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Dans le jardin de l'ogre
Dans le jardin de l'ogre | Leïla Slimani
33 posts | 33 read | 31 to read
Une semaine qu'elle tient. Une semaine qu'elle n'a pas cédé. Adèle a été sage. En quatre jours, elle a couru trente-deux kilomètres. Elle est allée de Pigalle aux Champs-Élysées, du musée d'Orsay à Bercy. Elle a couru le matin sur les quais déserts. La nuit, sur le boulevard Rochechouart et la place de Clichy. Elle n'a pas bu d'alcool et elle s'est couchée tôt. Mais cette nuit, elle en a rêvé et n'a pas pu se rendormir. Un rêve moite, interminable, qui s'est introduit en elle comme un souffle d'air chaud. Adèle ne peut plus penser qu'à ça. Elle se lève, boit un café très fort dans la maison endormie. Debout dans la cuisine, elle se balance d'un pied sur l'autre. Elle fume une cigarette. Sous la douche, elle a envie de se griffer, de se déchirer le corps en deux. Elle cogne son front contre le mur. Elle veut qu'on la saisisse, qu'on lui brise le crâne contre la vitre. Dès qu'elle ferme les yeux, elle entend les bruits, les soupirs, les hurlements, les coups. Un homme nu qui halète, une femme qui jouit. Elle voudrait n'être qu'un objet au milieu d'une horde, être dévorée, sucée, avalée tout entière. Qu'on lui pince les seins, qu'on lui morde le ventre. Elle veut être une poupée dans le jardin de l'ogre. Prix littéraire de la Mamounia 2015
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Jellybeanbon
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Slimani definitely has a way with words
Adéle has such a different tone when compared to Lullaby (written by the same author) but once again she manages to make it impossible to put the book down or to predict what the extremely unlikeable protoganist will do next

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Jellybeanbon
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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After not being able to put Lullaby down by the same author, I decided to try Adele. So far, absolutely intrigued. Slimani seems to capture so well the complexities of the motherhood.

12 likes1 stack add
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Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Professional_Book_Dragon

Ladies, your thoughtfulness is so appreciated. It's been a bear of a work week and this little happy surprise made me tear up a bit. I do not have it. Thank you!â¤

I will be planning some mailers while traveling next week to get things sent out there following week. #litsylove

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Yay! I‘m happy it made it! 🤞 this week is better â¤ï¸ 2y
MemoirsForMe Wishing you better days ahead! 🤗 2y
41 likes2 comments
review
cant_i'm_booked
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Pickpick

Adele, the titular character of this erotically-tinged little novel, is a wealthy, married Parisian mother trying for years to hide the empty compulsions that have her seeking violent and passionless sex with strange men. Not inquiring as to the “why†behind her character‘s affairs, Slimani simply keeps empathetic tabs on Adele‘s highs and heartbreaks, saying, “[literature] is maybe one of the only experiences where you can stop judging people.â€

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keepingupwiththepenguins
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Mehso-so

Adèle is all effect, with little interrogation of the cause. It‘s interesting, it‘s a good conversation-starter, but it‘s not going to sweep you away or pull on any heart-strings. I‘d recommend this one for your book club if the chat has been a bit stale lately, but skip it if you‘re looking for something to curl up with on the couch. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/adele-leila-slimani/

LiteraryinPA That‘s very helpful! Thanks! 3y
44 likes1 comment
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Interesting first page! Has anyone read this?! 📚â¤ï¸

tpixie Lol 😂 quite the intro! 3y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick No but I'm intrigued! 3y
43 likes3 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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I decided to try to make a sesame dressing today! We had a salad at work Thursday that was delicious! My dressing tastes good, just a little different! Do you have a similar recipe? Email it to me at loverofbooks75@gmail. Com 🙌ðŸ»â¤ï¸ðŸ¥—ðŸ½

#Lunchandabook ðŸ´ðŸ“š

tpixie Yum! 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @tpixie it was! I think I need another! 🥗🽠3y
65 likes3 comments
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ClairesReads
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Pickpick

Very French, very sexy, very bleak. Relationships are weird; being an adult is a lot. I enjoyed this, even more on reflection than in the moment.

readordierachel Great review 😆 4y
ClairesReads @readordierachel 😂😂 thanks! 4y
37 likes2 comments
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ONH
Dans le jardin de l'ogre | Leïla Slimani
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Just as I crack open this thriller by Leïla Slimani, I read the opening quote, which coincidentally is from the next book on my list (tagged). Funny how things fall together like that.

I read Chanson Douce last summer and liked Slimani‘s style, although I do like this book more. It‘s more interesting and more relatable, although I do wonder why Slimani seems fixated on using “imperfect†mothers as a horror fixture. Not all women want motherhood!

ONH French edition of Slimani‘s best seller 5y
ONH English edition of Slimani‘s best seller 5y
ONH The English version of this book, about a young mother with a sex addiction and a lot of baggage to work through. Slimani does a good job of making us dislike the character while also somehow understanding why she feels the way she does. Easy read, highly recommend! 5y
6 likes4 comments
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Twocougs
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Panpan

I wanted to like this but... a troubled woman, a husband that can‘t let go... I see why so many liked it. For me, it just made me incredibly sad. I will say the translation was excellent though.

teainthelibrary I feel weird saying that I enjoyed this, because the story and the characters are just terrible 😂 5y
Twocougs @teainthelibrary Don‘t feel bad. There was much about it that was good. It just touched me in such a sad, horrible way. 5y
35 likes2 comments
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rachelk
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Pickpick

Primarily interested in making men want her, Adèle deprives her body of food and exposes it to encounters that risk her life as a wife and mother. I wanted to understand what was at the root of Adèle‘s apparent addiction to sex more than I did. I also wanted to like her more than I did (she‘s cold, spoiled, conceited and selfish). However, it was a fascinating look at compulsive behavior.

51 likes2 stack adds
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amyf0x
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Mehso-so

Adèle seems to have the perfect husband and son and life in Paris, but her secret addiction to sex with strangers that threatens to destroy it all.

Read October 4-9
Book 53/55

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tricours
Dans le jardin de l'ogre | Leïla Slimani
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Seriously loving this.

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Paus0312
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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I was expecting more from it, but interesting the way she describes the way the main character feels.
Good reflection about motherhood as well, and society expectations even that is not the main story.

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razmanda
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Pickpick

Fascinating, challenging read about the tension between a woman‘s desires and her societal role as a wife and mother. It reminded me q lot of Kate Chopin‘s The Awakening, and in the author‘s notes, she mentions being inspired by Madame Bovary and Anna Karenina. It‘s also very, very French.

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RowReads1
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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See what I checked out at the library ðŸ˜.

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scowler1
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Pickpick

Got back from the library and finished this without putting it down. It's so good. A lot of sex, not gratuitous though. Short review sorry, need bathroom and lunch!

10 likes1 stack add
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Clare_Riley
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Pickpick

I‘ve read some really well translated books recently - and this is another of them. Adele appears to have a wonderful life: good job, surgeon husband and a beautiful son. Except she‘s not happy, and seems to have a sex addiction - and uses it to punish herself, I thought. A really desolate book, not one to read if you‘re feeling low - this will do you no favours. But I loved it! And another unresolved ending that I seem to love 🤷ðŸ¼â€â™€ï¸

Severnmeadows Good review! 6y
18 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Curvybookgirl
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Mehso-so

This one was mixed for me. I did enjoy the book but I wasn‘t a fan of the ending.

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TrishB
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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#rumourhasit #anglophileapril
I‘m going with the singer 😠the book doesn‘t get very good reviews!

Reviewsbylola This sounds like quite the book! Adele‘s sex compulsion reminds me a bit of the narrator in Tampa. Hopefully Adele‘s conquests are all of legal age. 😆 6y
Mdargusch Hmmm. I‘m going with the singer too. This book would not be my cup of tea. â˜•ï¸ 6y
squirrelbrain Yes, I heard it‘s a bit ‘odd‘ and more than a bit naughty! 😳 6y
See All 7 Comments
Cinfhen Clever!! I read this book as an ARC a few months ago...I don‘t remember much about it but I think I only gave it a so-so 6y
TrishB @squirrelbrain yes there are lots of comments about it being ‘racy‘ on Amazon! 6y
gradcat I sure do like the author, though...too bad this one didn‘t work for you guys. I rather liked 6y
emilyhaldi Love the cover though â£ï¸ 6y
112 likes4 stack adds7 comments
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Clare_Riley
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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A good start to my Spring holidays: I finished my library‘s reading challenge (only 6 books, but I keep requesting NetGalley books, and that list has gone into double figures now 😂), and these holds all came in at once!
I‘m on a mission to think of something positive every day after I lost a friend to suicide last week, and I think she‘d like today (she was a librarian at my library). She always borrowed the books I liked after I‘d finished â¤ï¸.

batsy I'm sorry to hear that 😔 6y
17 likes1 comment
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LittleRedReadingHood
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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â­â­â­â­

RadicalReader Love when you can happily binge read books by your favorite author 6y
LittleRedReadingHood @RadicalReader It is literally the greatest thing. This was a very good book but I definitely preferred Lullaby by the same author more 6y
4 likes1 stack add2 comments
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akfreeborn
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Pickpick

My second book by Slimani whose Adele reminds me of a modern Madame Bovary. Perhaps a secure married life and motherhood I s not for everyone. I thought the characters were well developed even if not likable. Recommended.

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Stefaniemm
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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“People who are never satisfied destroy everything around them.â€

6 likes1 stack add
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GerardtheBookworm
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Pickpick

A psychological study of a flawed character. From outward appearances, Adele has a flourishing career as a journalist, a successful marriage, and a happy son. However she feels empty inside and fills that void with extramarital affairs. An interesting look into sexual addiction and a damaged person's psyche.

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akfreeborn
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Pickpick

My tbr pile for February. Short month so likely too ambitious!

charl08 Good luck! I loved Washington Black: looking forward to her next one. 6y
22 likes1 comment
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SassyPants617
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Another gem I picked up from my library. 🤓

10 likes1 stack add
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guinsgirlreads
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Starting this one before bed.

SassyPants617 I loved it. Just wondering how you felt about to. 🤓 6y
32 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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Mafiacisco
Adele | Leïla Slimani
Pickpick

I think I need to go back and reread the Unbearable Lightness of Being after reading this book.

1 like1 stack add
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Cinfhen
Adele | Leïla Slimani
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Mehso-so

#ARC #NetGalley #KeepingItReal #MoreMehThanYeah #BorrowNotBuy
I‘m not sure this book will resonate well with most readers. Aside from the MC being really unlikeable, there isn‘t much of a story here. I think Lullaby/ The Perfect Nanny was a much more compelling story. I do like the edginess and rawness of Slimani‘s writing and I‘ll definitely continue to read more from her, but this book was just ok.

TrishB Lovely review ðŸ‘🻠not one to add to lists currently. 6y
Cinfhen You can definitely wait for a #KindleDeal @TrishB 6y
RadicalReader @Cinfhen I truly loved The Perfect Nanny kept me glued and flew from chapter to chapter as if by catapult 6y
See All 8 Comments
Cinfhen That‘s why I think this one was a bit disappointing @RadicalReader 😔the pages did fly by but the story wasn‘t as compelling 6y
RadicalReader @Cinfhen felt the same about Josh Malermans second novel when Bird Box was original and gripping and terrifying how his second was flat Boring and listless 6y
Cinfhen Ugh!! Disappointing when you have high expectations @RadicalReader 6y
Cinfhen Here׳s my review @TrishB I was kind of vague so I still don‘t remember much about this book🤷â€â™€ï¸ 6y
TrishB ðŸ‘🻠even more negative on Amazon! 6y
106 likes1 stack add8 comments