I initially read this book because my friend kept pestering me to and I wanted her to shut up, but I love love love this book: it is so emotionally driven and remarkably written and I am so grateful to my little buttercup for telling me about this book. Also word to the wise, do not read this book and then attempt to sneak peek at other pages or read spoilers because it will spoil your experience. The twists in this book are enough to turn anyone grey, don’t add anymore pressure to yourself. Please, I am begging you.
We Were Liars focuses on the affairs of a very rich and privileged New England family, the Sinclairs. The main protagonist Cadence describes the family as “Old-money Democrats, with square chins and wide smiles”. At the head of this family lies Harris Sinclair, Cadence’s grandfather and a man “drunk on power”.
The story follows the lives of Mirren Sinclair, Johnny Sinclair, Cadence Sinclair and Gatil Patel (a boy whose connection to Cadence threatens to blow the family apart)… Together, the four make the Liars, a close-knit group who are considered “trouble” by the adults around them, yet their sympathetic outlook to the rest of the world suggests that the only threat they pose is empathy. (“Be a little kinder than you have to”).
Through Lockhart’s use of vivid imagery and metaphoric language, she presents an insight into a family that is so fuelled by capitalism and luxury that they fail to see the world around them. It is almost as if society begins and ends on their Beechwood Island, just off Martha’s vineyard. The adults in the story only mirror this, with the Liars often retelling tales of their parents alcoholism issues, fights over fortune and prejudiced views.
Words cannot describe how much I connected to Cadence because her situation is just so sad. She is the girl who pretty much has everything, yet is in such pain. I can not tell you the amount of times I cried for Cadence; I’m sure my poor book still has tear stains from my endless hours of sobbing. It just really makes you realise that money doesn’t buy happiness and that it would be foolish of us to assume so.
I crushed hard on Gat because he just came across as this delicate, pure soul who sees the world as a whole, rather than a fragment of an aristocracy. That probably has something to do with the fact that he wasn’t brought up in that lifestyle, so he is meant to reflect us mere mundanes who understand that not everyone has the same opportunities in life. He is the only one out of the Liars who isn’t afraid to speak out against Harris or call the others out on their judgemental behaviour. I love him A LOT… I may be in love with a fictional character, but its okay because we will be together in spirit and in my dreams, and for now I give Cadence permission to have him.
The other characters, Mirren and Johnny, were a bit meh. I liked them, don’t get me wrong, but I found it hard to connect to them both on the same level that I did Cadence and Gat. I am not sure if this is because I mentally and emotionally got so attached to the others, but I just couldn’t connect, which was frustrating but that happens I guess.
There was also this really cool thing I loved where Cadence took fairy-tales and adapted them to the story so that it fitted in with a situation she was going through. But they were not your average boy meets girl in need, saves her, falls in love, the end… they were more like fables as they actually had meaning and a valid lesson at the end of it. Needless to say, I loved them. I actually just finished writing them in my diary because I want to read them every day: in the car, in class, on the toilet *TMI much* hehe. P.S. if you want to look for them, they are usually towards the end of the chapter, except they aren’t in every chapter. I think they start from chapter 16.
Overall, I would recommend We Were Liars to anyone who enjoys suspense and poetic writing. It is also a really quick read so perfect for the holidays.
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Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop.
