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A review by that_kitten
Liar by Justine Larbalestier
5.0
This book was twisty and turny and deliciously screwy. Micah's voice is rough, seedy, and oddly genuine. Given the fact that she's a complete liar-faced liar with a side of liar, I mean.
Yes, this is the book of whitewashing fame. I admit, the whole debacle over the coverfail was what informed me about the existence of LIAR in the first place, which I both find horrible and am thankful for, since I loved it. I wonder if I would have heard about it otherwise. I hate to think I wouldn't have.
LIAR is the sort of book that straddles genres in an effortless way that few can. I can't go into too much detail without giving major plot points away, but suffice to say Larbalestier makes the unbelievable believable in brisk, easy strokes.
She also does something many have attempted and few have succeeded at: she created a character who should be intensely disliked, but is somehow able to draw us into her pain and make us genuinely care about her. Micah is odd, aloof, and fairly mean. She's also a compulsive liar. Yet I spent the majority of this book pulling for her.
The style of the chapter breaks is something a little different, as well. A little convoluted to follow if you're not paying attention, but very clever. The writing is a splendid split between literary and gritty, while still believably teenager-y.
After plowing your way through, you'll still have no idea what exactly to believe. The web of lies is so flawless, so complete, it'll have you wondering what was real. If any of it was real.
Buy this book. It's worth your money. Plus, in doing so you can send the message to bookstores that consumers WILL TOO buy books with people of color on the cover. Win-win, really.
Yes, this is the book of whitewashing fame. I admit, the whole debacle over the coverfail was what informed me about the existence of LIAR in the first place, which I both find horrible and am thankful for, since I loved it. I wonder if I would have heard about it otherwise. I hate to think I wouldn't have.
LIAR is the sort of book that straddles genres in an effortless way that few can. I can't go into too much detail without giving major plot points away, but suffice to say Larbalestier makes the unbelievable believable in brisk, easy strokes.
She also does something many have attempted and few have succeeded at: she created a character who should be intensely disliked, but is somehow able to draw us into her pain and make us genuinely care about her. Micah is odd, aloof, and fairly mean. She's also a compulsive liar. Yet I spent the majority of this book pulling for her.
The style of the chapter breaks is something a little different, as well. A little convoluted to follow if you're not paying attention, but very clever. The writing is a splendid split between literary and gritty, while still believably teenager-y.
After plowing your way through, you'll still have no idea what exactly to believe. The web of lies is so flawless, so complete, it'll have you wondering what was real. If any of it was real.
Buy this book. It's worth your money. Plus, in doing so you can send the message to bookstores that consumers WILL TOO buy books with people of color on the cover. Win-win, really.