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A review by phantom_librarian
The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
On a whim, I checked out this e-audiobook for a light summer listen. I did not expect to be so blown away. It's the type of book I wish they had written 50 years ago when I was 17 like the main character.
Hawthorn feels like an outsider and that she is not living a normal high school life. Stuck with a weird name, living an unwanted vegan life her hippy mother foists on her, not ever asked to a dance, she felt pathetic. And then Lizzy disappears. Every boy notices Lizzy and Hawthorn is fascinated by her.
What isn't in this book? Hawthorn has her own theory of what happened to Lizzy, and it's not a popular one. In the course of her "investigation", Hawthorn is confronted with teasing, bullying, first love, facing the finality of the death of people close to her, depression and what is "normal". And her first person narration eases us, the reader through these challenges, with insights, discoveries and realizations.
I cannot know what would have been the effect of reading of someone struggling as I did would have had on me 50 years ago, but I'd like to have had a chance. Though parts of this book may be regarded as depressing, I finished this book feeling uplifted. I want to re-listen and make notes of some of the observations so I can remind myself of facing challenges in my own life.
I have not read any of the other reviews of this book; I did not want to know and be swayed by them. I will note, this is not a mystery, nor is it a comedy, as the blurb suggests.
I can imagine some finding too much crammed into a book, or the book being unrealistic. I could agree, but for a girl who had/has felt like a freak, it's nice to see someone rise above it and find that not knowing what's coming isn't as frightening or crippling as it may seem.
My local library does not have this book, and I'll be recommending for them.
Hawthorn feels like an outsider and that she is not living a normal high school life. Stuck with a weird name, living an unwanted vegan life her hippy mother foists on her, not ever asked to a dance, she felt pathetic. And then Lizzy disappears. Every boy notices Lizzy and Hawthorn is fascinated by her.
What isn't in this book? Hawthorn has her own theory of what happened to Lizzy, and it's not a popular one. In the course of her "investigation", Hawthorn is confronted with teasing, bullying, first love, facing the finality of the death of people close to her, depression and what is "normal". And her first person narration eases us, the reader through these challenges, with insights, discoveries and realizations.
I cannot know what would have been the effect of reading of someone struggling as I did would have had on me 50 years ago, but I'd like to have had a chance. Though parts of this book may be regarded as depressing, I finished this book feeling uplifted. I want to re-listen and make notes of some of the observations so I can remind myself of facing challenges in my own life.
I have not read any of the other reviews of this book; I did not want to know and be swayed by them. I will note, this is not a mystery, nor is it a comedy, as the blurb suggests.
I can imagine some finding too much crammed into a book, or the book being unrealistic. I could agree, but for a girl who had/has felt like a freak, it's nice to see someone rise above it and find that not knowing what's coming isn't as frightening or crippling as it may seem.
My local library does not have this book, and I'll be recommending for them.