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gudzilla 's review for:
A Version of the Truth
by B.P. Walter
Rating:
In the beginning, I was unsure between 4 or 5 stars.
By the time I finished the review, I am settling on 4.
Cover:
I don't understand the cover. I am definitely 'missing' the interpretation of it...
Trigger:
Rape
Gang rape
Sexual predators
Short review:
It is difficult to read the book and hence it is difficult to review. At the same time, it is a heck of a page-turner! I finished reading it in a couple of hours and literally stayed awake past midnight to finish it.
If you need a fast-paced, well-written psychological thriller, this is it. You might not need more than a blurb of the book to jump into it. Just keep in mind those 'triggers' I listed above.
Review in image/gif:
Recommended:
Yes
Aftermath: (possible spoilers)
Reading this book is like looking at train-wreck - about to happen, you know it is happening, but you cannot stop it from happening, neither you can look away.
I think this section would be longer than the main review but please don't read it if you want to read this book (and I recommend that you do).
1. Train wreck situation: I constantly questioned Holly's thought process and decision-making skills. She knew there was something 'wrong' with her new friends but she ignored all warning signs. My mother used to tell me that girls are born with a certain instinct for this type of situations and she asked me to always trust that natural instinct. Overall these years, I trusted it and my mom, by extension of it, and it helped me stay safe. But that doesn't mean I am saying Holly deserved what happened to her - NO WAY! It is not acceptable for society to assume that. NO means NO.
She was such a brilliant student - got a scholarship to Oxford even though coming from a poor family but she played with fire paid the price. It was such heartbreaking realisation of wasted youth which should have been entitled to a bright future.
2. The question which continuous nagged at my mind after finishing this book was, does it take this long to realise that there is something fundamentally wrong with your husband? Considering you have dated him since college and basically helped him cover up a mistake (a severe one as rape)? Can you really turn a blind eye? Maybe you can because the said husband is so charming, wealthy and understanding but still...I may never know.
3. The cover says 'There are three sides to every story' - what was the 3rd side? The entire book is in dual POV - Jullien, and Holly. Maybe I missed the third side in my haste to finish this book? I don't know. But speaking of the third side, I would really have liked James/Ernest or even Ally's POV. Because even though, they are the 'bad' guys, it is enlighting to read why the villain thinks it is such a righteous idea. isn't it? It would have been a despicable but insightful chapter. It would have made the book 'complete', I guess.
4. The climax - it was unexpected like any other psychological thrillers but rather unsavoury. I would have preferred much more dark and sinister because if someone has threatened my son like Julienne was threatened of hers, I would have ended that person's life. There would have been no other ending acceptable to me. I understood her situation and between fight and flight - she chose the flight but still. To tell the truth, I was hoping for Better and Worse sort of ending but was disappointed when it wasn't like one. Still, kudos on a fast-paced thriller and that being said, I would be keeping an eye on Walter's next book.
In the beginning, I was unsure between 4 or 5 stars.
By the time I finished the review, I am settling on 4.
Cover:
I don't understand the cover. I am definitely 'missing' the interpretation of it...
Trigger:
Rape
Gang rape
Sexual predators
Short review:
It is difficult to read the book and hence it is difficult to review. At the same time, it is a heck of a page-turner! I finished reading it in a couple of hours and literally stayed awake past midnight to finish it.
If you need a fast-paced, well-written psychological thriller, this is it. You might not need more than a blurb of the book to jump into it. Just keep in mind those 'triggers' I listed above.
Review in image/gif:
Recommended:
Yes
Aftermath: (possible spoilers)
Reading this book is like looking at train-wreck - about to happen, you know it is happening, but you cannot stop it from happening, neither you can look away.
I think this section would be longer than the main review but please don't read it if you want to read this book (and I recommend that you do).
Spoiler
1. Train wreck situation: I constantly questioned Holly's thought process and decision-making skills. She knew there was something 'wrong' with her new friends but she ignored all warning signs. My mother used to tell me that girls are born with a certain instinct for this type of situations and she asked me to always trust that natural instinct. Overall these years, I trusted it and my mom, by extension of it, and it helped me stay safe. But that doesn't mean I am saying Holly deserved what happened to her - NO WAY! It is not acceptable for society to assume that. NO means NO.
She was such a brilliant student - got a scholarship to Oxford even though coming from a poor family but she played with fire paid the price. It was such heartbreaking realisation of wasted youth which should have been entitled to a bright future.
2. The question which continuous nagged at my mind after finishing this book was, does it take this long to realise that there is something fundamentally wrong with your husband? Considering you have dated him since college and basically helped him cover up a mistake (a severe one as rape)? Can you really turn a blind eye? Maybe you can because the said husband is so charming, wealthy and understanding but still...I may never know.
3. The cover says 'There are three sides to every story' - what was the 3rd side? The entire book is in dual POV - Jullien, and Holly. Maybe I missed the third side in my haste to finish this book? I don't know. But speaking of the third side, I would really have liked James/Ernest or even Ally's POV. Because even though, they are the 'bad' guys, it is enlighting to read why the villain thinks it is such a righteous idea. isn't it? It would have been a despicable but insightful chapter. It would have made the book 'complete', I guess.
4. The climax - it was unexpected like any other psychological thrillers but rather unsavoury. I would have preferred much more dark and sinister because if someone has threatened my son like Julienne was threatened of hers, I would have ended that person's life. There would have been no other ending acceptable to me. I understood her situation and between fight and flight - she chose the flight but still. To tell the truth, I was hoping for Better and Worse sort of ending but was disappointed when it wasn't like one. Still, kudos on a fast-paced thriller and that being said, I would be keeping an eye on Walter's next book.