I picked up Les endormies by Magali-Boisnard on a whim, drawn in by that haunting title and cover. What I found was a story that stuck with me long after I turned the last page.

The Story

The book is set in a rural French village in the early 20th century. Life is simple and hard. Then, one by one, the women begin to fall asleep. It's not a gentle nap; it's a profound, coma-like state from which no one can rouse them. They don't starve or waste away—they simply sleep, peacefully, in their beds. The village doctor is baffled. Priests offer prayers, but nothing changes.

The story follows the remaining villagers, especially the men left to run farms and households, and the awake women who watch their friends and sisters disappear into silence. Fear and superstition take root. Some blame a curse, others a new illness. The normal rhythm of life grinds to a halt as the community is paralyzed by this invisible, selective affliction.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't a fast-paced thriller. The magic is in the mood Boisnard creates. You feel the heavy silence of the village, the weight of unanswered questions, and the profound loneliness of both the sleepers and those left behind. It made me think deeply about the invisible burdens carried by the women in the story—their quiet labor, their limited choices. The 'sleep' starts to feel less like a punishment and more like a mysterious, collective withdrawal from a world that asked too much of them.

The characters feel real and worn, like people you might have known in old family photos. Boisnard doesn't give easy answers, which I loved. The mystery of the sleep is the point, forcing you to sit with the unease and wonder about it yourself.

Final Verdict

Perfect for readers who love atmospheric, literary fiction with a touch of the unexplained. If you enjoyed the quiet dread of Shirley Jackson's stories or the exploration of women's inner lives in books by authors like Kate Chopin, you'll find a lot to love here. It's a slow, thoughtful, and ultimately haunting read about community, silence, and the things we escape when we close our eyes.