E. Lockhart

Ah, where do I even begin with my passion for this book? How do I accurately express to you how much this book surprised me, and broke me apart? When We Were Liars first came out, and everyone was praising it, I was skeptical. I always am when a book seems perfect. I now know what all the hype was about. This book is perfect, or at least it was to me. It's sad, it's beautiful, and it's full of so many sharp and bitter truths. I only hope this review does it some justice.

Cady, and the entire show more Sinclair family, came alive for me while I read this book. I saw their shimmering, golden outsides that only barely masked the vicious cracks running underneath. I fell in love with this family. Despite their flaws, despite their entitlement, I fell absolutely head over heels in love with them. Especially Cady. The "Liars", as Cady lovingly calls the group of the four of them, sat in my mind long after I'd finished this book. Each with their own special quirks and faults. They're still there too. I don't think they're ever going to leave.

Oh, and the pieces of this book that just got me with their brutal honesty were so plentiful that I stopped counting. They stabbed me with their sharp, poignant little truths that we all forget to consider. My favorite part was watching as the Liars realized the reality of their situation. That wealth and glamour don't always make a happy life. These four were so wise beyond their years. Even while being silly, even while being teens, they spoke to me. I loved the line "Be a little kinder than you have to." and I've been repeating it all day. This book broke my heart so many times, and I'm not even upset about it.

I would ramble on, but I can't because I don't want to spoil one moment of this book for you. It shocked me how much We Were Liars crawled under my skin and became a part of who I am now. I don't run across books like this often. When I do, I savor them. Just like I did this one. Word of warning? Have tissues on hand, and quite possibly a fuzzy blanket to curl up under. You're going to need them. show less

"This chronicle is an attempt to mark out the contributing elements in Frankie Landau-Banks’s character. What led her to do what she did: things she would later view with a curious mixture of hubris and regret."

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is an intelligent, witty story of a contemporary teenage girl's determined rebellion against the expectations of those that surround her.

""She will not be simple and sweet. She will not be what people tell her she should be. That show more Bunny Rabbit is dead.”

This novel has a definite message. Alabaster Prep School is a microcosm of wider society, and within it, Lockhart explores some major issues including social order, the hierarchy of power and gender inequality. Frankie is determined to challenge the status quo by surreptitiously taking charge of The Loyal Order of the Basset Hound - the all male secret society on campus, and giving the pranks she devises a politically motivated agenda. Frankie's motives aren't entirely pure though, and inevitably neither do things go exactly to plan.

I liked Frankie, she's smart and feisty though she also has her flaws, but it's the contradictions in her actions and her thought processes that makes her so interesting, and I think is probably the point of the whole novel. Frankie may be slightly more self aware than many teen girls but she hasn't yet got everything figured out. Like most girls, Frankie struggles with her desire to be true to herself and her wish to fit in. This is particularly an issue in her relationship with the handsome, wealthy and charming Senior, Matthew Livingston. Frankie is delighted by his attention, proud to be chosen by him, even when she realises that he isn't really interested in what she wants or thinks.

"It is better to be alone, she figures, than to be with someone who can't see who you are. It is better to lead than to follow. It is better to speak up than stay silent. It is better to open doors than to shut them on people."

Despite the serious themes, the overall tone of the novel is lighthearted. The narrative is often witty and the story is well paced.

I enjoyed The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, it's a thought provoking novel that, from my perspective, explores some interesting contradictions. I've passed it on to my teen daughter and I'm eager to see what she thinks. show less

Frankie Landau-Banks is starting her sophomore year at an exclusive private school. She's never made much impression before, but since she got prettier and bustier over the summer, she attracts the attention of popular senior Matthew Livingston and his in-crowd. Slowly, though, she realizes that Matthew and the crowd belong to a super-secret boys-only society and that rather than appreciating her for her cleverness and wit, they see her as a negligible cute girl. To prove herself, she finds show more out everything she can about the society...and quietly starts to run it, thinking of pranks and having the boys carry them out, without their ever knowing she's behind it.

It's really a fascinating study in gender roles and power imbalances, and Lockhart doesn't provide an easy ending: Frankie is smart and driven, but she's not exactly likable, and one wonders where she's going to go afterwards. I do find Lockhart's books interestingly chewy, and this is easily her chewiest. show less

I devoured this book in a day. It was that good.

From the start, I felt deeply for Cadence, knew she was hiding something from herself, or possibly choosing not to see something, and I desperately wanted to find out her deep, dark secret. Her voice--the book's voice--was lovely, off-putting, and weird but very necessary for the story. I couldn't stop reading and I cried hard at the ending, which both surprised me and glued all the pieces of the story in the right place. I honestly can't think show more of any significant criticism because I'm so enamored with the story. This is one of my new favorites. show less