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There are currently 44 member reviews
for Sometimes I Lie
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Vicki O. (Boston, MA)
An Amazing Debut
The book didn't grab me from page 1, but Amber, the main character, intrigued me and the superb writing style kept me going. I'm certainly glad I did. "Sometimes I Lie" turned out to be a masterful thriller with a brilliant narrative that goes back and forth in time very effectively. The author leads the reader bit by bit, clue by clue to an ending that will leave you gasping. I can't wait for the author's next novel.
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Susan B. (Hahira, GA)
When is a lie not a lie
Told in the first person, this intriguing first novel enters the realm of the psychological mystery so well done by B.A Paris and Gillian Flynn.
All we know is that our narrator is in a coma, the how and why are never quite clear. Her few moments of lucidity are centered in the past of childhood and the recent present. we hear the same snippets of conversation that her semi-conscious mind hears but We still know no more or less than she herself is willing to relinquish.
This is an intriguing read that will holds the reader spellbound up until the very last page. To say more would give too much away and ruin the experience.
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Darcy C. (San Diego, CA)
Bravo!
Sometimes I Lie grabbed me and never let go. Like a kid in a candy shop -- I wanted this book to last forever. This was one of those that you think about when you were at work, when commuting or doing anything other than reading. I simply love the feeling when a book has utterly kidnapped my attention!
I was captivated by the descriptions, such as when Amber Reynolds is trying to separate her dreams from her alleged reality, "I can smell my lost time." How great is that sentence?! Another example where I know the feeling too well is when she describes an uncomfortable atmosphere, "...the air in the room is thick with silence and remorse." This sentence transported me inside that room!
I believe the author successfully carries the voice of the unreliable narrator throughout the book. My attention did not wander and I did not have to suspend any belief to be completely wrapped up in the world of Amber Reynolds and the story she is telling us. The ending was satisfying and also left me hoping for another book by Alice Feeney. The ending can stand on its own, yet seems to hint that this story would be continued in a second novel. It is one of my true joys when a book captivates me and I think about it incessantly. I feel fortunate and grateful to BookBrowse for giving us readers the experience of being being able to read a book months before it is published. I am giving this book a rousing round of applause and yelling Bravo!
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Katherine D. (Rochester, NY)
Sometimes I Lie
As the story begins we experience the world as felt by a woman, currently comatose after an accident which she cannot remember. She does remember three things about herself. My name is Amber Reynolds. I am 35 years old. I'm married to Paul. I was directly transported to her world as she is able to understand it given only what she is able to sense from her physical space in a hospital bed.
The story flashes back and forth from the present (Boxing Day) with Amber at age 35, to the weeks just before the accident, and then reflects back to when she was ten years old. This time sequence keeps repeating as the author subtly builds her characters. Any attempt to reduce this book to a plot synopsis would be a mistake. The risk of losing critical pieces of the puzzle would be great.
This very subtle psychological tale keeps harking back to the "Sometimes I Lie" of the title. When, exactly, do we know when she is "lying" apart from the time when she is literally lying in the hospital bed?
I was hooked by page 3, and I had already flipped to the front of the book to see what else the author had written. There were none listed, but I will keep Alice Feeney's name in mind as I wait for her future books.
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Carol F. (Lake Linden, MI)
Sometimes You Have to Read it Again
Don't assume anything when reading this book! If you think you have an inkling of the plot just keep reading because what you assume will be turned upside down. The newest twist will be replaced by an more astonishing twist until you don't know what or who to believe. I found myself paging backwards to reread sections to see if I had missed some clue but honestly the author writes so well that there are no clues to miss. You are on your own.
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Kathy G. (Danville, CA)
Sometimes I Lie
My first comment would be to slow down and savor the twists and turns. I read it way too fast and now I am happy to say, "I am going to read it again". Sometimes I Lie is a well written page turner/thriller that will appeal to book groups as well as many ages. I am so impressed that this is the author's fist book. It is one of the best I have ever read!
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Loves to Read (SF Bay Area)
Filled with Surprises!
Wow! This book was filled with unexpected twists and surprises. Just when I thought I had it figured out....the author switched gears and the book took another turn down another dark hall! I did not want this book to end and limited myself to a few chapters a day. If you enjoy suspense and intrigue, this is the book for you!!!
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