Cake Fit for a King
January 12, 2015
Hot Tickets
January 12, 2015
Suspenseful. Complex. Clever. These are the literature qualities that surface when reading E. Lockhart’s newest novel “We Were Liars.” Oh… and deceit, there’s a lot of deceit as the title suggests.
Recognized as a National Award finalist and honoree of the Printz Award (a big deal in the Young Adult literature world), this book will not disappoint those looking for a unique and, at some points, frustrating read. If you have patience or want to test your patience and don’t care for happy endings, this book has your name on it!
The story begins with Cadence Sinclair Eastman, a teenage girl who “own[s] a well-used library card and not much else, though it is true [she] live[s] in a grand house full of expensive, useless objects.” She comes from money and is obviously not happy about it. She is damaged, confused and alone. After briefly talking about her current life of migraines and pain, she tells the story of her life before the “accident.”
Cadence, her two cousins and part-time friend/lover spend every summer together on their grandfather’s island. Yes, he owns the island. The parents begin to call them “the liars” because of their summer antics of lies. They lie to protect each other. They lie to protect themselves.
One particular summer, after Cadence’s accident, however, there is more lying than usual. She doesn’t remember what happened two summers back. All she can recall is being at the bottom of the lake as her hands quickly go numb just before waking up in a hospital. When she approaches her family about the events before and after this calamity, everyone tiptoes around the truth. Well aware of her memory loss, Cadence spends this particular summer seeking to find answers buried deep beneath years of lies.
The strength of this plot relies heavily on the four well-developed, emotionally personified liars: Cadence, Mirren, Johnny and Gat.
Though Cadence’s unfortunate accident is the primary focus, each character suffers from his/her own personal injustice. Their intertwined relationships are relatable, allowing readers to connect with at least one character – which is always a nice, thoughtful touch to a good book. The best books, after all, are ones in which readers can see themselves, walking away with something more or something useful. Yes, I’m one of those readers who believes fiction can be just as powerful as non-fiction. I know, I know, some might say this is blasphemous, in which we can agree to disagree.
The author uses a sort of fragmented prose (which can become irritating and will not suit everyone’s taste), while dangling secrets in front of readers’ noses – maybe a little too much so. There were a few points in the story where I was like, “Come on, and tell me already!” But Lockhart is smart, using this crafty manipulation to keep readers engaged – the magic evidentially worked on me.
I will say, however, that the “twist” in the story did not surprise me because of the constant building up of secrets. When you know the author is trying to trick you ahead of time, you begin to anticipate unexpected resolutions to a story, ultimately making the “twist” nearly predictable.
Despite its few frustrations, this book is definitely worth reading. It encourages readers to use their imaginations, building on what they already know. As the multitude of lies unravels, the truth is revealed and story resolved, which is a lot like real life, isn’t it?
Book reviewer Rachel LeCompte is a library lover who is constantly looking to books for entertainment and insight. She thinks reading fiction can be just as enlightening as non-fiction.
E. Lockhart’s “We Were Liars” is a suspensful, complex and clever work. Despite its few frustrations, it is definitely worth reading.
