Monday, July 26, 2010

Book Club pick for August: "What I Saw and How I Lied"


READ THIS FIRST
The following plot summary gives quite a bit away. If you would rather be surprised just check the sidebar for book club meeting time info.

Becca got 6 copies of this book from Logan Library in a book club bundle. If you have a copy please comment when you are finished so we can pass the copies around. Also if you need a copy leave a comment so we know who is next in line. Thank you for your support. Read on.

In 1947, 15-year-old Evie, her mother, Bev, and her stepfather, Joe, leave Brooklyn for a vacation in Palm Beach, FL, during the off season. There they meet Arlene and Tom Grayson, who lavish attention on the family and convince Joe to go into the hotel business with them. When Peter, an army acquaintance of Joe's, appears, Evie is smitten by his charm and attention. Her budding interest in romance, while protectively discouraged by her parents, is actually encouraged by Arlene, who helps Evie develop a sense of style. Evie enjoys her outings with Peter and interprets her mother's insinuating presence as protective, when in reality Bev is having an affair with the younger man. Joe's jealous distrust of his wife, established while he was at war in Europe, does not obviate the intimacy between Bev and Peter. Evie's closeness to her mother will not permit her to acknowledge the affair even when it becomes impossible to deny. Meanwhile pervading anti-Semitism sours the hotel deal, and the Graysons are forced out of Palm Beach. When Joe insists on one last boat trip, Peter dies during a storm and Joe is accused of murder. It is during the ensuing hearing that Evie learns that adults, even those closest to her, are not always what they seem.
Blundell navigates this multidimensional plotline with unique, well-developed characters and insightful dialogue. Yet it is Evie and her rapidly maturing perception of herself and those around her that carry the story. In many ways she becomes the adult in the group, motivated by truth and justice rather than greed or superficial appearances.

8 comments:

Missy W. said...

I'm almost done with mine. Anyone want it, or should I take it back the library?

Li said...

I'm done with my copy. It's one of the set that Becca checked out, so if anyone needs it, leave a comment and let me know!

Mindy said...

I'm all done too. Good pick Bec! Anyone out there need a copy?

Johanna Markworth said...

I's also done! Anyone need it?

Ann said...

I need a copy if anyone has one to share!

Bec said...

I have two at my house now. Call me if you want it. And yay for so many having read it already! Great job, girls!

Bec said...

Missy, I think I'm supposed to turn them all in together... if yours was one of mine. (If you already took it back, it's probably fine... but I checked them out in a special bag.) So just bring it with you to book club (it was checked out for 6 wks not 3, so we should be fine). {Sorry I didn't read your note until today.}

Anonymous said...

I'm so bummed that I probably won't make it. Hannah's bday is that day and we will have people here to celebrate. I will have to call when they all leave to see if you are all still hanging out.