Delphine de Vigan: why we loved "Children are kings", her new novel: Femme Actuelle Le MAG

No way to divulge the plot of Children are kings, the new novel by Delphine de Vigan, to be published Thursday March 4 by Gallimard editions. But here is just enough to make you want to devour this book as chilling as it is fascinating without waiting. Winner of the Renaudot and Goncourt prize for high school students for From a true story (2015), after Loyalties (2018) and Gratitudes (2019), where she explored the laws that structure our lives, Delphine de Vigan is making her comeback with Children are kings. A tenth extra novel that is unlike any of its previous ones.

Children are kings will delight fans of reality TV as much as those it frightens

The book takes us back to the heart of the 2000s and takes us until 2031. It opens with the disappearance of the daughter of the Youtubeuse star Mélanie Claux, the little Kimmy Diore, aged six and turns into a thriller without warning . Before ending in a terrifying dystopia. Delphine de Vigan mixes genres with great skill. To our greatest delight. Children are kings will delight fans of reality TV as much as those it frightens. Mélanie Claux, one of the main characters of the novel (with the inspector Clara Roussel responsible for investigating the kidnapping of her daughter) has indeed been booze on reality TV which fascinates her. Her goal: to become famous as Loana whom she discovered on television and watched in Loft Story with wonder. (Loana to whom journalist Paul Sanfourche recently devoted a solid investigation entitled Sexism story, published by Editions du Seuil).

A dangerous game of seduction

Whether we like it or not, we all have within us some of the members of this very well family in all respects that Delphine de Vigan portrays with great realism. And there is something terrible and chilling about seeing this family explode because of the mother's unrestrained use of social media, where she stages herself with her two children whom she films all the time. The novelist hands us a mirror that is not distorting, that's the worst! She dismantles with precision and talent the mechanisms that lead people like you and me to let themselves be charmed and then grabbed by reality TV and social networks to the point of "share"Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, every moment of their daily life with thousands of subscribers.

Children are kings doesn't just describe the realm of the hottest Instagrammers and influencers. He also and above all depicts behind the scenes. There is something sad and scary about the life of this woman, ready for anything, even to use her children, to be seen, admired and loved by her subscribers in a dangerous game of seduction with luxury brands and consumer goods that flood his family with gifts. Through them, it is the excesses and dangers of our image and consumer society that Delphine de Vigan questions. But also respect for children and their privacy.

Children are kings, by Delphine de Vigan, ed. Gallimard, 348 p., € 20

ed. Gallimard

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