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solarmatrixcobra 's review for:
We Were Liars
by E. Lockhart
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book reads like literary fiction but lacks any actual substance.
I can understand why people like this book as it is very thriller-y and knows how to make you want to keep reading, but make no mistake, this book has little to nothing smart to say. The literary qualities it tries to emulate serve only to make it feel cooler and to enhance the vibe of an unreliable narrator. It does feature a bit of social commentary, but it's theme and exploration of it (or lack thereof) is as deep as a puddle and as complex as the PSA of a Saturday-morning cartoons whose target audience are pre-schoolers. Some will say that's a bit harsh because this is YA, but I think that's underestimating the intelligence of teens, who, I assume, are this book's target audience. There was a moment or two when I felt there was good subtlety in the behaviors and dynamics of certain characters, but it was then ruined by the author then mansplaining to your face what was toxic about the dynamic(s) in question.
It's very short and to the point though, which I liked, but I can't in good faith give it more than 2 stars. It's just empty calories with addicting flavoring.
P.S. Can someone please explain to me why the fuck the characters were called "the liars?" It's the title of the book, yet it felt like it had little to no relevance to the story whatsoever.
I can understand why people like this book as it is very thriller-y and knows how to make you want to keep reading, but make no mistake, this book has little to nothing smart to say. The literary qualities it tries to emulate serve only to make it feel cooler and to enhance the vibe of an unreliable narrator. It does feature a bit of social commentary, but it's theme and exploration of it (or lack thereof) is as deep as a puddle and as complex as the PSA of a Saturday-morning cartoons whose target audience are pre-schoolers. Some will say that's a bit harsh because this is YA, but I think that's underestimating the intelligence of teens, who, I assume, are this book's target audience. There was a moment or two when I felt there was good subtlety in the behaviors and dynamics of certain characters, but it was then ruined by the author then mansplaining to your face what was toxic about the dynamic(s) in question.
It's very short and to the point though, which I liked, but I can't in good faith give it more than 2 stars. It's just empty calories with addicting flavoring.
P.S. Can someone please explain to me why the fuck the characters were called "the liars?" It's the title of the book, yet it felt like it had little to no relevance to the story whatsoever.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death