Converting shame into anger is constructive, says author Neige Sinno

At the Hindu Lit for Life 2026 on Saturday (January 17, 2026), French novelist Neige Sinno in conversation with Priya Ramani, spoke about her critically acclaimed memoir Sad Tiger translated into English by Natasha Lehrer. The book takes an unflinching look at being sexually abused by her stepfather, but the purpose of the book is beyond that. Sad Tiger, she said, is not about “closing the book and moving on,” but about exploring something direct, painful, and opening the door.

She spoke about how it is urgent to begin conversations around child sexual abuse. “Many people try to start this conversation differently,” she said, “which is not going to happen if there is no dialogue between adults and children, between men and women, between those who have been abused and those who have not, and professors, journalists, because it concerns us all.” As the book is now being discussed in different countries, she finds it strange but also a reason to celebrate.

On the lack of justice for women abused in childhood, Ms Ramani noted that the perpetrators often continue to control the narrative. For which, Ms. Sinno commented that the society is slowly learning to recognise the power structures and expose how these work. The author called it “unfair” when she sees the burden to protect children is almost entirely on mothers. Ms. Sinno said it is the society that needs to be collectively responsible and provide a safer environment for children, from professors, fathers, grandparents, aunts to everyone.

“We are very fast to judge, and lots of people focus on the mother figure. We know the perpetrator is guilty but since we feel there is little we can do, we turn mothers into scapegoats. We fail to see this as a structural problem,” she added. Ms. Sinno also spoke about the trial of Gisèle Pelicot, and her own examination of what goes on in the perpetrator’s mind. “It is finally time to integrate the information that perpetrators are often people close to the victim like the family members,” added her.

“Ultimately, what I try to do with the book is also explore many things that are paradoxical. I would like to analyse my story as an example of systemic violence, make it a political subject and get out of the private sphere, but I also know what happened to me put me in a place of subjective loneliness. And I try to be honest to these unresolved contradictions in the book,” added Ms. Sinno.

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