Watch Us Dance

Reviews

“A rich family saga . . . [written with] voluptuous lyricism and emotional precision . . . Ambitious . . . Kaleidoscopic . . . Compelling.” —The Washington Post

“It is no small feat to render a place and time as vividly as Slimani does in Watch Us Dance.” —The Cut

“Explores identity, rebellion, race and family dynamics in rich, irresistible prose.” —Ms. magazine

“There are several [books on my nightstand] right now, but only one that I can’t put down, and that is Watch Us Dance by Leila Slimani. . . . It’s terrific.” —Claudine Gay, Harvard University

“Engrossing . . . Quietly devastating . . . [Slimani] has the novelist’s rare skill of being able to nail a life in a single observation. . . . A novel that glides along with swan-like grace.” —The Sunday Times (U.K.)

“[A] rich account of how a family’s life entwines with history . . . Sprawling, enjoyable . . . Enlivened with richly descriptive writing that never romanticizes its subject matter.” —The Telegraph
 
“Convincing and enveloping . . . Expansive and intimate . . . [with] enthralling passages of lush description . . . expert precision and perceptiveness . . . and vivid, colorful brushstrokes . . . Slimani’s writing is beautifully atmospheric and has a panoramic, classic quality.” —Financial Times

“Engrossing . . . Watch Us Dance brings the complexity of the post-colonial period in Morocco vividly to life.” —Elle (U.K.)

“One of Slimani’s most ambitious [novels] yet . . . A story about rebellion and repression, belonging and appearance, love and its betrayal. It is infused with a raw earthiness.” —The Economist

“Although Slimani’s vibrant imagery evokes the sights, sounds, and smells of Morocco, the themes feel universal.” —The New Statesman

“Adeptly paints a portrait of Morocco at a complicated moment in time.” —Town & Country

“[A novel whose] themes emerge gracefully in Slimani’s languid, atmospheric prose.” —Star Tribune

“A super interesting book . . . A global literary thriller . . . It’s page-turning, it’s dishy, it’s kind of sexy . . . From a fiction-reading perspective, this might be my number-one pick on this list [of candidates for the ‘it’ book of June].” —Jeff O’Neal, First Edition: A Book Riot Podcast

“A tense page-turner . . . complete with the realities of corruption, racism, influence, celebration, and American hippies practicing free love and drugs.” —Fathom

“Heartfelt . . . A powerful portrait of a country and family in transition and characters bombarded by prejudice . . . Seamlessly shifts perspectives among the four family members, each perspective captivating in its own way.” —Shelf Awareness

“Convincing and immersive . . . An accomplished portrait of a time and place . . . Slimani continues to prove herself a powerful writer.” —Publishers Weekly

“An illuminating intergenerational drama . . . Paint[s] a comprehensive picture of a family and a country in the grips of an identity crisis.” —Kirkus Reviews Expand reviews