Agnieszka's Reviews > Adèle
Adèle
by
Strangely disturbing read. It deals with sex but it’s not a porn though it’s no use to seek erotic tension either. The main protagonist, Adele, is a young woman. Rather unfulfilled journalist, mother of little Lucien and devoted wife to her husband, Richard. This is her face she shows to the world. Adele is addicted to sex. Hotel rooms, stairwells, back alleys, restrooms. The dirtier and uglier places the better to get what her body wants. The young, the old, handsome or revolting, stranger or neighbour, colleague from work or her husband’s friend. No matter who. She doesn’t seek love nor she gets it. She pursues something else.
Not sure what to make of the novel. It’s quite well written but leaves me somewhat confused. I assume it had to be a kind of psychological study of a person in the grip of addiction, in a tangle of desires impossible to satiate. Some readers perhaps will see there hidden, erotic fantasies of the author though I don’t read it that way. But I struggle to understand it. And it doesn’t help the novel has any likeable protagonist. Even Lucien, Adele’s boy, is tetchy and mostly irritating little shit. The same with Richard, he seems to love Adele, but, by Lord, he rather adores her than something else. Perhaps he will build her improvised altar yet to worship object of his affection. It’s highly dysfunctional family, we get a glimpse yet of her parents and relationships with Rachard's family as well, and I think Slimani rather managed to render Adele’s inner life pretty well. My problem is that I couldn’t care about her at all. It was all the same to me if Richard will finally learn out about her activities or will she escape with her double life. Slimani wrote cold, almost clinical report on unhappy woman that I couldn’t relate to.
In a way Adele reminds her more known literary predecessor, Emma Bovary. Okay, okay, I can hear you. It’s different league. I can see that. But I thought some likeness was not that coincidental. Adele, though rather unpleasant figure, felt to me believable. I could see her tiredness, I could feel the boredom that ate her away yet something was off. Something lacked.
by
Strangely disturbing read. It deals with sex but it’s not a porn though it’s no use to seek erotic tension either. The main protagonist, Adele, is a young woman. Rather unfulfilled journalist, mother of little Lucien and devoted wife to her husband, Richard. This is her face she shows to the world. Adele is addicted to sex. Hotel rooms, stairwells, back alleys, restrooms. The dirtier and uglier places the better to get what her body wants. The young, the old, handsome or revolting, stranger or neighbour, colleague from work or her husband’s friend. No matter who. She doesn’t seek love nor she gets it. She pursues something else.
Not sure what to make of the novel. It’s quite well written but leaves me somewhat confused. I assume it had to be a kind of psychological study of a person in the grip of addiction, in a tangle of desires impossible to satiate. Some readers perhaps will see there hidden, erotic fantasies of the author though I don’t read it that way. But I struggle to understand it. And it doesn’t help the novel has any likeable protagonist. Even Lucien, Adele’s boy, is tetchy and mostly irritating little shit. The same with Richard, he seems to love Adele, but, by Lord, he rather adores her than something else. Perhaps he will build her improvised altar yet to worship object of his affection. It’s highly dysfunctional family, we get a glimpse yet of her parents and relationships with Rachard's family as well, and I think Slimani rather managed to render Adele’s inner life pretty well. My problem is that I couldn’t care about her at all. It was all the same to me if Richard will finally learn out about her activities or will she escape with her double life. Slimani wrote cold, almost clinical report on unhappy woman that I couldn’t relate to.
In a way Adele reminds her more known literary predecessor, Emma Bovary. Okay, okay, I can hear you. It’s different league. I can see that. But I thought some likeness was not that coincidental. Adele, though rather unpleasant figure, felt to me believable. I could see her tiredness, I could feel the boredom that ate her away yet something was off. Something lacked.
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Reading Progress
December 2, 2018
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December 4, 2018
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Ilse
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rated it 3 stars
Jan 02, 2019 04:50AM
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Thanks, Fran, and all the best to you too!
Yes, these 3 stars reads are sometimes so difficult to relate to; you like them but not love them, and in the end you're completely thorn what to make of them. But fortunately Jon McGregor's novel was not this case at all!
Thank you, Katia. I got to know Slimani only from this novel though perhaps she's more known for Lullaby. Not sure though if I want to read it, not now for sure.
Hey, Joanka :) I agree with your statement. I too prefer books that engage me in the story and protagonists' life, that more involve the reader. It feels easier thst way. I may like them or dislike, it's not that important, but I feel something. The worst to me feel situation when we experience only detachment or apathy.
I kind of admire Slimani for trying — if that is what she was doing.
Exactly, your every word!
Yes, David. I think Slimani choose deliberately that kind of narrative here but that distanced approach left me rather underwhelmed in the end.
Sounds like a very good read... your review conveys the unique nature of the story and how it has been framed...great review thanks
Will be curious your experience with Slimani's writing, Lisa. I think I rather put her other novels off later.
Many thanks, Dolors. Haven't seen the film so can only guess Fasbinder approached the subject to better effect. Also film as a visual art has sometimes better means of expression, I think.
Thank you very much for your generous words, Lucille. I'm not saying no to Slimani but I rather wait some time befor embark on her another novel.
Thanks, Fio, and yes, I think resemblance to Flaubert's novel was not accidental at all. But Slimani only partially succeeded there. To me the main problem was not being able to relate or care for Adele at all. I have no problem with negative protagonists, I do love deliciously rendered villains in literaure so this is not a case. I just don't give a damn if Adele was a slut or not but I should feel for her because of her empty life if not other things, yet, still coudn't. As I said earlier I thought it was strange read to me.
My pleasure, Shankar. Glad you enjoyed the review. Hopefully it appeal to you more. Will be curious your response to the story.
Many thanks, Robin. Glad we share similar feelings for the read. I wish I could like or appreciate it more, alas, it left me too unconcerned for Adele' fate and life to bother.