The Quiet Tenant

Author Clémence Michallon shared in an Instagram post her 12-track accompanying playlist for The Quiet Tenant, elaborating on each song’s connection to the work in the caption and comments (Michallon, Clémence. Photo of The Quiet Tenant official playlist. Instagram, 11 Aug. 2023). Listen to each piece with Michallon’s notes in mind and explain how these songs contribute to your experience of the novel. What is revealed as you consider the lyrics in relation to the story?

How might the narrative change if Aidan’s perspective were directly revealed through the narration? How might his voice complicate, complement, or dilute Michallon’s aims to keep the focus on the targets of such crimes rather than the perpetrators?

Why does Michallon wait so long to reveal “Rachel’s” real name? How does the protagonist’s lack of a real name emphasize her situation within the overall narrative, and how does it alter your perception of her character?