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The structure of the story was really good though as Joely's apprehension of trying to write for a famous novelist was well captured, just like the reader she's also desperate to know the outcome of the couple. It is 1968 and the story of a 15 year old schoolgirl who embarks on an affair with her music teacher. It is explicit in all its naked glory. Their secret assignations, their trip to Paris, their plans and promises for the future...as they parade around naked in the confines of a secluded cottage, soaking up their love for one another. She was 15, he was 25. Not a huge age gap by any means, but still unacceptable by society's standard...even in the age of free love. But where was this love to go, given their age difference? And the fact he was a teacher and she was a student? Surely this could not end well. During our meeting we discussed the book a little, but we mostly considered some of the discussion points that come from reading the book. We talked about how we felt about the relationship between the school girl and her teacher, whether we felt it was really love or something else. We wondered whether someone of that age could make the decisions necessary for it to be love? We all have examples of people who fell in love at that age and either are now happily married, or haven't seen the object of their teen affection for years. We came to the conclusion that it was probably all to do with the individuals involved, but that we do need laws and distinct ages for things to legal to protect those who would be taken advantage of. We all agreed that though we enjoyed the book the ending felt a little rushed and also a little twee with things turning out the way they did. Given what happened during the book we weren't sure we would be such a happy family afterwards. Young Freda's love for David seem to be celebrated and left a bad taste, which meant that ultimately how the story unravelled didnt quite work for me.
As this is a psychological thriller type book this review may contain accidental spoilers, you have been warned! Joely delves into her work, learning more about the events that happened all those years ago. She is soon surprised to discover that the truth lies much closer to home and is bizarrely connected to her. How can Freda’s past be linked to Joely? Could the teacher be someone near to her?
She got herself a Mercedes to share with her dogs as well as a house that sat up in the hills with perfect views of the sunset each night an a pool to swim in. She decided to try and navigate her way through Hollywood, but ultimately realized that Tinsel Town was not going to be waiting for her to show up. From then on she just had more fun, going on dates and attending glam parties and movie screenings. Freda has for years blamed Marianne for her brother (David, the paedo teacher) committing suicide in prison. Ya know, because his 'affair' with his 15yr old student was discovered and he was rightly charged with rape and sent to goal, couldn't take how he was treated in there and ultimately topped himself. All this was Marianne's fault because she should have defended David and told the authorities that David 'never raped her', not actually, only in the 'technical sense'. Susan Lewis has done very well in her literary career and several novels later, she only regrets that none of her books have been yet optioned to make it to the silver screen or even television as adaptations. She left television to become a novelist and did the typical thing that she thought prudent, which is to buy a home in the south of France complete with a swimming pool. I would like to thank #SusanLewis, #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for an ARC of #MyLiesYourLies in exchange for an honest review. MY LIES, YOUR LIES is an eccentric tale to say the least. It was mysterious, duplicitous and intriguing in a strange way. It did promise to be so much more but it really dissolved into a ridiculous caricature. Freda was meant to be a formidable woman but was more eccentric and aloof. Joely should have scarpered when she had the chance but she too went on to prove how idiotic she could be. Her big secret that she wallowed over the entire book, when she wasn't presuming what was to come in the memoir, wasn't that great after all...more a run of the mill kind of secret. Everyone else played so little part you couldn't really connect with them. Holly is a precocious 15 year old that should be taught a little more respect than the way she spoke to her parents, grandmother and even Freda. I think she was given a little too much free reign that would never have been allowed when I was her age. Times may change, but boys and hormones don't. And considering what the basis of this story is about, I would have thought she would have been reigned in a little more.
The descriptions of the house and local landscape were brilliant. Very evocative and they gave a real sense of remoteness so you just know something unexpected and untoward will happen.This had me captivated from the beginning and kept me in its grasp long after finishing this amazing book. Even when I reluctantly put this down I was still thinking about the characters!! This had all the promise of a great book. Great characters, a heartbroken Joely on a train ride to a virtually unknown ghostwriting assignment. A broken marriage and an absent daughter. The opening and a substantial portion of the book was of intrigue and kept you reading. I do love how the author approached and introduced an illicit affair between a 15 year old schoolgirl and her music teacher. It broke all the rules and crossed many boundaries. But it gave us as readers, food for thought that there is more to the story than one might at first think. Firstly the difference between paedophilia and haebophilia, when all interest in anyone underage is simply considered to be the former. The case here is obviously haebophilia and while it is still a disturbing thought to most, it is quite often an accepted practice in many cultures. Including our own many centuries ago. But that is not the case here. It is a little disturbing and uncomfortable read in parts but does that make it wholly excusable? The ending felt way to forced and implausible to justify the quite unpleasant and unnecessary 'relationship' from 1968. Rich, seamless and masterful storytelling with so many ‘oh my god’ twisty moments… Absolute genius. I was totally gripped’ Rebecca Thornton -
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