Welcome to Litsy!

A successful day as I finished two books I had on the go. I‘ve read both of Sophie Mackintosh‘s two previous books and can say that this most definitely is similar in tone and feel to those. It‘s part fable, part examination of the constricted lives of women - set in an undisclosed location and time period. Mackintosh‘s books can be occasionally uncomfortable reads - delving into secret desires - but they are thought provoking and memorable.

Ummmmm, if you think you‘re going to get a story about the mysterious poisoning of a French village in 1951, it won‘t be in this one. 99% revolves around a woman unfulfilled in her marriage.

No quibbles with the writing, it‘s unconventional and there is plenty of engaging character development, albeit of dislikable characters.

Nonetheless, the blurb is very misleading. I really wanted the mystery!

What a bizarre little book. A mysterious and wealthy couple moves to a small French village (post wwii) and Élodie, the neglected wife of the baker, develops a psychosexual obsession with them. That is most of the book! Based on the real life mass poisoning ?☠️ of Pont-Saint-Esprit in 1951, I think I got more out of the book knowing that bit of history. (And also having read Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead.) I loved it but it‘s not for everyone!

Me, absolutely delighted: WHAT is wrong with these people?

Not very far into this one so far, and I understand all of the mixed reviews/comments. It‘s totally working for me though.

“The trick is forgetting for one moment and then forgetting for another moment and then look, the moments run together like a string of beads, and there is heartbreak in the forgetting of heartbreak, in the forgetting of pain, which returns bright and pulsing regardless of the seconds it has been put aside.”

I recommend going into this book cold (knowing there will be some sexy bits, in case you aren‘t into that). Knowing the premise was a bit spoilery for me. Also, I suck at bread making, but I made, ate, & survived this.

This had its moments but ultimately was too 🦇💩for my tastes.

The kind of edgy fever-dream that I love, and I loved this. It‘s a particular kind of hazy read which won‘t be for everyone. Although this is definitely a vibe that works for me, knowing the historical case that inspired this novel before I began reading helped me to appreciate some of the more obscure stages of the narrative. I enjoyed this reading experience slowly. Mackintosh is the kind of writer you can do that with.

Love a good epigraph

Blech. Way too much focus on sex for me. I didn‘t really get on with the writing style either (very decadent). Note to self: If a book is described as erotic, sensual or sumptuous, steer clear!

Such a shame because I love this cover and the true story of the 1951 mass poisoning of a French village is so fascinating and mysterious. Mackintosh was successful in creating a thick, fevered atmosphere, but I just wanted more. #WomensPrize

This is a pick for me, but not a strong one. I kind of liked it but I didn‘t have a clue what was going on most of the time!

It certainly won‘t be on my #womensprize short list, but I can see why it made the long list it‘s the kind of quirky, weird, surreal book that often does well in these sort of competitions.

This is a very weird little book. I actually like the plot and the when/how the plotting is done. A lot is held back to the end, making you think back on the book. But I just didn‘t care for the writing. Just weird.

Catching up on GR and realized I didn't review this anywhere yet.

I loved this book. It felt so French I looked up 2x the author's nationality. Set in a small 1950's French village revolving around the Bakers Wife it is a study of a town when a glamorous couple "the ambassadors" come to stay. A bit erotic, a bit mysterious, very character driven. I found it fascinating. How the women's lives revolved around the men in town & what that means

I really, really tried. I‘ve loved her other two books but this one just didn‘t do it for me.

The prose was good, but the story was so vague and boooring until the last 15-20 pages of what was fortunately a short book. The reader is trapped in the fantasy/memory of what is clearly an unreliable narrator with a singular focus/obsession and no intention of explaining herself clearly. The prose, vague as it was, kept me going, and the end reveal made it almost worth it.
#WomensPrize 2023 #longlist

A French Village a mass poisoning an unsolved mystery .Sophie Mackintosh Booker nominated author has written an elegant thriller. @DoubledayBooks