ADVERTISEMENT
Daily Expert News
No Result
View All Result
Monday, June 5, 2023
  • Home
  • World
  • Economy
  • Business
  • Markets
  • Arts & Culture
  • Education & Career
  • India
  • Politics
  • Top Stories
Daily Expert News
  • Home
  • World
  • Economy
  • Business
  • Markets
  • Arts & Culture
  • Education & Career
  • India
  • Politics
  • Top Stories
No Result
View All Result
Daily Expert News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World
  • Economy
  • Business
  • Markets
  • Arts & Culture
  • Education & Career
  • India
  • Politics
  • Top Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Arts & Culture Sunday Book Review

‘We Were Liars’ was a YA sensation. But how is the new prequel?

by Nick Erickson
May 2, 2022
in Sunday Book Review
Reading Time: 3 mins read
126 7
0
'We Were Liars' was a YA sensation. But how is the new prequel?
152
SHARES
1.9k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT


FAMILY OF LIES
By E. Lockhart


Sometimes a book is a book and sometimes a book is a phenomenon. E. Lockhart’s 2014 YA psychological thriller “We Were Liars” is without a doubt a phenomenon.

The novel follows Cady Sinclair, a teenager recovering from amnesia after a mysterious accident. The Sinclairs lead a charmed life – they are rich and spend the summers on their private island of Beechwood – but Cady gradually remembers that her family is also hiding devastating secrets.

“We Were Liars” became a blockbuster bestseller — not just when it was originally published in 2014, but years later, in 2020, when it became a viral TikTok sensation, with legions of fans uploading emotional videos of their reactions to the unexpected ending. of the novel and on the themes of the story’s young summer love.

Now comes a prequel, “Family of Liars,” which takes us back to Beechwood — but decades before Cady was born, focusing on her Aunt Carrie.

Carrie grew up in Boston with three sisters. Shortly after the book opens, a sister drowns in Beechwood, and after jaw surgery, Carrie becomes addicted to the painkiller codeine.

In this state, grieving and addicted to narcotics, Carrie sets off for Beechwood, where she discovers that her cousin has invited three non-Sinclair boys to visit, including the flirtatious, irresistible Pfeff.

As the summer progresses, Carrie’s relationships with her family, addiction, grief, and Pfeff intensify, not always for the better. But as her father reminds her, “the Sinclairs take care of things when they need to be taken care of.”

As a prequel, “Family of Liars” has a difficult task – it must tap into the zeal of the original novel for returning readers, without confusing new ones. It’s a delicate dance, and Lockhart usually succeeds: “Family” offers insight into Beechwood and familiar characters, enriching the understanding of the first book, but it never feels like a side dish to a “We Were Liars” appetizer .

That’s because “Family of Liars” is more of a Carrie character study than a sequel thriller. Of course there are questions that need to be answered. Will Carrie’s Addiction Be Discovered? Why has her dead sister suddenly reappeared? Who is the man in the photo who is hiding Carrie’s mother? But the heart of the story lies in the more existential questions Carrie faces: What does family mean to her? How does she grieve for her sister? Is Carrie ready for romance? These are heavy themes, and Lockhart’s writing as she digs them up is poetic and thoughtful. In Carrie, Lockhart has created her most recognizable ‘Liars’ character ever.

But “Family of Liars” is fumbling. Although Carrie is portrayed vividly, the other residents of Beechwood feel vague and indistinct. And the plot twists and turns, dropping characters and storylines for chapters at a time. That means some of the book’s big revelations land intellectually rather than emotionally. Still, I remained invested in “Family of Liars” even when it lagged, because after reading “We Were Liars,” I expected it to take a shocking turn at some point. And, wow, does it ever.

The prequel wants to stand on its own, and technically it does; you don’t have to have read the previous book to to understand this new. But for the best pleasure from “Family of Liars”, read “We Were Liars” first. Carrie’s silent struggle with her family in this prequel resonates more strongly when viewed alongside Cady’s more explosive challenges in the original. The novels are like the Sinclairs themselves – they are richer together.


FAMILY OF LIES, by E. Lockhart | 299 pages | Delacorte Press | $19.99 | 13 years and older

ADVERTISEMENT
Tags: DailyExpertNewsliarsprequelsensation

Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.

Unsubscribe
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

A 'Lucky Child' writes his way from Nigeria to the world stage
Sunday Book Review

A ‘Lucky Child’ writes his way from Nigeria to the world stage

June 5, 2023
When society collapses, these traders gain big
Sunday Book Review

When society collapses, these traders gain big

June 5, 2023
In Richard Ford's new novel, One More Trip for Old Times' Sake
Sunday Book Review

In Richard Ford’s new novel, One More Trip for Old Times’ Sake

June 5, 2023
How to live when you've lost everything
Sunday Book Review

How to live when you’ve lost everything

June 4, 2023
After she walks off stage, a concert pianist changes her tune
Sunday Book Review

After she walks off stage, a concert pianist changes her tune

June 4, 2023
Laziness, searching and surfing
Sunday Book Review

Larking, library sales and yellow silk pajamas

June 3, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
This optical illusion has a revelation about your brain and eyes

This optical illusion has a revelation about your brain and eyes

June 6, 2022
NDTV Coronavirus

Viral video: Chinese woman pinned down, Covid test carried out by force

May 5, 2022
NDTV News

TGIF Mood: Video of Bear Cub Dancing in the Forest Melts 2.5 Million Hearts

June 3, 2022
Hundreds In Sarees At UK

Hundreds of sarees at Britain’s Royal Ascot Horse Race to help Indian weavers

June 16, 2022
The shock of chopping up a Chanel bag

The shock of chopping up a Chanel bag

1
NDTV News

Watch: Researchers Discover the World’s Largest Factory in Australia

1
Skyrocketing global fuel prices threaten livelihoods and social stability

Skyrocketing global fuel prices threaten livelihoods and social stability

1
No Guns, No Dragons: Her Video Games Capture Private Moments

No Guns, No Dragons: Her Video Games Capture Private Moments

1
Apple introduces its next big product, a virtual reality headset

Apple introduces its next big product, a virtual reality headset

June 5, 2023
Why is OPEC+ reducing oil production? Explained

Why is OPEC+ reducing oil production? Explained

June 5, 2023
Jenny Lewis continues to find the magic

Jenny Lewis continues to find the magic

June 5, 2023
When wine becomes crucial to cultural identity

When wine becomes crucial to cultural identity

June 5, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

Recent News

Apple introduces its next big product, a virtual reality headset

Apple introduces its next big product, a virtual reality headset

June 5, 2023
Why is OPEC+ reducing oil production? Explained

Why is OPEC+ reducing oil production? Explained

June 5, 2023

Categories

  • Africa
  • Americas
  • art-design
  • Arts
  • Arts & Culture
  • Asia Pacific
  • Astrology News
  • books
  • Books News
  • Business
  • Cricket
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Dance
  • Dining and Wine
  • Economy
  • Education & Career
  • Entertainment
  • Europe
  • Fashion
  • Food
  • Football
  • Gadget
  • Gaming
  • Golf
  • Health
  • Hot News
  • India
  • Indians Abroad
  • Lifestyle
  • Markets
  • Middle East
  • Most Shared
  • Motorsport
  • Movie
  • Music
  • New York
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • press release
  • Real Estate
  • Review
  • Science & Space
  • Sports
  • Sunday Book Review
  • Tax News
  • Technology
  • Television
  • Tennis
  • Theater
  • Top Movie Reviews
  • Top Stories
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Web Series
  • World

Site Navigation

  • Home
  • Advertisement
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy

We bring you the Breaking News,Latest Stories,World News, Business News, Political News, Technology News, Science News, Entertainment News, Sports News, Opinion News and much more from all over the world

©Copyright DailyExpertNews 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • World
  • Economy
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Markets
  • India
  • Education & Career
  • Arts
  • Advertisement
  • Tax News
  • Markets

©Copyright DailyExpertNews 2023

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?