Reviews

The Liar by Stephen Fry

lastbraincell's review against another edition

3.0

Entertaining language. Alternates between being a pedantic sort of clever, and brown humor obscene. Did not bother keeping up with the codenames in the italicized interludes but turns out it did not matter in the end because it was all an elaborate game. The chronology jumps around a bit, had to get used to that. Skipped the cricket sections without guilt. Basically it's not something you should trouble yourself about understanding completely, just let it wash over you. Flowerbuck the best joke in the book.

kimouise's review

medium-paced

4.0

rosekk's review against another edition

4.0

I love this book!! It was really odd, but it was funny with interesting characters and situations. Besides, who can't love a book which starts with the phrase 'not a word of the following is true'. *hopes she quoted that correctly*. It was just a great way to spend time over the summer holidays :3

branomir's review against another edition

4.0

Well, well. Well. I don't quite know what to make of this one. This was a highly confusing book and for the longest time I was thinking of giving it three stars but then it had a very good ending and bit of a "oh, I see what you did there" moment for me which raised it up a little. You really can't fully appreciate this novel until you've read it to the end. It has a very fitting title, you're sometimes at a loss, trying to make sense of what is true and what is not and wondering at times if the book itself isn't lying to you. In order to keep you confused the timeline is completely mixed up jumping back and forth at random and without indication. This was the part that was hardest for me to warm up to. Sometimes it was very confusing as to where we were, both in the story and the actual time itself. Sometimes I would be halfway across a chapter before realising "oh right, we're ten years before". It was a neat trick, but not the most pleasant one to read. Best I can explain is that I could appreciate it but not always enjoy it. This is a novel written by Stephen Fry however so the dialogues are nothing short of brilliantly witty and hilarious. One could read the book just for those alone. It's an acquired taste perhaps but definitely a good novel in the end.

sam_salah11's review

Could not enjoy this book, had never taken me that long to read a book, wasn’t enjoyable, didn’t read well 

nyackley's review against another edition

3.0

I thought this book was decent, but not one of my favorites. The ending tied everything together well, but the chronology of the book was far too confusing and the subject matter far too risque for my taste. However, I did like that the writing style had some PG Wodehouse overtones and that the references were more modern and less obscure than the style originally suggests.

readingmissfroggy's review against another edition

2.0

2.5 stars.

This book was just too confusing. We go from schoolboys to spies to schoolboys to prostitutes to professors to spies to little boys that won't grow up?

I don't feel as if there is a point with this book. During the beginning it reminded me a bit of The Catcher in the Rye. This made me apprehensive since I did not like that book at all. We had Adrian, who is this nasty main character who is having some trouble with his sexuality. In between there are these weird chapters written with people who have clothes as their names? I really did not get that.

Then at some point Adrian gets older and while he at the beginning still seems to struggle with his sexuality that quickly disappears. What is left... well I don't know what is left.

To be fairly honest I feel like this book let me down. I love Stephen Fry as an actor and as a human being and I feel that this book had great potential. But if the story had at least had a point (or maybe I'm missing it in that case it would have had to have been a more obvious one in my opinion) and less confusing timelines I might have enjoyed it.

Will I pick up anything else by Fry? Maybe, if the synopsis sounds good enough I might give it a go.

EDIT:
TIP: READ THE WIKIPEDIA PAGE FOR THIS BOOK. EVERYTHING MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE NOW...

jpgringo's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Minor: Suicide

namrata_jain's review against another edition

4.0

A fun read. Stephen Fry is really funny, witty and amusing. It does bring you back to old school days, and how it seemed like the universe was on one side, and you on another, being an exception that nobody could understand. But then, things caught up, his story turned direction every few pages and it was quite fun to follow the zig-zag path the story took. His language is really very sophisticated and clear, especially considering that this was his first book.
It starts seeming to be a heavy read, but turns out to be a really light, fun and happy book.

georgia_brown's review

funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5