Review by themaple_dusk - The Lies We Tell

themaple_dusk 's review for:

The Lies We Tell by Katie Zhao

4.5

inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The big reason I'm not giving this five stars is because this book didn't delve deep enough into systems of oppression and fundamental flaws as I hoped they would. In contrast to pure leftist antiracism, the exploration of anti-Asian racism felt way too liberal. And what I mean by that is that it implies that in order to truly be rid of racism, one could just...trust the systems in place to do the right thing and to just fall on the people around you to help rather than...be rid of said systems altogether.
Racism isn't a bug in these systems; it's a feature.

Conversely, I love the subtle moments throughout the novel that nod to certain aspects of anti-Asian racism, including those often overlooked, encouraging readers who can catch to think deeper.

"I'm not obsessed," snapped
Jessica.
"It's called appreciating different cultures."

White people and culture view racism as...an opportunity. An opportunity for social points, currency even. Social justice and civil rights are a stage, a test to see if you get to pass and be patted on the back for being "not racist." It's all in the abstract. Just have the right beliefs, words to say, etc.
Except...it isn't. Racism affects people in all planes of reality, including physical. People get SA'd and raped, fired and rejected out of jobs, drained of happiness and hope because of racism and its dealers. Murdered.

Another example:

Nobody moved. We all stared around at one another, at the odd divide between us. The international students were huddled on one sofa. On the opposite side of the room, everyone else had taken their spots on the couch and surrounding chairs. Laura, for once, was around. She had perched herself onto the one and only stool. Her ever-growing posse of girlfriends had taken their spots next to her.
So much for DIVERSITY. So much for INCLUSIVE.
Chris and I sat on the floor in the middle of no-man's land, with Devon sitting right beside us.

When reading this section, I couldn't help but wonder if there was some symbolism woven in here.
The division of groups, categorized by race--an artificial and oppressive construct (but still important and should NOT be dismissed)--with Asian and other diaspora of color stuck in the middle. At least, I suspected Devon was a person of color.

Interestingly enough, a lot of times, Anna can be seen trusting her instincts and not dive headfirst into trouble. Not that she's smart as all hell, but she isn't shoved into the completely naive female lead box. It also makes sense for an MC of a murder mystery with backstory like Anna's.

All in all, I can tell this author put a lot of love and attention in this book, and the way she turns some murder mystery tropes on their heads for such brilliant and social justice-relevant reasons is so lovely.

Content Warnings