Liar

Liar by Justin Larbalestier


I can't decide if I like this novel or not.  Maybe I don't like it because Micah is a compulsive liar.  I went to high school with a compulsive liar, my family has a friend that is a compulsive liar, and I have students who are compulsive liars.  These people begin to believe their own lies, which makes it even harder to not lie.  Everything out of these people's mouths is a lie, so when they do tell the truth, I have a hard time believing them. 

Micah tells us on the first page that she is a compulsive liar, but she will tell us the story without lies. Yeah, right.  After Micah's after-hours boyfriend is murdered, Micah becomes a suspect because of her lies.  I do like how Larbalestier has Micah alternate her narration to before Zach's death, after Zach's death, her family's history, and the lies she tells.

We have to decide what is true and what are lies, but knowing other compulsive liars, I cannot believe anything Micah says.  Can you?

Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska by John Green



When I first started reading this book, it didn't pull me in.  I was not too interested in Miles, the main character, who does not have any friends nor does he want any friends.  He does want to attend Culver Creek Boarding School that his father attended though.  I thought he is the type of character who wants to run away from his problems.

I put the book down for a week. Then when I picked up where I left off, I was able to finish it quickly. I had not read the summary of the novel, so as Miles counts down the days before, I kept thinking he is counting down the days before he and Alaska end up together and then counts up the days they are together.  Boy was I wrong!  I am glad I didn't read the summary so that I am surprised by the "event" that does happen.

Like Green's other novels that I have read (The Fault is In Our Stars, Paper Towns), this is a character study instead of action and adventure that some people like to read.  Because the characters talk, think, and act like teenagers, they will seem like real people as you read it.  Green includes explicit scenes that are realistic and humorous.  This reminds me of Dead Poet's Society and The Chocolate War, in which a loner is accepted by a group and grows up through the process.  

While this novel will not make you cry like The Fault in Our Stars, it is a worthwhile read for both males and females.