Book Recommendation: What I Saw and How I Lied (no spoilers)

[alanajoli]

When What I Saw and How I Lied won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, I was a little surprised. I'd known when I started reading it that it was intended to be a young adult book, but I wasn't sure if teens would be as enraptured with the depiction of post-World War II United States as I was. The narrator exists so thoroughly in that time that instead of feeling like the historical fiction I grew up with, it feels in the moment--but the moment is sixty years passed.

Then I finished the book. Wow.



I was drawn in initially by just the cover image. I still think it's a beautiful and fabulous cover. And it captures exactly the feel of the story as the story plays out. By the last page, I think I was convinced that this actually is a true YA novel, and brings out some of the best elements of what can be done inside the genre.

That said, I'm still on the fence about whether teens will enjoy it as much as adults. And I'm afraid that the YA label might mean adults won't go for it. But I know that, given the folks who read this blog, I'm preaching to the choir. We all know how good the YA section is. And you all know how seldom I recommend a book here that isn't science fiction or fantasy. So seriously, if you have any inkling to go and read this one--pick it up. I'm really glad I did.

(Geek addendum: Judy Blundell is the real name of her pseudonymous identity, Jude Watson, author of tons of Star Wars books. I haven't read her under that identity, but I felt it pertinent to pick out the SFF link I discovered after the fact.)

Comments

[orryn-emrys.livejournal.com]

I've heard really good things about her Star Wars material...

[norroway.livejournal.com]

It's a good cover, but it would be even better if the dress she were wearing looked like a period piece. It should have sleeves. She looks like a modern girl playing dressup to me.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Oh! You're completely right. I was mostly caught by the color and composition and didn't even notice the cut of the dress. (I wouldn't necessarily appropriately recognize a late 40s cut anyway.)

[slwhitman.livejournal.com]

I've just seen a LOT of movies from that time period, not to mention pored over pictures of my grandma and grandpa from then, and most women's dresses of the time period were shirtdresses, button-up and short-sleeved or long. Sometimes a little puffy, but not always. It's not a question of modesty, but of "where the skirt length is" so to speak, I think--they'd be up one year and down the next, just like they are today.

Here, for example, is a picture of Katharine Hepburn from that era, and really epitomizes that look:

[slwhitman.livejournal.com]

(Not a button-up dress, but frills, and definitely sleeves. The front of the dress on the cover has the idea, it just needs to extend it to the sleeves.)

[core-opsis.livejournal.com]

Hi--I added you to my friends page because you have a lot of really interesting posts, and I've been enjoying reading them (though I haven't commented yet). No time now, but there are lots of interesting things to think about. Thanks.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Thanks for adding me! I'm glad you're enjoying the reading (and starting to comment). :)