The Witch

Fiction

Mar 22

About the book

Author: Marie NDiaye, translated by Jordan Stump
Publisher: Vintage (US translated edition)

More info:
The StoryGraph | Goodreads
Note: Content and trigger warnings are provided for those who need them at the bottom of this page. If you don’t need them and don’t want to risk spoilers, don’t scroll past the review.

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My review

The Witch, which was originally published in French 30 years ago and has only now been translated into English, first piqued my interest because I’m on the hunt for more literary fiction with speculative elements. Then it was nominated for the International Booker, and so it jumped to the top of my TBR pile.

The story is about a woman who comes from a matrilineal line of witches. She herself only has a few drops of power, but when she sets out to teach her daughters, their skills quickly eclipse hers. From there, the book becomes more and more uncanny and unsettling, until we have no idea what is real and all we can do is trust that Ndiaye will bring us through to the other side.

Be warned: You have to enjoy a book that’s more about the vibes and less about following the plot if you’re going to like this one. But if that’s your thing, look no further. It manages to feel very timely despite its original publication year of 1966, and it raises questions about both marginality and motherhood (particularly the complicated feelings that arise when children “fly higher” than their parents).

Pick it up if you like a book that makes you think more than it offers answers.