Adele

Product Information

The same with Richard, he seems to love Adele, but, by Lord, he rather adores her than something else. I don't know what I was expecting when I started this book but, whatever it was, I didn't get it and THANK YOU TO THE BOOK GODS!

Elias, a Roman, stands at the crossroads of nostalgia and reality as he embarks on a quest in the captivating city of Marrakesh, in pursuit of his long-lost love, Malika. So this short novel is slightly flawed, but hey, this was Slimani's debut, and she was certainly not playing it safe, and I appreciate that. Slimani doesn't descend to pop psychological 'reasons' for Adele being the way she is - she just is. A quick read but an exhilarating one written in pared back prose: transgressive, subversive, likely to divide readers, and yes, enigmatic and provocative rather than transparent.Adèle is, seemingly, the contented wife of a surgeon, raising a son that she adores while excelling at her job as a journalist. This also has a terrific sense of place – it's a great Paris novel, full of the city's meaningful geography, and Adèle herself is a quintessential Parisienne, who feels an existential horror at her husband's plan to move to a big house en province. Although Adèle grew up experiencing her parents' marriage as ordinary and suffocating, she is now, at 37, married to an ordinary doctor (hello, Madame Bovary) and has a little son, because, well, that's what people do. For all the pain and misfortune in the early life of the intrepid narrator, it is most of all about the connective, transformative power of art and soulful community. I found virtually nothing to relate to in Adele’s character, and it was really hard to have any sympathy for her.

Adele Bertei always came across as a magnificent talent to those of us who met her when she came to Birmingham in 1981 to play alongside the left feminist and anti-racist punk 'n reggae musicians of the time. But her subsequent confessionals about surviving infidelity, divorce and family life resonated considerably more widely and won her fans aorund the world.

The wider world hovers at the edges: Adèle’s brief enthusiasm for her work leads to an immersion in the revolutions of north Africa, before journalism too becomes part of “the whole idiotic charade”; towards the end of the novel comes a reference to her Algerian father’s sense of dislocation from his roots and her mother’s indifference to it. There were times where the character’s description was basic, and sometimes Adele’s presence would be too exposed, but all the characters are different in their own way, and every story has its purpose and its lesson. In Adèle, everything is a trap: marriage is dull and oppressive, casual flings are seedy and unfulfilling, being single is such a horrifying prospect that constant misery is preferable, and one's worth as a woman can only be reinforced through male (sexual) approval. Adèle's fate is also less melodramatic, and did not strike me in the same way as a case of punitive moralising.

But it's still a relevant one, and some might say more authentic when written from the perspective of a female author. Among other things, they hate marmite and opera, they love smelly cheese and the missionary position and they both absolutely do not want children.

In the end, "My Trip to Adele" remains a book with untapped potential, leaving readers yearning for a more fulfilling literary journey. When her son gets hurt on her ex husband’s third wedding – Nadia decides that she would fight for her and her son, she will no longer be trapped, and she will finally enjoy a lovely holiday with her son – going to Adele’s concert in Rome. I am also a huge movie buff and my other interests include listening to music, spending time with my dog Drax, reading, and blogging.

What if it was reasonable rather than self-destructive or self-pitying for a woman to feel constricted by family life and ask for more? I was born in Jerusalem in 1944 and spent my early childhood in many different countries because my father was in the Colonial Service.Then, inconveniently, her best friend falls for husband number one - estranged Elvis impersonator - and they all head for a showdown in Las Vegas. The language barrier is proving tricky, and the company of a gorgeous American stranger is proving tempting. doesn’t know exactly what she wants but she knows what she doesn’t want and I think this will resonate with a lot of readers.