Cosmetique de L'ennemi (Le Livre De Poche)

Nothomb's characters often challenge readers' perceptions of right and wrong. I'm curious what motivated this particular focus on moral complexity.

There were moments where the tension seemed to build slowly before surging — was that intentional to reflect the characters' psychological states?

As a reader unfamiliar with some cultural references, I wondered how much of the story's depth relies on French societal context.