A strange, domestic magical realism piece.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Translated from French to English, this book gives a glimpse into the life of a woman named Lucie who is initiating her daughters into witchcraft, a gift passed down from mother to daughter in her family line. It explores Lucie’s mother’s hatred of her own gift, which is much more powerful than Lucie’s magic. Lucie’s daughters, who seem uninterested in their own gifts, also appear to be much more powerful than Lucie is, and they eventually leave her and fly away as birds. Lucie’s husband and all the men in the novel are angry, weak, and selfish. This was a strange, domestic magical realism piece, and I found the language to be really superb and sharp, with precise observational language specifically around motherhood and identity. This was also shortlisted for the International Booker Prize and has been my favorite of those books so far.
Vibes
- domestic magical realism
- witchcraft
- motherhood and identity
- angry, weak, and selfish men
- translated from French
Why I picked it up
Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize.
Favorite quote
“But– practical, serene, resolute, intensely relaxed, grasping, asking a great deal of life with the most perfect innocence– they had next to no modesty or discretion, were rarely embarrassed by anything. In that those clever little barbarians, my daughters, amazed me.”
Would recommend to
A genuine literary friend: someone who enjoys language, interesting or creative storytelling, and not always having all the answers or a perfect plot.
Part of
Tracking the International Booker Prize
Also reviewed: Women Without Men, The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran