I gave this book 4 stars out of 5 -- not because it is a good book, or even well-written. In fact, the writing is fairly awful, but consistent with the points of views of the characters the author is writing for. So, in capturing the voice of the characters, it is well-written. In terms of nuance and exposition, not quite -- it is not literature. But, it is not supposed to be.

With that said, I hated these characters. All three of them, Heather, Brett, and Kyle, represent what I dislike in American youth: absolutely self-centered. Even when they have what would be good to them in the long run, they risk it all, willingly, or without realizing it, for revenge, self-destruction, and/or pleasure.

There is misogyny, there is pornography, there is cruelty. I was reading through the 1 star reviews. They seem to be based entirely of reaction to the objectionable content and not considering the story. I think, in this case, a 1 star review is complementary to the author and his ability to get a reaction out of the audience.

One doesn't have to like the story in order for a book to be a good book. The story could be absolutely disgusting in both the acts and the exploration of human nature. In this case, that exploration is complete self-indulgence, and not caring whose life one has to ruin (your own or otherwise) to wade that pool of shallowness. And, for me, that story is incredibly engaging. I wanted to see what would happen next. I found pieces of myself (and my youth) in Kyle's action and choices. I found myself saying to myself, I know what that feels like....and "Noooooo... I know what happens now...."

So, if you decide to read this novel, you may find yourself slightly ashamed with yourself if you relate to any of these three people. But, the content of this book is why reality shows exist: you want to know how far bad behaving people will push the limits, and how it affects those around them

Thank you for reading.

In the novel The Lie, the author Chad Kultgen uses three narrators to show how America is corrupt. Each of the narrators is college students that are different types of people. Bringing together three different types of narrators gave many different points of view. The author separates each chapter between the narrators and has their point of view on the same story, going through each year of their college life. Each of the narrators has a connection which brings the novel together and keeps it interesting. The novel is set up to go through all four years of the narrator s college lives. By doing this, the reader knows how the story started and then progressed over all four years.
The first character Kyle goes to college because he is interested in being successful in life. Kyle is not interested in fraternities or sororities. Unlike the other two characters. Kyle is very intelligent and does not t really care what others think of him. Kyle does not come from a wealthy family, he is going to college because he is smart and he received many scholarships but he also has several jobs on the side. Kyle meets Heather as she stumbles into his room very drunk. They become a couple. Kyle really loves Heather but Heather seems to be more interested in her sorority than being loyal to her boyfriend. Heather loves the party scene and is very flirty, sometimes a little too flirty. Brett is Kyle s best friend. Brett is very wealthy and gets everything he wants. Almost any girl will give Brett anything he wants in the hopes of becoming something important to him and gaining access to his wealth. Brett does what he pleases but has the obligation to fulfill any duties that his father has set for Brett s future to take over his company. Brett is a set on the fact that every girl is worthless except for one thing, and will make you miserable if you get attached to them. That includes Kyle s girlfriend Heather.
When Kyle meets Heather he immediately falls for her. Heather is not too sure if she likes Kyle at first but they eventually become a couple. Kyle loves Heather and would do anything for her. They stay together through their freshman year and into the beginning of their sophomore year. This is where things go wrong. Heather starts to live in her sorority house and has less time for Kyle. She goes to a lot of parties and often gets very drunk. While at one of these parties Heather takes some drugs and cheats on Kyle with a guy from a fraternity. Kyle s best friend Brett accidentally walks into a room at this party and sees Heather cheating on Kyle. When Kyle finds this out he is devastated. Heather and Kyle break-up, but Kyle still loved her. Even though he finds a new girlfriend that is similar to him and treats him well, when Heather wants him back he has no hesitation to have her back in his life. Heather wants Kyle to marry her but wants the most expensive ring. To please Heather Kyle gets a ring that looks expensive but isn't t real. When Heather finds out it s not real she dumps him again. This ruins Kyle. He starts to become like Brett whom he said he would never be like. He has a completely new view of women. Heather gets an S.T.D. from Brett and then tricks him into getting her pregnant and forces Brett to marry her. Kyle and Brett were no longer friends and both of their lives were ruined by this girl.
This story takes place at S.M.U. in Dallas, Texas, mostly the college scene. This was a big college with fraternity and sorority houses, dorm rooms, apartments and college classes. Parties played a big role in the setting of this story.
There are three different narrators with very different voices. Heather sounds conceited, high maintenance and self-centered. Kyle is intelligent and over analyzes things. Brett sounds like he does not t care and is very proud to be who he is. They all have very different personalities.
In summary of The Lie by Chad Kultgen, I got to read the perspective of three different narrators all adding up to one wild story. The lies, betrayal, love, tricks, wealth, parties, all were shown in this one thrilling story.

Some will say this book is absolutely repulsive, vulgar, chauvinistic, and declare it should be burned. I doubt Chad Kultgen's goal was for this book to be anything else.

The book focuses on three people: one geeky outcast, his "studly" best friend, and the geeky outcast's girlfriend. "The Lie" that the book refers to could be applied to one of many lies the characters tell to each other, or even themselves.

It has some great one-liners, but also makes you question exactly what the hell the current generation is up to, and where they are going. You don't have to read that deeply into it, and can just have fun with the kinky sex, but if you do look deeper, there is plenty to look at. ( )

i've been racking my brains as to understand why I love 'The Lie' so much. There is nothing particularly intellectually stimulating about it; in fact philosophy is never brought up at all. Possibly backwards-feminist rights in the subtext, that's irrational. Maybe because I haven't read an actual novel in so long and have been so caught up in theory writing? Maybe because it's the first modern novel (it came out before the year I read it 2008) I’ve read since Murakami’s latest.

Or maybe because it's just really, really good and completely representative of my generation and those who go to big universities (something I was exposed to for two years at University of Oregon). Greek life always seemed like "bullshit" and two of the three main characters in the novel feel the same way. I would be lying to say I don't relate with Brett, the post-modern child of a faulty beginning who became accustomed to his resources and found his own niche in what they offered him. His best friend, the secondary character is still relatable in his drastic love for a girl who really means nothing except the idea he had for her, and deep down inside he knew it yet she still drives him to his demise. The perception of the girl in the novel Heather, is also interesting just to get into the psyche of a girl, although she is the typical dumb sorority girl it is hard to believe anyone could be as caddy as she is, but I have come in contact with these type of girls, the type who literally devote their entire lives to finding a rich husband and appealing to their sorority sisters. They live a life caring not of art, creativity, or culture unless it is forced upon them in a way no true intellect would approve of. But I’m getting off topic. Really, there is so much to talk about with 'The Lie' because it leaves so much up to the reader.

This is attributed to the narration style, where the story alternates from the voice of the three characters I have mentioned. Being trapped in a lifestyle that is not interesting, but in the way it is written and the simplicity of the characters needs brought so visceral by taking on the voice of all three, it could be anti-drug book just about anti-love. It’s a novel about the perils of the mundane. It’s an anti-love book. It is called ‘The Lie’ but it is about numerous lies. It’s about boredom. But overall, it is a brilliant critique on the absolute amusement to death of my generation.

I conclude with a quote from Seneca (the Roman tutor of Caligula):

Thus each man ever flees himself.

“But what good does it do him if he does not escape from himself? He constantly follows himself and oppresses himself as his own most irksome companion. Accordingly, we ought to know that what makes us struggle is the fault, not of our locations, but of ourselves: we are weak when anything has to be endured, and unable to bear toil or pleasure or ourselves or anything for any length of time. This is what has driven certain men to death, because by frequently changing their intentions they were constantly brought back to the same things and had left themselves no scope for novelty: they began to grow sick of life and the world itself, and their self-indulgent ways that sapped their vigor gave rise to the thought: ‘How long shall I put up with the same things?’ “ ( )