Translated from the French by Jordan Stump
I really wanted to like The Witch by Marie NDiaye. Unfortunately, despite an interesting premise, I found the novella largely unengaging.
The story centers on Lucie, a woman with rather unimpressive witchcraft abilities. Her mother possesses considerable power but rarely uses it, while Lucie’s twin daughters, whom she has trained in witchcraft, quickly demonstrate talents far exceeding her own.
There’s an interesting generational dynamic at work here. The men in these women’s lives would prefer they suppress their abilities, while the daughters seem either indifferent to their gifts or increasingly interested in exerting control over their mothers. Beneath the supernatural elements lies a story about family, power, expectations, and the often crushing banality of everyday existence.
I appreciate what NDiaye seems to be exploring. Unfortunately, appreciating a book’s intentions and enjoying its execution are two very different things.
Perhaps something was lost in Jordan Stump’s translation from the original French. Perhaps the deliberate mundaneness was precisely the point. Either way, I struggled to connect with the characters or become invested in their circumstances.
Ultimately, The Witch presented some intriguing ideas, but I finished the book feeling largely apathetic toward everyone involved. For me, that’s a difficult obstacle for any story to overcome.
A Note on AI: In the spirit of transparency, I use artificial intelligence to help challenge my thoughts, streamline my writing, and test ideas. However, all opinions, positions, and conclusions expressed here are entirely my own.
Leave a Reply