Beth F
bermudaonion (Kathy)
Sandy
Michelle
Katie
Liar – Book Review
Liar by Justine Larbalestier
Micah lies. A lot. When she first started her new high school, she let everyone think that she was really a boy. When her lie was finally exposed, she revised her story to say that she was born a hermaphrodite. When her sometimes-boyfriend Zach is killed, Micah’s world turns upside down. She both wants to stop lying and needs to keep lying in order to protect her family secret. She really would like to be able to tell the truth, though, at least to her reader.
Weaving lies is one thing; having them weave you is another.
That’s why I’m writing this. To keep me from going over the edge. I don’t want to be a liar anymore. I want to tell my stories true.
But I haven’t so far. Not entirely. I’ve tried. I’ve really tried. I’ve tried harder than I ever have. But, well, there’s so much and it’s so hard.
I slipped a little. Just a little.
Truly.
I’ll make it up to you, though.
From now on it’s nothing but the truth.
I love narrators who tell you straight out they are unreliable, and Micah is no exception. Sure, she tells you she’ll tell you nothing but the truth, but come on, the title of the book is “Liar,” so you know that isn’t true. In fact, Micah can’t really even help her lies. I knew all along that I had to take everything she said with a grain of salt and I found it fascinating sorting through what was and was not true. I’m still not completely sure what was true, but since neither is Justine Larbalestier, I’m okay with that. Often ambiguous endings really bother me, but when they are done well, as they were in this case, they just make the book stick with me. Liar is going to stick with me for a long time.
If you’re up for an unreliable narrator and an ambiguous ending, this is a must-read.
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Please leave some comment love! 19 comments
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I got this one at BEA and haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. The premise sounds extremely intriguing!
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I really want to read this one! I’m crossing my fingers for your giveaway, but I know I’ll have to get it anyway. I love properly done ambiguous endings.
.-= Meghan´s last blog ..Review: The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan =-.
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Oh gosh. I have this one, which I got at BEA, and now I feel that I need to bump it up in my list.
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Ok, I am now completely convinced that I need to read this book. And I love both unreliable narrators and ambiguous endings!
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Teaser Tuesday: Peony in Love =-.
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When an unreliable narrator is done well, they can really make a book. I definitely want to read this one.
.-= S. Krishna´s last blog ..Bed of Roses – Nora Roberts =-.
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I agree with your review 100%. Even though I couldn’t trust Micah, I still loved her. I read the other day that Larbalestier didn’t know herself what was real and what was fake, and that makes me laugh and also confident that it’s okay that I don’t know either!
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I read this book and liked it too! I agree that the ending worked for this one!
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This sounds interesting. I will have to look for an audiobook.
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You’re right about ambiguous endings – when they’re done right, they make you think, when they’re not they just leave you hanging. I’m anxious to read LIAR.
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I love a good unreliable narrator. Add that to a book that has gotten multiple glowing reviews, and I think we got us a winner here.
.-= Sandy´s last blog ..The Angel’s Game – Carlos Ruiz Zafon (audio) =-.
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I was just at a bookstore and read the opening page to “The Lace Reader” and was struck by the similarities!
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I thought of that too when I was reading this! The only difference is over the course of “The Lace Reader” I promptly forgot that Towner told me she was an unreliable narrator, whereas Micah wouldn’t let me forget.
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I think I’d have to be in just the right mood for this not to annoy me!
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I’ve heard nothing but raves about this book! I need to move it up my pile!
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I have never really read a book narrated by an unreliable person! Well might as well give ti a try!
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I was just thinking what Sarah said about the Lace Reader. I read the first chapter of it last night and can’t help but think about two liars together. I wish my library would get a copy in of this one.
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I picked this one up over the weekend after having waffled on it for awhile. Not quite sure why I was so unsure but your entheusiasm for it pushed more to the pro side
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[...] ~ Liar by Justine Larbalestier, reviewed by Heather at Book Addiction and Jen at Devourer of Books. [...]
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