April Read: Lullaby by Leïla Slimani

It was a good turnout at The Vic’s comfortable and welcoming room and there was no shortage of  energetic responses to this month’s book. 

“Lullaby” is a truly horrific and subtle thriller, which reveals in its first pages the murder of two young children, “baby dead …. older sister fought like a wild animal …. throat filled with blood”. They have been murdered by their nanny in their own home. Every parent's worst nightmare…….

We’re made aware of a seemingly unrelated tale of a young migrant mother, settling a small baby to sleep in an orphanage. She soothes the baby with a lullaby.

The plot gathers pace as we meet Miriam and Paul, a successful Parisian couple, who set out to find the perfect nanny so that Miriam can pursue her legal career. They find Louise, who is the answer to their prayers…

This psychological thriller makes us search for the motive and we are led through historical reflections of Louise’s past. It is one of abuse, humiliation and despair. She is desperately lonely and unloved, and finds her fulfilment through meeting the needs of other people’s children. But she knows children will grow up and will have no further use for her. She has one wish and that is to “dig herself a niche, a burrow, a warm hiding place”

We all agreed that “Lullaby” was a disturbing and difficult read so much so that one or two of us failed to complete the book.

Leïla Slimani, a young and talented winner of the “Prix Goncourt” has been honoured by President Macron to promote the French language and culture. The question asked by some of our group  was why did she chose such a devastating subject, set in a Paris described as a despairingly deprived, harsh, isolating place, interwoven with sexual abuse, violence and human exploitation? 

Jeanette, thought that parts of the novel was very well written, especially the textured, palpable atmosphere of Paris’ underbelly:  an allegorical commentary on class, gender, politics, mothering, and profound isolation.

I thought the prose was superb and Abby loved the layered way the book gathered velocity and the way the characters beautifully illustrated the narrative.

In contrast, Pauline, as did some others, thought the translation rather clumsy, making reading prohibitive in places. (translator: Sam Taylor)

Anne Marie found the fact that we were told of the murders of these children on the very first page disconcerting, especially as they are so horrifically and graphically described. Many of us were in agreement.

Joan A. had hoped it was because the author was planning a more cheering and optimistic conclusion and was bitterly disappointed at the end. She also felt that many questions were left unanswered. Sheila and Joan were in agreement with Katherine who felt that the plot had too many loose ends e.g What happened to Louise’s daughter? Did Louise kill her too? What actually were her motives for the murders?

Sheila and Joan felt little sympathy for the parents who were completely self-absorbed.

Emma found the characters wholly sympathetic e.g. with the parents, so blinkered by their need to pursue their careers, that they were totally unaware  of Louise’s manipulation of them. Also Louise herself, so despairing and desperate for the family’s need of her and so seriously harmed by her gruelling life experiences.

Anne Marie also felt some sympathy for Louise and was genuinely horrified by the speed she changed from Mary Poppins to Myra Hindley! 

The novel certainly prompted reaction, positive and otherwise. Generally it was agreed it was an extremely well - written book with regard to the violent symbols in the narrative which weren’t explained, but were left suspended in our imaginations, and which contributed to the tension and expectation of the inevitable, i.e the chicken carcass incident, the bruising and bites on both children and nanny, the make-up incident and a sharp ceramic sushi knife…

As the narrative unfolds we are given morsels of information which drive our search for the seemingly elusive motive.

And lurking, ever present in our consciousness, is the immaculately presented Louise herself... needed and needful, damaged and dangerous.

Personally I found this a psychological roller coaster of a novel.  I was utterly shaken and exhausted by the experience at its finish.

“Lullaby” was awarded 4 stars. 

March meeting - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

On March 1st (St David's Day), five intrepid members of the Low Fell Book Group met in the back room of The Aletaster. I say intrepid, because it was at the height of the Beast from the East and the Fell was deep in snow and most of us had been holed up in our homes for days.

There had been a certain level of expectation surrounding this month's book - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - as it had received a large amount of hype. Not only was it nominated in the 2017 Costa Book Awards, but the film script had been picked up by Reese Witherspoon before Gail Honeyman had even completed the final chapter.

For some members of the group, it lived up to the hype and for others it fell somewhat short. Most of those who made it to the meeting were in the latter camp, although Pauline was the biggest supporter in attendance, saying she was happy to suspend her disbelief when reading a book and that's exactly what she did with Eleanor Oliphant.

Others thought that many of the plot devices were problematic - from the way that the therapy was so successful so quickly to the musician's band suddenly making it big in America just like that. I did think that the characters of Eleanor and Raymond would end up in a romantic relationship at the end and was pleased that the loose ends weren't tied up quite as cheesily as that, but still wasn't enamoured with it as a whole.

We thought that it was quite unlikely that a person like Eleanor would go and get a Hollywood wax in real life and that the opinions of her colleagues would be so easily swayed by a change in her appearance. Raymond was generally seen as a likable character, as was Sammy and the plotline surrounding his family.

Most people didn't see the twist at the end coming, although we picked up on the references to another person in the narrative of the fire, which crept in throughout the novel. Looking back, the mention of Sense and Sensibility and its characters of Elinor and Marianne at the beginning of the book were the biggest hint.

Debbie was not a fan of the book and found it a struggle to get through, much to the amusement of her children. As someone who reads a lot of kids' fiction for work, she was disappointed with this foray into the world of adults' literature and amusingly relayed her attempts to finish it without throwing it at the wall.

Commenting on the hype surrounding the book, Abby summed it up, saying: "Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd". This just goes to show how some things get picked up on and become part of the public consciousness, not always because of merit, but due to word of mouth.

A display of the book in the Newcastle branch of Waterstones

Despite not being able to make the meeting, many of the group still expressed their opinions. Sue, who was struck down with flu said: "As a first novel, it was pretty good. I found it engrossing and entertaining. The story is of profound loneliness and one that should be recognised more in our society."

Jeanette, who was snowed in down in deepest, darkest Yorkshire, said somewhat succinctly that this was another book with mental health as a theme that she didn't enjoy.

Joan, enjoying birthday celebrations with her husband, commented: "I have mixed feelings on Eleanor. Quite enjoyed it, but I got deja vu. There was a very good film once called Sybil, about a woman who was abused by her mother and she ended up with multiple personalities. For me, this book fell very short of that story.

"It also reminded me of Ove and The Dog in the Night Time, and I feel it is just the fashion to write books of this ilk. It started with great promise but ended with '...and they all lived happily ever after', and you know how much I like that!"

Lynda didn't fancy venturing out in the snow, but contributed: "I loved Eleanor Oliphant. It was very easy to read and hard to put down. Very moving, funny and poignant."

Joanne, unable to make it across from Westerhope, said: "I enjoyed this book. I found it easy to read, although when I first started it I did not think I was going to like it. I thought the character of Eleanor was a little bit unbelievable to begin with. However I soon grew to like her and was intrigued to find out more about her troubled past.

"The other characters in the book were interesting and contributed to the heart-warming feel of the book. It drew attention to the fact that there are some people in life who are not obviously alike being drawn together. I especially liked the storyline with the old man and his family and how they appreciated Eleanor and Raymond and became good friends.

"I did not particularly like Eleanor's obsession with the musician, but understand how this was a necessary part of the story to show how her mental health was a theme of the book. I found the book funny, sad, interesting, easy to read and enjoyable."

Katherine didn't want to tackle the hike up the hill in such weather conditions, but mentioned earlier in the month: "Finished listening to Eleanor Oliphant on Audible last night and looking forward to hearing whether my experience of it differed to having the written word. It was an emotional rollercoaster to say the least!"

It was also lovely to hear from an online participant of our group. Lyndsey said: "Couldn't put Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine down! Read it in one evening...I really did love this book. I can never make the meetings (childcare), but please keep on choosing such gorgeous books. I love reading them and the notes from the meetings."

Taking everyone's views into account, we gave Eleanor Oliphant three stars.

Next month's book is Lullaby by Leila Slimani, which will be discussed in The Library of The Victoria on Thursday April 5th.