about it. She also prefers to neglect small signs that should alert her.
For Paul it was normal to earn the money for his family and their privileged upper-class life. He wants to share part of it with Louisa. For him too, Louisa is the perfect nanny and when Myriam begins to be worried, he is convinced that she just overreacts.
Louisa loves the children and wants to be needed and be part of the family.
Plot and writing style:
The book begins with telling the end, but this does not make the story less gripping. As reader you try to scan every sentence for hints, how and when things changed and led to what happened.
Leila Slimani is a captivating storyteller, switching between persons and their memories and descriptions of the life in Paris, comparing the different living conditions, while moving the plot forward.
Conclusion:
A disturbing psychological thriller about the problems of mothers reconciling job and family and the questions of every parent, if the nanny their children grow up with can really be trusted. A dark, gripping page-turner.
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LibraryThing member AlisonY
I've been looking forward to reading this novel for a while now, but I feel very disappointed by it and am left wondering why it's deserved of the accolades and prizes it's received.
We know right from the first sentence that the nanny kills the children, and as expected the novel focuses on the
All in all, I expected to be glued to the pages, but instead I was more glued to looking at the last page number to see when I'd be finished.
2.5 stars - completely forgettable and disjointed.
We know right from the first sentence that the nanny kills the children, and as expected the novel focuses on the
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build up to that awful crime, but yet in many ways it doesn't really build up to anything. The nanny is a cold, queer fish, but the writing too felt very cold and dispassionate. Being a mother myself the very premise of this novel should make the hair on the back of my neck stand up, but I felt very disconnected from the characters. The backdrop and supposed lead up to the terrible murders felt uneven, and whilst I know it's not a first novel it reads very much like one. The dissolving of the relationship between the nanny and the parents seemed rushed, as did her significant decline in circumstances. All in all, I expected to be glued to the pages, but instead I was more glued to looking at the last page number to see when I'd be finished.
2.5 stars - completely forgettable and disjointed.
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LibraryThing member Beth.Clarke
Have you ever worked with someone and thought, "Something just isn't quite right?" Well, that fear comes alive in this novel. It's eerie, dark, and formidable. I couldn't put it down. The twisted plot was masterly unfolded. If you like this sort of tale, I highly recommend it!
LibraryThing member PattyLouise
The Perfect Nanny
By
Leila Slimani
What it's all about...
Louise is the perfect nanny...or is she? She works her way into the lives of Paul and Myriam and their two children...Mila and Adam. She cares for the children and cares for this family...and does much more than a nanny should.
Why I wanted to
I loved the cover of this book and I was keenly interested in Louise Louise had lots of secrets.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
I am not certain that this book was an enjoyment but it was fascinating...sort of a study in weird behaviors.
Why you should read it, too...
Readers who are interested in fascinating psycho dramas should find this book both intense and a bit strange.
“I received an advance reader’s copy from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.”
By
Leila Slimani
What it's all about...
Louise is the perfect nanny...or is she? She works her way into the lives of Paul and Myriam and their two children...Mila and Adam. She cares for the children and cares for this family...and does much more than a nanny should.
Why I wanted to
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read it...I loved the cover of this book and I was keenly interested in Louise Louise had lots of secrets.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
I am not certain that this book was an enjoyment but it was fascinating...sort of a study in weird behaviors.
Why you should read it, too...
Readers who are interested in fascinating psycho dramas should find this book both intense and a bit strange.
“I received an advance reader’s copy from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.”
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LibraryThing member kakadoo202
Good story. But i was hoping for a big twist in the end.
Awards
Dublin Literary Award (Longlist — 2020)
Edgar Award (Nominee — 2019)
LA Times Book Prize (Finalist — Mystery/Thriller — 2018)
British Book Award (Winner — 2019)
Europese Literatuurprijs (Longlist — 2018)
Albertine Prize (Shortlist — 2019)
Bästa översatta kriminalroman (Nominee — 2018)
Liste Goncourt / Le choix suisse (1. Auswahl — 2016)
Prix Goncourt (1. Auswahl — 2016)
NPR: Books We Love (2018)
Boston Globe Best Book (Fiction — 2018)
The New York Times Notable Books of the Year (Fiction — 2018)
The New York Times Best Books of the Year (Fiction — 2018)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Adults (Selection — 2018)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2016-08-18
2018 (English translation)
Physical description
224 p.; 5.08 inches
ISBN
0571337546 / 9780571337545
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DDC/MDS
| 843.92 |