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jackiehorne's review against another edition
4.0
4 1/2, if I could give 1/2 stars...
Is Micah a werewolf? Or is she a girl with severe mental illness, schizophrenia, perhaps, who becomes violent when she does not take her medication? I find it more satisfying to believe the latter -- such a reading asks more from me as reader than the werewolf scenario does. But I like that Larbalestier refuses to give the reader a definitive answer, allowing each of us to make the choice about what (if anything) to believe about Micah's story, how to read it/her, and by extension, how to read/interpret anything/anyone.
A book that talking about with others would give me as much pleasure as reading it does...
Would you teach this in a fantasy class? In a YA novel class? The choice would already predetermine certain readings, no, and foreclose others?
Is Micah a werewolf? Or is she a girl with severe mental illness, schizophrenia, perhaps, who becomes violent when she does not take her medication? I find it more satisfying to believe the latter -- such a reading asks more from me as reader than the werewolf scenario does. But I like that Larbalestier refuses to give the reader a definitive answer, allowing each of us to make the choice about what (if anything) to believe about Micah's story, how to read it/her, and by extension, how to read/interpret anything/anyone.
A book that talking about with others would give me as much pleasure as reading it does...
Would you teach this in a fantasy class? In a YA novel class? The choice would already predetermine certain readings, no, and foreclose others?
debbiebarr's review against another edition
4.0
This book was very well written. I think the premise is so interesting, and was quite a feat to pull off. It's also one of those books that makes you think. What is Micah telling the truth about? Which parts are real, and which parts are made up? The conclusion doesn't tie up all the lose ends, either, so you're left wondering, even after the story is finished.
There was some swearing (with "major" words) and some parts with teenagers doing what teenagers do, but it didn't go in depth, and didn't bother me, but it might bother some.
There was some swearing (with "major" words) and some parts with teenagers doing what teenagers do, but it didn't go in depth, and didn't bother me, but it might bother some.
raincorbyn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
therealkathryn's review against another edition
3.0
Some parts of this worked really well and others didn't click for me. A decent read but nothing exceptional in the end.
thestoryowl's review against another edition
3.0
I devoured this book and I have to admit that I love it just about as much as I hate it. How can that be, you ask? I can't tell you. You have to read it yourself.
readingjag's review against another edition
3.0
Although I liked this book, it wound over and around itself so much that at the end I was left wishing I knew what had really happened. I guess a pathological liar is pretty much the most unreliable narrator ever. It wasn't at all what I was expecting.
thukpa's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure I liked the ambiguity of the ending. I guess I'd hoped for a tie-up at the end to confirm or deny my own theories.
katiemichellereads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Micah is a compulsive liar. She had lied all her life, but now her boyfriend is dead and she needs to tell the truth to someone, even if nobody believes her. She promises to be completely honest in her retelling of what happened, even letting you in on the lies she told to other people -- but never to you, of course.
This book was really interesting, although not quite what I had been expecting going in. I do admit it kept me hooked, though. Something about seeing the table of contents with the three parts -- "Telling the Truth," "Telling the True Truth," "The Actual Real Truth" -- and Micah's voice in some parts of the story just kept me reading, needing to know what really happened.
And there were some great aspects of this book. Namely, Micah's lying was done well. It created some unexpected twists and really added something different to the story. It also had such an impact on her voice, and I loved how she talked to the reader. There was something so great and real about that. One time I remember pretty vividly is when she flat out says something like, You believe everything. You're so gullible. I really wish I had highlighted that quote to share, because it was great. It was a great reminder of how unreliable Micah's voice really was here.
There was also the thing with Micah's "family illness" that I would have preferred to go without. Of course I won't be giving spoilers, so I can't get into this aspect so much -- but I didn't expect this at all going into the book, and I probably would have stayed away if I had known. It just seemed a bit too ridiculous to me, and it kind of confused me come the end of the story. Although, it does bring up a lot of questions and leaves a lot for the reader to interpret, which I feel conflicted about. I have a love/hate relationship with open endings, and this one definitely didn't wrap everything up neatly -- nor should it have. Ultimately, it's the reader's decision what they believe of Micah's story.
Overall, I have to say that I had my problems with this book -- but some aspects of it were so well done, and I found myself thinking about Micah and her story days after finishing the book. The compulsive liar aspect was spot on, and it was very impressive to see it in writing.
Micah is a compulsive liar. She had lied all her life, but now her boyfriend is dead and she needs to tell the truth to someone, even if nobody believes her. She promises to be completely honest in her retelling of what happened, even letting you in on the lies she told to other people -- but never to you, of course.
This book was really interesting, although not quite what I had been expecting going in. I do admit it kept me hooked, though. Something about seeing the table of contents with the three parts -- "Telling the Truth," "Telling the True Truth," "The Actual Real Truth" -- and Micah's voice in some parts of the story just kept me reading, needing to know what really happened.
And there were some great aspects of this book. Namely, Micah's lying was done well. It created some unexpected twists and really added something different to the story. It also had such an impact on her voice, and I loved how she talked to the reader. There was something so great and real about that. One time I remember pretty vividly is when she flat out says something like, You believe everything. You're so gullible. I really wish I had highlighted that quote to share, because it was great. It was a great reminder of how unreliable Micah's voice really was here.
There was also the thing with Micah's "family illness" that I would have preferred to go without. Of course I won't be giving spoilers, so I can't get into this aspect so much -- but I didn't expect this at all going into the book, and I probably would have stayed away if I had known. It just seemed a bit too ridiculous to me, and it kind of confused me come the end of the story. Although, it does bring up a lot of questions and leaves a lot for the reader to interpret, which I feel conflicted about. I have a love/hate relationship with open endings, and this one definitely didn't wrap everything up neatly -- nor should it have. Ultimately, it's the reader's decision what they believe of Micah's story.
Overall, I have to say that I had my problems with this book -- but some aspects of it were so well done, and I found myself thinking about Micah and her story days after finishing the book. The compulsive liar aspect was spot on, and it was very impressive to see it in writing.
katietopp's review against another edition
4.0
I feel like I have no idea what happened in this book. But in a good way? Rick Riordan actually had a great review for this book. I agree with everything he said.