owls_rainbow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Suicide attempt
weelasswithabook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
🌟 Domestic thriller
🌟 Translated work
🌈 Morrocan-French author
I don't even know what to say, but that was wild.
Written in third person omniscient, The Nanny allows us to truly view the spiral that Louise ends up in, leading her to the crime she has commited, and the varying moments where it could have been prevented.
There are such subtle point throughout the course of the book which are huge red flags that only us as observers can see, such as the hide and seek game, which made me so uncomfortable, even though it could be viewed as fairly irrelevant. Maybe it's because we knew how the story would unfold, maybe it's parental instinct, but I was uncomfy.
While the book is focused mainly on Louise's experiences, the touches on the kids parents, outside characters, people from Louise's past, we're able to form a fully rounded perception of Louise herself and it's chilling to watch it unfold when you know exactly the point that we end up at.
The prose was wonderful, and I appreciated how it was written, although there are many other books with the same techniques I haven't liked, Leila Slimani seems to have hit the nail on the head and made it truly work for me.
My only gripe is how ambiguous the ending was. I know some people love ambiguous endings (such as The Boy Who Loved Tom Gordon, where I loved the book but the ending made me scream into a pillow), but the frustration I feel is always to the extreme. This is a me problem, not an author problem, I just personally need a story fully rounded off and a resolution.
All in all this was extremely enjoyable and I was kept on the edge of my seat even though I knew exactly what was coming. I can definitely see why the author won an award for this. It felt like a unique telling of a common trope and I'm glad I gave it a chance.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, Blood, Child death, and Cursing
Moderate: Child abuse, Medical content, Racism, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Misogyny and Bullying
bookellys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The rest of the book let’s you in deeper into Louise’s background, her living conditions, her thoughts and anxieties, and her odd behaviour (that I really don’t understand why Myriam and Paul put up with it to be honest!) but I’m not sure it goes deep enough - I’m still scratching my head a little trying to really understand why? When did the fuse get tripped?
Don’t get me wrong, she always demonstrated some questionable behaviours (the chicken??) but she loved the children and the breakdown of that seemed very sudden. We know she was scared of not being needed but there was the potential of another job with the twins 🤷🏼♀️ I’d also have like to know more about what happened with Stephanie.
All the way through this was a 4 star read fir me, in anticipation of a solid conclusion but the end left me underwhelmed and wanting to know more so a 3 star overall. This is a short book, only 207 pages - I’d have definitely liked a few more!
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Child death, Murder, and Child abuse
Moderate: Mental illness
kingsteph's review against another edition
4.25
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcohol and Classism
veelaughtland's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Blood, Child death, Suicide attempt, and Self harm
bullibulle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Child abuse
Minor: Suicide attempt, Violence, Gore, and Blood
eceevirgen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Murder, Suicide attempt, and Child death
mandi4886's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Blood, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Gore, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Stalking, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, Sexism, Toxic friendship, and Suicide
rakizaka's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, Suicide attempt, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Transphobia, Alcohol, Fatphobia, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, and Sexism
Minor: Racial slurs, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Medical content
lovestoriesforsuckers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Murder
Moderate: Classism, Racism, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia