A novelist followed her mother's advice: The more you read, the freer you are

Novelist Leïla Slimani spent her childhood in Morocco navigating two different worlds. Inside her home, she found freedom and open discourse. Outside, she faced strict social pressures and constant warnings to remain silent. Her mother provided a guide through this environment by emphasizing the value of education and reading as a path to independence.

Slimani’s latest work, I'll Take the Fire, continues a trilogy based on her own family. Her upbringing as a child of a French grandmother and a Moroccan grandfather shaped her view of identity. She notes that her mother urged her to achieve financial independence so that she would never rely on a man for her well-being. This advice became a core theme in her life and her writing.

When she moved to France, Slimani expected a new reality of freedom. Instead, she found a different set of challenges and social hazards. This experience informs her work, which explores the tension between belonging and the danger of being forced to choose sides. She writes not to provide simple answers, but to capture the complexity of the human experience.

Today, Slimani acknowledges that her focus on writing requires a degree of selfishness. She prioritizes her work, expecting those around her to adjust to her schedule. This internal focus allows her to explore truths that journalism often cannot touch. Her journey from a child who was told to be silent to an internationally recognized novelist highlights the power of the written word.