James Whitfield Thomson
Autor/a de Lies You Wanted to Hear
Obres de James Whitfield Thomson
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- Thomson, James Whitfield
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This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
Often when I read a book, I read the notes the author adds to the beginning of the book…this author added a note to the front a book about a conversation with his daughter that caught my attention. He was asked to summarize the book in 15 words; he described this book as what seemed like a simple love story. I have to disagree, there is so much more to this story then to label it as that. There’s love there, but it’s jaded and heartbreaking, as well as eye opening and intriguing. It's a love story written real world style, even though there was beauty and money added in to the story, they were fixes....This is not a story about the sad lonely rich girl marrying mister right, and settling down in the white picket fenced house with two kids and a dog and happy ever after. This is a story about how hard it really is to make a marriage work, and that sometimes you cannot. Matt and Lucy's story is one that is sad and yet beautiful at the same time.
The story is written in two separate points of views, Lucy’s and Matt’s. It flips between them every other chapter. This type of story does not always work, but was well done in this book. I was impressed at how well the author kept the chapters separate and allowed you to truly see both sides of the story. As I read, I found that I actually kept my sympathy more on Matt’s side all the way up until the very last chapters of the book. As a mom and a divorcee I was surprised to find my sympathies lying with Matt. It wasn't that I couldn't sympathize with her, as a mother it is often second nature to question whether you are good enough, it felt that Lucy took so much longer to grow up and accept her parental responsibilities then Matt did. It was not until Lucy finally seemed to turn her life around that I felt like she deserved that sympathy.
In the end my greatest sympathy was left with the children and how much they went through and the scar’s that they most likely bare from their parents. It was an eye opening book for me in seeing that relationships can really be very complex-it was interesting how much Lucy clung to unhealthy relationships, and that she never felt quite completely when she was in a boring normal one with Matt.
This book is a must read, but with that I will give a caution. If you are looking for a feel good book with a feel good love story to make your day complete, you may want to look elsewhere. If you want a story that will get you thinking-read this! I love a story that makes me really think. I was constantly putting myself in their shoes and thinking about how I would handle the situations. It really is an amazing book that allows you to step outside yourself and think a little deeper.
I have to thank James Thomson for the opportunity to read this book. It is a story I won't soon forget.
… (més)
Often when I read a book, I read the notes the author adds to the beginning of the book…this author added a note to the front a book about a conversation with his daughter that caught my attention. He was asked to summarize the book in 15 words; he described this book as what seemed like a simple love story. I have to disagree, there is so much more to this story then to label it as that. There’s love there, but it’s jaded and heartbreaking, as well as eye opening and intriguing. It's a love story written real world style, even though there was beauty and money added in to the story, they were fixes....This is not a story about the sad lonely rich girl marrying mister right, and settling down in the white picket fenced house with two kids and a dog and happy ever after. This is a story about how hard it really is to make a marriage work, and that sometimes you cannot. Matt and Lucy's story is one that is sad and yet beautiful at the same time.
The story is written in two separate points of views, Lucy’s and Matt’s. It flips between them every other chapter. This type of story does not always work, but was well done in this book. I was impressed at how well the author kept the chapters separate and allowed you to truly see both sides of the story. As I read, I found that I actually kept my sympathy more on Matt’s side all the way up until the very last chapters of the book. As a mom and a divorcee I was surprised to find my sympathies lying with Matt. It wasn't that I couldn't sympathize with her, as a mother it is often second nature to question whether you are good enough, it felt that Lucy took so much longer to grow up and accept her parental responsibilities then Matt did. It was not until Lucy finally seemed to turn her life around that I felt like she deserved that sympathy.
In the end my greatest sympathy was left with the children and how much they went through and the scar’s that they most likely bare from their parents. It was an eye opening book for me in seeing that relationships can really be very complex-it was interesting how much Lucy clung to unhealthy relationships, and that she never felt quite completely when she was in a boring normal one with Matt.
This book is a must read, but with that I will give a caution. If you are looking for a feel good book with a feel good love story to make your day complete, you may want to look elsewhere. If you want a story that will get you thinking-read this! I love a story that makes me really think. I was constantly putting myself in their shoes and thinking about how I would handle the situations. It really is an amazing book that allows you to step outside yourself and think a little deeper.
I have to thank James Thomson for the opportunity to read this book. It is a story I won't soon forget.
… (més)
James Whitfield Thomson’s gripping psychological debut novel, THE LIES YOU WANTED TO HEAR, is one of complex and troubled characters, where your loyalties for these two, switch back and forth more than a tennis match.
Set in the late 70s in Boston, Matt, a copy is set up by his colleague’s wife on a blind date with her oldest friend from college, Lucy. Lucy who likes to live life on the edge, from a well to do family, obsessed with her former (future) lover and bad boy, Griffin.
In earlier days (back story), she gets pregnant and has an abortion, as Griffin is most definitely not the daddy type. However, afterwards, he is nowhere to be found. He tends to show up unannounced throughout the book at his convenience, and pulls Lucy once again back into his web of deceit.
Lucy likes to smoke pot, have sex, drink and live on the wild side; however, she decides after Griffin, to settle for the nice, well controlled good-looking, stable blue-collar cop, Matt. (or so, he appears) Matt is intrigued with Lucy, even though he does not like some of her nasty habits. She feels she cannot live up to the perfect Matt. Each is trying to fit into a mold and be what the other wants.
They marry and have two children; however, she gets bored, depressed, and being a typical mother is not in her DNA, after all her mom (an alcoholic) was not the best role model. During their marriage, Matt gives up being a cop and is now an international courier and travels often. She misses the thrill of Griffin and the bad boy while her husband is away with the demands of motherhood.
When Griffin appears once again in Lucy’s life, the trouble begins, leading to a nasty divorce with the children in the middle. This is when the tables turn. Before this point, readers will dislike Lucy and root for the wonderful Matt. However, when Matt decides to play God and kidnap the children, and begins lying to the children about their mom, Lucy gets her act together. By the end of the book you sympathize with Lucy and dislike Matt. She is left without her children and never gives up hope.
A story of loss and love, and the power of redemption. Each character continues lying to the other, with a web of deceit each playing a part—leaving your head spinning as to which character is most troubled. In the end there is a price to pay for their mistakes.
An addictive, frustrating at times, and intense page-turner for every parent, who longs to protect their children. I listened to the audiobook (7/15/14), narrated by Nan McNamara and Andrew Ingalls, with an outstanding performance!
Richly developed characters, well written suspense family and relationship drama, hooking you from beginning to end. Looking forward to reading more from Thomson----A master storyteller as he weaves a tale hard to put down. (Would make an ideal choice for book clubs, to discuss further each of these personalities Lucy, Griffin, Matt, and the children).
… (més)
Set in the late 70s in Boston, Matt, a copy is set up by his colleague’s wife on a blind date with her oldest friend from college, Lucy. Lucy who likes to live life on the edge, from a well to do family, obsessed with her former (future) lover and bad boy, Griffin.
In earlier days (back story), she gets pregnant and has an abortion, as Griffin is most definitely not the daddy type. However, afterwards, he is nowhere to be found. He tends to show up unannounced throughout the book at his convenience, and pulls Lucy once again back into his web of deceit.
Lucy likes to smoke pot, have sex, drink and live on the wild side; however, she decides after Griffin, to settle for the nice, well controlled good-looking, stable blue-collar cop, Matt. (or so, he appears) Matt is intrigued with Lucy, even though he does not like some of her nasty habits. She feels she cannot live up to the perfect Matt. Each is trying to fit into a mold and be what the other wants.
They marry and have two children; however, she gets bored, depressed, and being a typical mother is not in her DNA, after all her mom (an alcoholic) was not the best role model. During their marriage, Matt gives up being a cop and is now an international courier and travels often. She misses the thrill of Griffin and the bad boy while her husband is away with the demands of motherhood.
When Griffin appears once again in Lucy’s life, the trouble begins, leading to a nasty divorce with the children in the middle. This is when the tables turn. Before this point, readers will dislike Lucy and root for the wonderful Matt. However, when Matt decides to play God and kidnap the children, and begins lying to the children about their mom, Lucy gets her act together. By the end of the book you sympathize with Lucy and dislike Matt. She is left without her children and never gives up hope.
A story of loss and love, and the power of redemption. Each character continues lying to the other, with a web of deceit each playing a part—leaving your head spinning as to which character is most troubled. In the end there is a price to pay for their mistakes.
An addictive, frustrating at times, and intense page-turner for every parent, who longs to protect their children. I listened to the audiobook (7/15/14), narrated by Nan McNamara and Andrew Ingalls, with an outstanding performance!
Richly developed characters, well written suspense family and relationship drama, hooking you from beginning to end. Looking forward to reading more from Thomson----A master storyteller as he weaves a tale hard to put down. (Would make an ideal choice for book clubs, to discuss further each of these personalities Lucy, Griffin, Matt, and the children).
… (més)
This is a novel about a marriage gone wrong and about the choices peope make that they may regret. An impressive novel from a debut author and one i wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
Premis
Estadístiques
- Obres
- 1
- Membres
- 145
- Popularitat
- #142,479
- Valoració
- 3.6
- Ressenyes
- 9
- ISBN
- 5
James Whitfield Thomson's extraordinary debut novel, Lies You Wanted to Hear, is a compelling story about the disintegration of a marriage and its messy aftermath. Impossible to put down, this spellbinding tale of love gone wrong will leave readers questioning what choices they might make under similar circumstances.
Lucy Thornhill is on the rebound following the demise of her long term and tempestuous relationship with Griffin when she agrees to a blind date with Matt Drobyshev. Hard working, loyal and all around good guy Matt immediately falls for Lucy and although he clearly sees her faults, his feelings for her make it easy for him to overlook them. While Lucy likes Matt, she is not in love with him but she continues to date him although she still harbors feelings for Griffin. When Griffin re-enters her life, Lucy makes a fateful decision that sets into motion a chain of events that spans over twenty years.
Lucy and Matt are richly drawn and highly complex characters. Lucy is overwhelmed by motherhood and plagued by feelings of inadequacy. Matt is very comfortable and at ease with fatherhood and he remains deeply in love with Lucy. Following the birth of their second child, Lucy suffers from a severe bout of post-partum depression and despite Matt's patience and understanding, their marriage never quite recovers. Once again, Griffin's reappearance in Lucy's life spells disaster for the struggling couple.
Lies You Wanted to Hear is written in first person from both protagonists' point of view. The chapters alternate between Matt and Lucy's perspective and provide the reader with each characters' viewpoint of unfolding events. Lucy's actions and dishonesty paint her in a very unflattering light for much of the story. It is much easier to sympathize with Matt, especially when the marriage begins to unravel. But in the aftermath of Matt's questionable decision, Lucy becomes the more sympathetic character and by the novel's end, she is one who undergoes the most dramatic transformation.
Lies You Wanted to Hear poses some very interesting questions about the unwitting repercussions of the choices we make. Many readers will be able to relate to the struggles of both characters and all will be left wondering what they would do if faced with the same situation. All in all, an amazing first outing by James Whitfield Thomson that I highly recommend.… (més)