Lullaby by Leïla Slimani [book review]
It takes a brave author to begin a novel by revealing the ending. The strategy could have gone horribly wrong for Leïla Slimani in Lullaby; her tale of a nanny who morphs from little miss perfect into a monster.
But this is a novel so deftly written that it doesn’t matter that we we know from the first few pages that the nanny ends up killing the two children in her care. What really keeps us reading is the desire to discover her motive and to learn what brought her to commit such an appalling deed.
Slimani takes her time in providing the answers; dropping clues and leaving hints while slowly ratcheting up the tension. Though we know the outcome there is still a strong sense of dread as details are revealed. As one reviewer commented on the back of my copy: “I defy you to read the disturbing opening sentences and not be compelled to read on.”
Compelling this novel undoubtedly is but it would be unfair to think of it purely in terms of its thrill factor. For Slimani has given us a novel that rests on an experience shared by many working parents in the twentieth century: the struggle between their desire for a rewarding, successful career and their desire to be with their children.
Myriam, the mother in Lullaby, is a highly intelligent woman and ambitious. She loves her children but after a morning of tantrums and tedious domestic chores she longs for her own space. “They’re eating me alive,” she think. An unexpected meeting brings an opportunity to return to the legal world she loved before her marriage. Just one problem: what to do about the children? Her husband’s career as a music producer is about to take off so it’s not feasible for him to replace her as chief carer. They decide the only solution is to bring in a nanny, being careful to filter out unsuitable candidates. “No illegal immigrants […] not too old, no veils and no smokers,” they agree.
With her smartly polished shoes, prim Peter Pan collar and neatly polished nails, Louise appears the answer to their prayers. She becomes indispensable, bringing order to the couple’s cramped Paris apartment; enchanting the children with her games and stories and creating delicious meals. They treat her like a family member at times, taking her on their holiday to Greece.
“My nanny is a miracle-worker'” Myriam tells her friends and colleagues.
But the magic wears off. After one incident involving his daughter, Paul decides he can’t stand their nanny any longer. Myriam begins to fret that she is losing the connection with her children. They relate more to their nanny than they do to her. A chilling episode involving a chicken carcass causes Myriam to think that Louise might be dangerous, or mad.
But the parental concerns come too late.
Are the murders some kind of punishment for parents who put personal ambitions ahead of their children’s wellbeing? That’s one interpretation. Equally feasible is that Slimani is making a point about parents who entrust their precious possessions to a stranger with only the flimsiest of background checks. So wrapped up are Myriam and Paul in their own lives that they never consider their nanny has a life — and problems — of her own.
Slimani deftly makes her readers more conscious of Louise as an individual than her employers ever do, showing this woman as a lonely figure, a woman who has never once had anyone to care for her or to make her a meal. In Myriam and Paul’s home and family she finds what she never had. When it becomes evident that her future in this “warm hiding place” is under threat, she becomes unhinged.
Lullaby is a deeply powerful novel that asks questions but doesn’t provide any easy answers. Though I finished reading it a few weeks ago, I can’t get it out of my head. Easily the best book I’ve read this year.
Endnotes
Leila Slimani is a Franco-Moroccan writer and journalist. She is the first Moroccan woman to win France’s most prestigious literary prize, the Prix Goncourt, which she won for Lullaby. A journalist and frequent commentator on women’s and human rights, she is French president Emmanuel Macron’s personal representative for the promotion of the French language and culture. Faber will publish her new novel Adèle in February 2019
I wondered through out whether despite beginning it would turn out to be Mother who killed children. Or perhaps nanny’s daughter. Refreshing memory of the book as hoping to hear author speak tomorrow.
I’m afraid to say anything because it might spoil it for other readers…… lucky you to have a chance to listen to the author
Intriguing 🙂
She was very inspiring. She is a Muslim who immigrated from Morrocco to France and now works with refugees. One of those women who can quickly come up with something to say whatever topic thrown at her in English … Post colonisation, wearing of veils to when winning world cup mentioned being knowledgeable and proud about French team.
Interesting to know this, I had no idea of her background. thanks for sharing this
Like Susan, I’ve shied away from this one, partly because of the buzz, but mostly on account of the subject matter. That said, it does sound very psychologically astute. Nice review as ever, Karen.
She came up with the idea apparently having seen nannies in a playground in Paris and began wondering about their lives. Yes the subject is rather dark but fortunately she doesn’t dwell on the deaths at all….
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I enjoyed this too Karen and liked how it remained dispassionate, making the reader question our own assumptions.
It was very clever I thought to introduce additional characters towards the end that rounded out the depiction of Louise.
I haven’t read this novel, but I daresay it tells us something about our biases, too. “No immigrants.” Are we really so afraid of the “other” that we think they’ll murder children? And what to think or do when someone who looks like you murders your children? In the U.S. people are so afraid that immigrants are going to murder them despite all evidence to the contrary. You’re more likely to be murdered by someone who looks just like you — and whom you know.
the fact this book makes you question attitudes is one of the things I most enjoyed about it
I shied away from this one – a bit wary of the hype – but this is a very persuasive review, Karen.
I was completely unaware of this book until the book club picked it Susan – maybe if I’d heard of it in advance I too wouldn’t have been all that interested. Just shows that I can let my preconceived ideas get in my way on occasions
I think we’re all guilty of that
I read the opening passages and immediately closed the book. It will be a while before I get to it. I was really surprised she’d won the Goncourt. It’s not at all the typical Goncourt. The fact that you loved it encourages me to push it up my TBR. Thanks for this well-written post!
What was it that turned you off this Didi?
The gruesomeness of the first page.
Ah, maybe I have a higher tolerance
Sounds like an interesting read.
Oh yes interesting it certainly was
I have been there. I had live in nannies for my kids for a few years because I worked at night and did not want to take them to sitters in the cold winters of Michigan at night. I don’t know if I could take this one, though mostly I got rid of the one bad one quickly and the others worked out fine. It was always a concern.
It’s a big step to leave your children with another person isn’t it? The odd thing about the couple in this book is that they didn’t spend much time looking into their nanny’s background. One phone call to a previous client and they were sold. But how did they know that the person on the other end of the line was genuine??
I’ve heard very good things about this book. Your review has made it sound really interesting!
Hope if you do read it that you find it just as interesting Lucinda
Thank you! 😊
I’m very glad I never had to entrust my offspring to a nanny!
Fortunately I never had offspring so the question never arose. But my sister had a nanny for both her kids and it worked out extremely well
And of course most times it does. But I tell you, the first time you entrust your child to anyone, the anxiety levels are high!
I can imagine.
This sounds good. Our library has it and I have added it to my wish list. Those wishlists get too long very quickly🤠🐧
I’ve stopped looking at my wishlists because they just get so frightening
Haha, I know what that is like.