With raw intensity, Ariana Harwicz interrogates motherhood, womanhood, the banality of love, the terror of desire, the senseless brutality of it all

In a scruffy patch of French countryside, a woman struggles with her inner demons: embracing exclusion yet needing to belong, craving freedom while feeling trapped, yearning for family life and wanting to burn the entire façade down. Her family’s understanding approach to her increasingly erratic behaviour just makes her feel more imprisoned, more stifled. It’s not a question of if a breaking point will be reached, but rather when - and how violent a form will it take?

The novel has been adapted for the big screen by Scottish director Lynne Ramsay (Ratcatcher, You Were Never Really Here, We Need to Talk About Kevin). The film was released in 2025 and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, LaKeith Stanfield, Nick Nolte and Sissy Spacek. 

Longlisted
The Man Booker International Prize 2018
Published by
Charco Press
Publication date

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Ariana Harwicz

Ariana Harwicz

About the Author

Ariana Harwicz was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in December 1977
More about Ariana Harwicz
Sarah Moses

Sarah Moses

About the Translator

Writer and translator Sarah Moses was born in Toronto, Canada, in October 1980
More about Sarah Moses
Carolina Orloff

Carolina Orloff

About the Translator

Carolina Orloff was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1977
More about Carolina Orloff