The Truth-Teller's Lie (2007, 2010)

by Sophie Hannah

(author of The Wrong Mother)

It was published under the name Hurting Distance in Britain when it was released 2007.

The U.S. version was released 2010, and published as The Truth-Teller's Lie.

The premise is that a woman, Naomi Jenkins, has been having an affair with a married man for about a year, and one day he doesn't make it to one of their usual liaisons (they meet every Thursday for three hours in a Traveltel), she suspects foul play. However, when she brings it to the police, they write it off as paranoia and a "crazy person's" story. The man's wife states nothing is wrong and that he is simply out-of-town.

Hence Truth-Teller's begins. The reasoning behind the American title is seen within the first 2-3 chaps.

The UK's Hurting Distance is a title that has the same amount of explanation Harry Potter 6 & 7 had (Half Blood Prince/Deathly Hallows)--closer toward the end.

NOT that I'm ruining anything. (o;

It really is quite a rollercoaster of emotions for the characters, and nothing is as it seems. Just as she did with The Wrong Mother, everything becomes clear in the end. I actually liked this book more, even though readers on Amazon.com (I know you're not supposed to read other "reviews," but this is before I decided to start a review blog, seriously; I still wanna read it, so...!) seemed to find Naomi Jenkins' character annoying.

She is a bit taxing on the mind at times, but nowhere NEAR as whiny and moany and o-woe-is-me as Bella Swan in the Twilight series. (Yes. I've read it. But who hasn't these days? I didn't find as much enjoyment as I did with other series, but the story from Books 1-3 really wasn't THAT bad. It was the delivery... do NOT judge down my Reviews because of this revelation!)

All in all, it was interesting, and I actually found it more enjoyable than Mother.

As in Mother, Ms. Hannah alternates her story between the main protagonist (in both cases, women) and the police department from chapter to chapter. At times this proves somewhat taxing and tiresome, but in the end, it is for the story that she does this (and to build suspense and anticipation, as well as ensure you, the reader, continue reading).

I won't give away too much, because I would advise you to read it. But I'd also advise you to read it if you don't have too much time. Once I was hooked, I couldn't stop.

Not that my schoolwork has suffered, but my job search has been stunted (maybe because I am partly apprehensive with my searches), and I have also, once again, perhaps--taken on too much.

There are twists and turns, shocks and surprises.

Just think--nothing is as it seems with this novel.

Look at every character. << (if you like hints)

I also realized I read it a bit backward (as I did with Anne Perry's William Monk novels, although for the most part I stayed true to the order... I didn't know what I was getting into with those! I love them, btw, but have given them a rest, because I found I was starting to predict some storylines... just as I did with Doris Miles Disney:: YOU SHOULD CHECK BOTH OF THEM OUT, BTW!!), as the storylines of the CID officers in The Truth-Teller's Lie are not as advanced in their lives as in The Wrong Mother. In fact, I think Truth-Teller may be Mother's direct predecessor.

Next up I have In the Woods by Tana French (I read her The Likeness and found it enjoyable, but a bit disappointed by the ending, just as I did with The Historian, another interesting read, but the ending leaves you wanting more) and Box 21. I will attempt Girl with the Dragon Tattoo soon.

Tipping Point is also on my list, as well as Fast Food Nation.

Oh, and with those books that I state have less-than-satisfying endings--just read 'em! They're still enjoyable reads.

With that...

I'm out, luvs!

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Find another review/outline here. (o;

Cheers!

An Interesting Short Story...

I've always wanted to read ALL of Philip K. Dick's short stories after finding out about 'Minority Report' and 'Total Recall' (of which I then watched "Total Recall 2070"--a Canadian 1-season series that was based upon the short stories of which 'Total Recall' and 'Blade Runner' were based off of).

ANYwho... I remember chancing upon a TV movie that seemed a bit old once and never knowing the name of it but was intrigued by it nonetheless. I now sadly find out they are making a re-make, slated to be released 2011.

It is called 'They Live' and is based upon a short story called 'Eight O'Clock in the Morning'* by Ray Nelson (he went on to collaborate with Philip Dick on a novel called The Ganymede Takeover, of which I am interested to read!). Always it leads to other stories I want to read... I still have yet to brush up on my Philip K. Dick short story anthology and watch all those movies based upon his work (which I'll blog about in my movie blog). EXCITED.

But for now, it'll have to be a slow run.

Spring Semester starts next week and I've got my finals week this week (had it today actually... most likely bombed it, but I've got papers and a presentation in the next few days--all by Fri).

Until then, CHEERS!

Wish me luck! \m/ (rock on, according to gtalk)

[p.s. oh yeah, been obsessing over Edward Maya's 'Stereo Love'--the version that's on the radio that is... and I've FINALLY found it!!!]

[p.p.s. and I've gotten my ticket for Burning Man WOOOHOOOO )'( 2011 heeeere weeeee cooooommme!! 1st tier, baby!! but that's not to mention the HORRIBLE affair they've put anybody past 500 through for the last few hours... they got bumped to 3rd tier

if you have no idea what I'm talking about... look it up! we've got GOOGLE (o; ]

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* http://j.mp/till8am

addendum, 6/29/2011 : clip to give you an idea (o;

The Wrong Mother - Sophie Hannah

Whew! Just finished The Wrong Mother by British author Sophie Hannah, and it was not quite what I was expecting.

Getting off to a slow start, I wasn't sure if I'd bit off more than I could chew, and this book has been a long time coming.

I've finally had the chance to read it, uninterrupted, and the last 1/2 of the book flew by much quicker than the 1st.

I am still figuring out the meaning behind the title, but I will tell you this--it was suspenseful and had a great flow.

One thing that bugged me was the alternating double storyline. It was fine, but I suppose my impatience to find out what was NEXT in each plotline was stonewalled at the end of each chapter.

It alternates between a first person account by the main character--protagonist--who seems to share certain things in common with the murdered woman, and the police investigation that accompanies it, as well as a side story regarding certain officers in their CID (British for "Criminal Investigation Department").

The back of the book (or inside of a Hardcover edition) offers a pretty basic plot that will drag you in, and you soon realize that this is just the start of the novel.

What ensues is beyond imagination. I don't really want to give too much away, but I would recommend this.

I am thinking of checking out her first novel--Little Face--because some authors are one-hit wonders. Tana French, author of In the Woods (of which I have yet to read, but I HAVE read her other novel, The Likeness, of which I found enjoyable, but the open-ended ending a little disappointing).

I felt almost the same way upon completing The Historian--by Elizabeth Kostova--the ending was a little unsatisfying because the build up till then had made me expect something incredible.

Just as in an electronic song with an amazing build up section--if the drop falls short, the drop becomes unsatisfying (likewise, without a good build up, nobody cares about the drop). <- Electronica reference (dubstep, amongst others)

BUT I DIGRESS.

Just go check it out at your local library (I am still on the fence of whether I'd pay for this). I downloaded an electronic copy to be "checked out" for 21 days.

Cheers!!

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THE WRONG Mother

Rating:

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For future reference--I've devised a rating system that may seem complicated at first. It's like a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ as well as the A-F scale.

I'll rate the book on a GREEK A-F scale with 3 "A" 's (in this case, "alpha" = α) as GO READ THIS NOW!! Obviously anything lower than 1 "C" (in this case, "gamma" = γ) would really be a skipper. I'll only give an OMEGA (technically "Z", but it's the last!!) "ω" if the book is so horrible it requires one.

In this way, it almost allows for a % scale because there will be 5 ratings within each system.

For the "A- " or "B+" type ratings, I'll offer a combination (like the 1/2 ★, [which is equal to 50%] so that instead of 1 α or 3 β's the in-between would be something like αβ)

RATING/GRADING SCALE (I used lower-case to differentiate, otherwise it looks Roman):

ααα <- 100% A++

ααβ

αα

αβ

α <- like an A- -

βββ <- like a B++

ββγ

ββ

βγ

β

γγγ

γγδ

γγ

γδ

γ <- really, below this (like a C- -; average, slightly mediocre, equivalent: 60-69%, really) you don't really want to read. I don't think I'll really give a triple-delta (δδδ) to anything, but it's just there for continuity.

[δδδ

δδω

δδ

δω

δ]*

ω <- FAIL. It was that bad that I had to blog about it, although honestly it's probably something I wouldn't even have wanted to finish. But I have this thing about finishing what I start...

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* Probably never going to be used.

Hopefully that helps! I know it seems complicated, but my bf gave me the idea of using my own rating system. This way, too, there's a lot of grey area, since nothing's ever black-or-white GREAT! or horrible

(o;

Short Story List

Here's the short story list, copied and pasted from my Movie Blog (o;

ENJOY!

Short stories Links (funnily enough, "Harrison" ain't here!)

* A Sound of Thunder <- the movie of which I heard was awful (and it's a short story!! can't believe they made it into a full-length feature, adding elements that probably became more Hollywood than stayed true to the story; HATE when Hollywood bastardizes themes and stories)

* The Monkey's Paw <- of which my 8th grade English teacher showed us the Simpsons ep

* The Most Dangerous Game <- chilling. In a way I haven't been chilled the way And Then There Were None did

* The Landlady <- I didn't know children's author Roald Dahl had it in him!!

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I will say this. My love for reading has now reached beyond the world of fiction--sci fi, fantasy, historical fiction, etc.--and to the realm of non-fiction. If there is ANYthing and I mean ANYTHING you want me to read, I'll do it for ya!

I'm about to be graduated, so I'll start to have more free time!!

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A good author to check out--Daphne du Maurier. She is the author of Rebecca and the short story The Birds of which Alfred Hitchcock based his movies.

Alfred Hitchcock is a master movie maker, but after reading Ms. du Maurier's books and the story "Rear Window", I find myself less impressed.

He took the concept of the stories and just did his own thing. NOW--I normally don't really have an issue with that... But remember what I've mentioned about bastardizing things.

Rebecca was probably his truest adaptation.

The chilling nature of The Birds really can't be captured unless read, and unfortunately if you don't like to read, then the scariness of the story will be lost on you. That's not to say the movie wasn't chilling, but special effects don't do what the mind does.

All right. Enough crossovers for today! Back to "24" (season 7) and The Wrong Mother by Sophie Hannah (beginning to REALLY get into it, but I should really be focusing on my schoolwork!)

BBAIE, LUVS! <3

New Novel!! To check out maybe?? ...

Description:

[retrieved from its Amazon.com page]

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. The Swedish writing team of Roslund and Hellström make their U.S. debut with a remarkable tale of loss, addiction and revenge set in Stockholm’s seedy underworld. Ewert Grens, a veteran detective, is haunted by a tragic incident that occurred 25 years earlier that left his young wife, a fellow police officer, an invalid. When the man responsible, notorious criminal Jochum Lang, is released from prison, Grens vows to put him away for life. Meanwhile, the detective arrives at a crime scene where a teenage prostitute, Lydia Grajauskas, has been nearly beaten to death by her Russian pimp. Alternating chapters fill in the backstory of Lydia and Alena Sljusareva, girls lured away from Lithuania under false pretenses and sold as sex slaves. In a bizarre twist, Lydia escapes from her hospital bed and ends up taking hostages. This taut and nuanced thriller should appeal to fans of Mo Hayder, Denise Mina and, of course, Henning Mankell. (Oct.)

“What is it with Scandinavians and great crime writing? Something to do with the long nights, I guess. Box 21, with its sharply drawn cast of jaded cops, junkies, thugs, and victims, is a gripping tale of modern-day slavery, damage, and revenge, shocking and compelling in equal measure.” —Simon Lewis, author of Bad Traffic

ENJOY!!

This makes me also want to FINALLY TRY Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

Know I keep opting for foreign stuff it looks like (movies and now books), but they present an interesting face of entertainment in media as well...

I actually want to review and watch "Ne le dis à personne" and "Bon Cop, Bad Cop" soon. I'll also give a review of the season of "24" (7) that I'm currently watching, amidst my finals flurry...

ANYwho... hopefully the formatting for this reader isn't still all effed up.

SO...

ENJOY!! <3

WELCOME!!

SO-

Recently I had to read a book for extra credit (do a write-up, etc.) and found a helpful review, and realized it was a personal, private, FREE webpage, and I LOVE reading as well as movies, so I think I'll do that as well...

Movies will

still be my main focus.

But check back soon! Je suis très occupée à ce moment though, so this'll have to be put on hold!!

Much