Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Audiobook Review: Liar

Liar by Justine Larbalestier, narrated by Channie Waites.  (Grades 9+)  Brilliance Audio, 2009.  8 discs (9 hours, 8 minutes). Review copy provided by my local library.

Okay, so I didn't read this one last year when everybody was buzzing about it and there was that big thing about the cover.  But I have finally caught up and... man, this book is weird.  Weird doesn't mean bad...

except for the narration of the audio recording.  I'll be completely honest here: I hated the narration.  It just didn't work for me.  The accents didn't work for me.  The reading didn't work for me.  I.  Just.  Hated It.  And after reading some of the comments on Justine Larbalestier's spoiler thread (seriously, do not read it unless you have read the book...), I think there's a lot that I missed by listening to it instead of having the print in front of me.

So it's a tribute to the book that I was willing to listen to the whole thing.

I don't know how much I can say without giving stuff away, so I'm not going to say a whole lot.  In my opinion, it's best to go into reading Liar without knowing anything about it.  Just plunge right in and see what you think.  There's a major freakin' plot twist in the second part of the book and you'll no longer be reading the book you thought you were (or will you?).

Someone in Justine's spoiler thread said that Liar is truly a book written for readers, written to be different for every reader and thus give every reader ownership of the story.  I completely agree with this and it's what makes the book so masterful.  Well done, Justine.

But seriously, read the print version.  Don't bother with the audio.

Do check out Justine's post about peeking in on the audio being recorded.  And check out another review of the Liar audiobook at Reading With My Ears.

Liar is on shelves now!

Hey!  I'm an Audible affiliate, so if you make a purchase after clicking on an affiliate link, I will receive a referral fee.