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Lullaby

“This is what it’s like, being a mother. It makes her a bit silly sometimes. The most banal moments suddenly seem important. Her heart is stirred by the smallest things”

~ L. S.

Trigger warning: suicide, depression, anxiety, graphic content

Leïla Slimani’s Lullaby is a dark tale set in inner Paris about a couple, Myriam and Paul, who employ a nanny named Louise to look after their two children, Mila & Adam. From the beginning, the reader is told that Louise murders these two children. Her simple exterior & quiet demeanour most certainly does not lend itself to an unlikeable character, much less a murderer. Hence, the reader is left having to constantly ask themselves as the story goes on: why?

I was fortunate enough to attend the BBC’S recording of their World Book Club podcast to hear Slimani discuss her book at length with Harriett Gilbert. The floor was open for questions from the audience & many were curious to know more about what inspired the author to write about the rather perverse subject matter of a murderous nanny. She revealed that she writes with no set aim, neither to provoke nor to create tension, rather to move her readers. She spoke of her enjoyment in steering clear of clichés, which she most definitely succeeded in doing by creating a character like Louise who the reader cannot help but feel sorry for, bizarrely enough. I credit Slimani’s talent for character development for almost compelling the reader to feel sympathy for a woman who, due to differences in class, has had to deal with tribulations all her life & who, it is believed, ultimately snapped.

What I find most intriguing about the experience of reading this novel is how readers differ on their opinions of the book’s characters. I, for one, was not much of a fan of Paul, as I found him to be unsupportive & bitter about her return to work. However, I know that not everybody agrees, as it is insisted that some fathers are as Paul is portrayed. Fascinating.

Gruesome, evil & downright creepy, it is no wonder that this book can allegedly be read in one sitting, for it certainly packs a punch, which does well to keep you reading on. I do not recommend it for the light-hearted, but then I do, too, because I really believe it has the power to speak to all, in some form or another.

Sincerely,

Sheeza

🌷

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One True Loves

“If you want to do something, you have to do it”

~ T. J. R.

She’s gone & done it again for me – Taylor Jenkins Reid’s One True Loves follows Emma Blair who finds herself at a crossroads when her once-thought-to-be-deceased husband, Jesse Lerner, comes back. Thought to have died in a helicopter crash, it is a surprise to all when he returns three years later & has been in search of Emma the entire time. What should be a happy ending transforms into a crisis when Sam Kemper is added into the mix – the man she moved on with.

I appreciate the concepts behind her books; her blurbs are captivating & tempt me to find out more! Having read another one of her books, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I was in awe of the way in which Reid handled the fairly cliché concepts of a well-known actress’ controversial journey to fame. Fortunately, Reid did not disappoint here either, handling the otherwise banal power struggle between heart-throb Jesse & the more introverted Sam in a way that provided myself with almost a new perspective on what has now become a traditional trope.

Cliché (but I like it) I grew to love reading what I have seen been done so often in films before, but only because of – or rather, thanks to – Reid’s immaculate suspense building!

Team Sam There is no contest in my mind as to who Emma should choose (personally).

Jesse’s character development is immense … Yay! It was a relief to see a character who I initially found to be nauseating evolve from an entitled teenager to a husband ready to see the world with his partner by his side. Huzzah!

I’m just not sure I really like Emma. Her ambivalence really started to grate on me; I felt that it set the tone for the rest of the novel, perhaps to its detriment. That said, I am slowly making peace with the possibility that it may just be a case of, as a discerning reader, having very little patience for the way in which she would take actions with uncertainty … Maybe.

All in all, a delightful book to dive right into when in the mood for a blanket, coupled with a cuppa & cosy read.

Sincerely,

Sheeza

☃︎

Posted on by sheeza

Worlds of You: Poetry & Prose

“People are oceans. You cannot know them by their surface.”

– B. T.

Another blog post, another Beau Taplin shoutout, this time for Worlds of You.

I picked this book up knowing I’d need that pick-me-up that poetry offers. As I didn’t have my trusty journal to hand, I have with me now a quote- that I scribbled on an appointment letter of mine-, which I couldn’t not make a note of:

“Love is supposed to have sharp edges, it is supposed to be messy & unsensible, & if you go your whole life trying to keep your heart out of harm’s way, you miss out on all of love’s magic.”

I feel like, too often, one deems love a messiah, which it sort of is, but many forget that love has no universal manual; it is so dependent on the two persons involved (& whatever may be brought to the table with them) When two friends, partners, siblings- whosoever- interact, it would be near impossible (not to mention dull) for them not to bring with them their own special uniqueness, that which makes them them. A big thank you to Beau for reminding me of this one.

He writes about the kind of love that we all secretly or explicitly, low-key or high-key, are looking for. The reader may well find themselves coming face-to-face with lessons that are difficult to learn & accept. Taplin, though, writes about them in a way that consoles the reader, making them feel that little less alone in their hurt or worry.

Having said that, Taplin brings to light the necessity to find beauty in the little things, which love helps us to do, as we put on our rose-tinted glasses with our hearts urging us to never feel less than how we do: happy to be in the present.

Taplin teaches the importance of forgiveness towards moving on from a hardship, of looking pain in the eye with the resolve of one who will see it through.

He reminds the reader of the healing & restorative power that comes with the written word, as it can express feelings that are otherwise too difficult- or private- to say aloud to another.

Taplin provides a safe space with his poetry & prose for coming to terms with home truths, one of them being in relation to pain from a loved one being most felt. As I find myself doing with his poetry, Taplin allows for the reader to realise the inevitable hurt that can come with love … & jumping in anyway.

Taplin writes:

“Soon enough, we will all be bones in the ground, the oceans will dry up, the sun will burn out, & nobody will be around to remember we were here at all. So go, spend your time here with heart. Find what matters to you & manifest it while you can. Because while this universe we inhabit may be infinite & unfeeling, we are not, & that is our gift.”

Already anticipating the next arrival, with open arms x.

Sincerely,

Sheeza

✍🏼

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The Little Prince

“Only the children know what they are looking for”

– A. S. E.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince (translated by Katherine Woods) tells the story of two men who meet after finding themselves both stranded in the Sahara.

One of them- known as the little prince– embarks on informing the other about all that he’s seen on his adventures around the universe, which in actual fact represents a microcosm of society, one that the little prince found he wanted very little to do with, since it revealed

gluttony

usurpation

insecurity

the fear to be oneself

& the thirst for power

Many are confused as to what type of story the book is (if it is an allegory or fairytale, a parable or folktale) I quite like how it is all of them, yet none: it needs no label to have done its job of reminding the reader to hold on to their inquisitive child self. I for one was certainly made to believe the notion that ‘grown-ups’ are overrated because they let go of whimsical dreaming & settle for reasoning. It is ‘being a child’ that allows for one to show genuine interest & actual presence in the today before them.

Finding beauty in all things, finding the treasure in the little things Saint-Exupéry lets it be known that things of beauty are destined for greatness, inspiring the reader to remain steadfast in maintaining a mind, body & soul that is rid of toxicity & rather coated with authenticity:

“& since it is beautiful, it is truly useful”

With imagination comes beauty, magic, power & ample miracles, of that I have been made more sure, having read about the little prince, who represents the miracle that comes with being a creative sort, as creativity paints the banality of life in a less harsh colour & helps individuals such as the little prince to look past realities of the world, like greed for power & authority, for instance.

Grown-ups are just as human as those a little less aged, who are simply trying their hand at life, who are neither as enlightened nor as learned as children tend to assume. The little prince affirms this & now I do, too.

A takeaway I can’t get out of my mind is the following fact: in everyone we meet, there lies a lesson, something to learn. This is particularly true of those we may encounter who we feel do not bring out the best in us. The least we can do is figure out what lesson they’ve taught us- how not to talk, act or carry ourselves, for example- so that we may become better selves anyway.

The little prince from Asteroid B-612 has my heart, as do the illustrations provided by Saint-Exupéry. As such, I would’ve preferred a different end to the tale (tempted yet?)

To my honest surprise, all in all: a short book full of complexity & meanders. Having said that, post-reading me was full of questions. Thus, the book is thought-provoking & compelling as it encourages the reader to think outside of the box, just like the narrator wanted when he first illustrated an elephant being swallowed whole by a boa constrictor …

…

… You’ll just have to read the book to find out what I mean. Very worth your while, I think you’ll find.

Sincerely,

Sheeza

✍🏼

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Bloom

“Never be sorry for who you are. Your personality should never be shrouded in what society expects of you.

Be shamelessly, unapologetically you. You will find the world rallies behind those who carve roads of their own.”

– B. T.

Beau Taplin’s Bloom is a collection of words that aim to

liberate

heal

remind

& advise

I first came across Beau Taplin online, where he’s made quite the wonderful name for himself as an Instagram poet; to have received one of his books as a gift was a surprise that I am yet to really get over (& I hope I never do!)

Bloom is no ordinary book of poetry, for it combines stunning typography with words that provide a steady shoulder to its reader.

There was no way of predicting what the next page turn would entail, as one side writing about pain would be followed by another describing the process of coming out of the other side a stronger being.

A thing of magic I had come to realise upon finishing this read is how seamlessly Taplin was able to mingle strengthening statements with pained affirmations. Choosing to structure his poetry in this way illustrates the way in which life is made up of both good & ‘bad’, easy & tricky; how blessings & tribulations are symbiotic, not disparate.

Taplin does well to remind readers of hurt that is inevitable & unavoidable. He does even better to encourage the belief that one does not have to remain crippled as a result of such affliction, but can rather escape with the thought alone that experiencing & overcoming is part & parcel of one’s involvement with the universe we are a part of.

I could go on.

In short, poetry has a way of making me feel that little bit more empowered, tall & inspired. I find myself reaching for it particularly during times where I’m in need of a little pick-me-up. It’s my little saving grace, because it finds words that, at times, I’m unable to come up with myself. I’m sure other fellow avid readers of poetry would attest to it being their guardian angel in a very similar way, also. A special shoutout to Beau Taplin for being a poet who never fails to bring out a few smiles, tears & laughter out of this reader, time & time again.

Sincerely,

Sheeza

✍︎