The Lie by Helen Dunmore
New York : Atlantic Monthly Press 2014
ISBN-13: 9780802122544 — Hardcover 294 pgs. $25.00
ISBN-13: 978-1629237107 — Unabridged Audio CD
(Read by Gildart Jackson.)
Annotation: After service overseas, Daniel Bramwell endures a difficult transition to civilian life that proves unsettling to the Tremellan community and a woman he once loved.
Summary: Daniel Bramwell returns home haunted by his experiences serving in France during WWI. Rather than reassert himself within the community, Daniel sleeps in a makeshift shelter on pensioner Mary Pascoe’s farm exchanging his labor for food and lodging. Mary has known Daniel since he was a youngster. Facing her final illness, Mary gifts her land to Daniel trusting him to carry out her end-of-life wishes. Instead of sending for the doctor as the townspeople admonish him to do, Daniel respects Mary’s wishes carefully tending to her himself. Off-putting to community members—including the local doctor—Daniel conceals Mary’s death and buries her on the farm.
Daniel keeps to himself on Mary’s acreage haunted by the severe flashbacks from his time in service. When a former friend (and Daniel’s unrequited love owing to their differences in class) reaches out to him once again, Daniel’s ability to distinguish between the past and the present deteriorates further and unsettles the townspeople. Daniel’s unsatisfying explanation for Mary’s prolonged absence ultimately contributes to his undoing and unleashes trouble for him within the community. This volatile combination culminates into a troubling climax at the story’s end.
Evaluation: I am still haunted by the descriptions of Daniel’s flashbacks. The author presents WWI battleground realities with Technicolor descriptions. I smell the cordite and hear the booming of incoming mortar shell—particularly as I listened to the audio book. This story, or rather, the narrator of this audio book makes for pleasurable listening; though, I still prefer turning actual pages. What a difference is made by the narrator!
Reading and rereading the ending of the book is unsettling. I believe the tragedy of what brings about Daniel’s undoing in the story is what our culture now acknowledges as PTSD. Such a sad novel; yet, I understand Dunmore’s need to include realism depicting the story’s outcome.
Author’s Website: http://www.helendunmore.com/
Reviews- NoveList PERMALINK:
Ratings: I give this slim book of literary, historical fiction 4.5 out of 5 possible stars. This is not my personal favorite within the database, but the story is beautifully written ringing true in spite of the tragedy depicted. The book is a moving tribute to the memory of a brave soldier.
Genre: Literary, historical fiction with overtones of psychological suspense.
Appeal Factors:
The story is character-driven and intricately-plotted with meticulous historical detail.
The Lie moves at a measured, increasingly-foreboding pace.
The mood of the book is bleak, disturbing, heart-wrenching, and at times, gruesome.
The Lie is descriptive, gritty and rich with detail.
Booktalking Ideas
Original Book Discussion Questions:
- Discuss the point in the story when did you first understood that something is not quite right with Daniel? Do you believe Daniel suffers from what we now know as PTSD?
- After returning to Tremellan, Daniel lodges on Mary Pascoe’s farm working the land at her direction. What motivates Daniel to respect Mary’s wishes during her final illness in NOT sending for Dr. Sanders? Do you agree/disagree with his decision? Why/why not?
- Daniel buries Mary on her land according to her wishes. What motivates Daniel to conceal her death from the townspeople?
- Daniel is haunted by the death of his childhood friend, Frederick Dennis, in battle. Does Daniel blame himself for Frederick’s death? Why/why not?
- Why does Frederick affectionately refer to Daniel as an old blowviator? Explain the significance.
- Frederick’s sister, Felicia, reconnects with Daniel on Mary’s farm. Daniel has secretly loved Felicia since childhood, but respects their differences in station. Since Felicia is now a war widow with a young daughter, discuss whether or not Daniel now dares hope that they might share a future together?
- When Daniel and Felicia seek shelter overnight due to inclement weather, discuss why neither corrects Mrs. Thomas’s presumption that they are a married couple? Do you believe that they merely shared the same bed overnight… or not?
- Discuss Daniel’s last day on the farm. What triggers these events? Is the community at fault for the outcome of events? Is Daniel to blame for the cascade of events?
Read-alikes:
Away by Amy Bloom
Wake by Anna Hope
Tags: WWI, France, flashbacks, PTSD
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