A review by kjurewicz
The Big Lie by Julie Mayhew

2.0

I have a lot of feelings about this book, so buckle up. My initial reaction is that this book made me angry, for numerous reasons. First, I think the premise of the book had the potential to be interesting and powerful. Instead, the world of the book was poorly constructed. If I had not known beforehand that this book was set in an alternative historical timeline, it would have taken me a long time to figure out what was going on. The use of German felt forced and random; although the glossary at the end was helpful, I didn’t use it because I was just trying to finish reading as quickly as possible. Jumping back and forth in time did not help matters either, especially in the end when no dates were included. Rather than making an interesting non-linear timeline, it just made everything harder to follow. I’m also angry that the Reich’s decision to deny the Holocaust was only briefly mentioned in passing. This should have been a MUCH more significant element to the story and plot. Instead, it’s seemed like Clementine and her family were fighting for some vague idea of personal “freedom” that had nothing to do with anyone else. For a book titled “The Big Lie,” they barely addressed the biggest lie of Nazi Germany. Additionally, the main character made me angry as well. It’s possible that if we were not in the midst of protesting, I may feel differently about her complicity and refusal to challenge the German doctrine. And I also can’t predict how I would react in the face of bodily harm. But she took a long time to start questioning the world around her and didn’t really do it until she was punished for her association with Clementine. Her decision to print the papers was a small act of rebellion, but she didn’t go through with it anyway. Yet she was still caught and punished (was someone specific watching her? The fat man?) Although the ending makes it sound like she might still rebel against the system, based on her character I sincerely doubt it. [SPOILER ALERT FOR 1984]. I think I hated this book because it reminds me of 1984. Winston is a spineless, minor rebel but in the end is “re-educated” by Big Brother in the face of torture. I know not every story can be happy and comfortable but I can’t stand protagonists like this. I should have DNF, but since I sped through the first half in a day, I forced myself to power through. But I was mad the whole time.