Publication Date: May 13, 2014 by Delacorte Press
Author: E. Lockhart
Format: Hardback
PLOT SYNOPSIS:
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.
The Actual Review:
The only thing that made the entire thing tolerable was the EXTREMELY SHORT CHAPTERS. In other words the story doesn't actually seem that much, seeing as how the tone of narration tends to drag, leaving the reader to wonder how did such a book generate this amount of positive hype? Throughout the book, the narration tends to repeat itself, reestablishing things that have already been reestablished. It’s like We Were Liars is nothing but a series of filler chapters used to neutralize the very past pacing of a book – without the fastpacedness! And honestly, cut out the last 70 pages of it and I would’ve just given it a 3 star rating.
The only things that contributed to the tolerability of the book were the meager total page count of the book – which was only 210+ pages! – and as I have said the one page, two page, chapters which allow breathing room for the reader, and the latter one being extremely crucial. It doesn’t smother you with a 20 page dull chapter, which makes you want to throw the book to the nearest window. But rather it’s like listen to your best friend rant on and on sometimes piquing your interest, and sometimes makes you just want to wish they’d just get on to the point.
What really made me really want to add an additional 1.5 stars to the book was the last 70 pages; the pacing starts to pick up because you’re actually starting to find out what actually happened during in summer fifteen. And just when you think things are better and that things aren’t so bad after all E. Lockhart pulls a PLOT TWIST OF FREAKING NOWHERE, along with an ending that makes you realize that the Liars grew on you from the get-go.
My Rating:
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but did u ever guess that plot twist? i did...i think when i was abt 40% into the book...
ReplyDeletebtw great review...short chapters indeed.
ReplyDeleteI did not understand what all the hype of this book was about...
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the short chapters and the shortness of the whole book was crucial for finishing it at all. And the plot twist was a good one. Those things alone was not enough for me to enjoy the book though.
Great review on your part :)
Cucie @ Cucie reads
I completely agree! That plot twist bumped up the rating level of the book, for sure! I never saw it coming! Great review!
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Pearl @ AsteriskPearl's Book Blog
This is so far the most accurate review I have ever read of We Were Liars. Sadly, I have not felt that the chapters were less-y when I was reading it. I am so speechless back then after finishing it. BC YEAH OF THAT FREAKING PLOT TWIST. I didn't expect that. All I was thinking was where would this go.
ReplyDeleteYani @ Paper Boulevard