I spent three years of my life dreading power outages, but I must say, I am truly grateful for the one I had yesterday.It allowed me to reread what was one of my most favorite books as a fifteen year-old. What I Saw and How I Lied is a brief, yet complex tale of growing up.
What I loved most about the novel was that it turns the widespread notion that the years following World War II were a golden age on its head. In fact, it works in an almost Gatsby way: Evie starts out the novel with a bright, childish, innocence about her, and her experiences allow her to think twice about the world around her.
“I loved him like a fever. Then he left. He kicked through love like it was dust and he kept on walking.”
First, I must say that Blundell has a way with words- she has a way on inserting little flowery (prose wise) moments throughout the novel while still making allowing Evie's voice to shine through. If it wan't for Blundell's skill, this book would not be nearly as a good or as powerful.
“Darling, I have a tip," Arlene said. "Never, ever wait for a man.”
What I Saw and How I Lied is also a tragic love story- yes, in the conventional sense-> between a girl and a boy. But it also has a lot to do with the love between husband and wife, daughter and mother, daughter and father, and in some ways, a man and a woman. Throughout the novel, Evie struggles to figure out what real love is why trying to become an adult.
"But while I'd be their daughter, while I'd eat the roast and come home from dates and wash the dishes, I would also be myself. I would love my mother, but I'd never want to be her again. I would never be what someone else wanted me to be. I would never laugh at a joke I didn't think was funny. I would never tell another lie. I would be the truth-teller, starting today. That would be tough.
But I was tougher.”
There is also a serious Gone Girl quality to this book: it's unpredictable, and it's characters fluctuate between downright ugly and downright cruel. You never known when the truth will rear it's nasty head, and makes for an exciting, interesting read.
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