French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani on feminism & freedom
Summary
Terry Gross interviews novelist Leila Slimani about her new book, *I’ll Take the Fire*, which concludes a trilogy inspired by her mixed-race Moroccan-French family. Slimani discusses themes of identity, colonialism, and the criminalization of sexuality in Morocco, drawing on her parents’ experiences with government oppression and social hypocrisy. She also reflects on her journey from journalism to fiction, the influence of Simone de Beauvoir, and the challenges of balancing motherhood with her writing career.
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Great Wolf Lodge
Introduction to Leila Slimani and her trilogy
Why she wrote the trilogy: family identity
Tribalism, identity politics, and dual heritage
Family contradictions: liberal home vs. public silence
Her father's career, conviction, and exoneration
Her mother as a pioneering doctor and moral duty
Women's rights, illiteracy, and social judgment
Personal experiences of injustice and starting to write
Moroccan laws on sexuality and social inequality
Sponsors: FX Alien Earth and Whole Foods
Impact of upbringing on her view of sexuality
Moving to France: expectations vs. reality
The cost of freedom and being a writer
Sponsors: FX Love Story and Whole Foods
Cultural differences: generosity in Morocco vs. France
Influence of Simone de Beauvoir on her worldview
Balancing motherhood, writing, and non-traditional roles
Sponsors: FX Alien Earth and Whole Foods
Reflections on being raised by a nanny
Hiring a nanny and managing maternal guilt
Being detained in Tunisia with her infant
Transition from journalism to fiction
Preview of next episode and show credits
Sponsors: DSW and A Braver Way
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