Anyone read Big Little Lies?

[jojoandleo]

I just finished this last night.  I was blown away by the representation of domestic violence.  It really did a good job of showing the mindset of a victim and how it's not as easy as "just leave already."  How Celeste was convinced she wasn't really a victim because she hit back.  Or it wasn't really so bad because he was so sorry.  Or how it was worth it for the honeymoon period.  I loved how convinced she was he couldn't/wouldn't kill her.  Or how her children NEVER saw.  It's such an interesting look into the mind of a DV victim.  She isn't weak, it's all just so much more complicated than that.

I really love how Liane Moriarty develops her characters.  She is good at it.  And I LOVE them!  Her big reveals I always guess ahead of time, but I don't even care because I am more of a character person.  I need to connect to a character to love a book.  Whether it's to hate them, feel sad for them, love them, whatever. The only books I DNF are when I am indifferent about the characters. Even shitty ass books I will finish.

Anyway, I totally see how this book could be a TV show reminiscent of Desperate Housewives.

[TR]

I did, I really liked it. I like everything of hers that I've read. I'm starting the Hypnotist's Love Story next and noticed she has a new one (Truly Madly Guilty) coming out in July.

[Eagles]

It dragged for me in places so I skipped ahead to find out the ending and then went back, haha. I did love Three Wishes and The Hypnotist's Love Story, but not What Alice Forgot. I'm just starting The Husband's Secret.

[jojoandleo]

May 11, 2016 7:30:32 GMT -5 Eagles said:

It dragged for me in places so I skipped ahead to find out the ending and then went back, haha. I did love Three Wishes and The Hypnotist's Love Story, but not What Alice Forgot. I'm just starting The Husband's Secret.

I didn't really like Three Wishes. It was just, like, one of the sisters had every fucking thing going wrong in her life.  And I just wanted to hug her!

The Husband's Secret was the first one I read and I loved it.  I liked the Hypnotist's Love Story.  I haven't read What Alice Forgot.

[Deleted]

This is one of my favorite reads, with all its twists and turns, along with The Husband's Secret.

jojoandleo , they are making this into a series on HBO: link

ETA: There are some pretty big names in the case, including the yummy Alexander Sarsgard.

[lovelyshoes]

I never like her books when I start them, but she is good at sucking me in after about 60 or so pages. This was a really good representation of a DV victim. The only thing I don't like is how she kind of neatly wraps things up in the end. It's not realistic. I felt the same way about The Husband's Secret; too neat of an ending.

[pokerface]

I finished this book recently and really enjoyed it. I'm interested to see the show!

Has anyone else read The Last Anniversary by her? It's so quirky and weird and randomly one of my favorite books ever.

[rupertpenny]

I've liked all her books besides The Husband's Secret. I think I hated all those characters and I'm not someone who needs "likable" characters to enjoy a book.

[Amy]

I loved Big Little Lies and What Alice Forgot, didn't like The Last Anniversary particularly.

[CheeringCharm]

Oh I love this author! She has a way of writing about serious subjects with a really light, engaging touch which I enjoy. My favorite of hers is The Hypnotist's Love Story. She has a new book coming out this summer which I'm really looking forward to. 

[jojoandleo]

May 11, 2016 8:04:49 GMT -5 lovelyshoes said:

I never like her books when I start them, but she is good at sucking me in after about 60 or so pages. This was a really good representation of a DV victim. The only thing I don't like is how she kind of neatly wraps things up in the end. It's not realistic. I felt the same way about The Husband's Secret; too neat of an ending.

Yeah, she wraps them up so no one has any problems anymore, which is unrealistic. But, I don't mind it so much. I prefer to just sometimes have a happy, tidy ending. I love the messy endings that make you think (Like The Kind Worth Killing), but sometimes, I just want to be DONE. It ended, it was good, it's over.

[Kristinmo]

May 11, 2016 8:04:49 GMT -5 lovelyshoes said:

I never like her books when I start them, but she is good at sucking me in after about 60 or so pages. This was a really good representation of a DV victim. The only thing I don't like is how she kind of neatly wraps things up in the end. It's not realistic. I felt the same way about The Husband's Secret; too neat of an ending.

Agreed.  It takes me awhile to get into them but I usually end up loving them.  Big Little Lies is my favorite.

[lovelyshoes]

I need a recommendation on what to read next. I just finished The Nightingale last week and I need something less emotional to breeze through.

[gerberdaisy]

I really like her books, I read the Last Anniversary last and really enjoyed it. I have three wishes out from the library and need to get into it.

The development of those characters was so great, I'm really looking forward to the HBO series.

[glitzyglow]

May 11, 2016 7:18:54 GMT -5 jojoandleo said:

Anyway, I totally see how this book could be a TV show reminiscent of Desperate Housewives.

Nicole Kidman bought the rights and they are doing a mini-series of the book: www.justjared.com/2016/01/11/reese-witherspoon-nicole-kidman-begin-work-on-big-little-lies-with-shailene-woodley/

This book started off so, so slowly for me and I was worried that it was going to be a "mommy wars" type book, but I was glad I stuck with it. I still think about it sometimes.

[jojoandleo]

May 11, 2016 9:53:47 GMT -5 lovelyshoes said:

I need a recommendation on what to read next. I just finished The Nightingale last week and I need something less emotional to breeze through.

OMG! I recently finished this one too! I cried. SO HARD. OMG! I am trying to think of something light and breezy that I have read recently, but when I go breezy, I tend to go really crappy romance novel. Like, you would likely judge me. Otherwise I am reading shit like Orphan Train (tears for days), or reading young adult series (Like Throne of Glass/Miss Peregrine).

[Mrs.Rad888]

May 11, 2016 9:53:47 GMT -5 lovelyshoes said:

I need a recommendation on what to read next. I just finished The Nightingale last week and I need something less emotional to breeze through.

I've loved all the Liane Moriarty books I've read, but I could not get into The Nightingale. The lead character was so whiny! I might come back to it at some point, but I've got a bunch of other books on my Nook just waiting for me.

I'm getting ready to read Rise of the Rocket Girls which I am pretty excited about.

[jojoandleo]

May 11, 2016 9:59:25 GMT -5 glitzyglow said:

May 11, 2016 7:18:54 GMT -5 jojoandleo said:

Anyway, I totally see how this book could be a TV show reminiscent of Desperate Housewives.

Nicole Kidman bought the rights and they are doing a mini-series of the book: www.justjared.com/2016/01/11/reese-witherspoon-nicole-kidman-begin-work-on-big-little-lies-with-shailene-woodley/

This book started off so, so slowly for me and I was worried that it was going to be a "mommy wars" type book, but I was glad I stuck with it. I still think about it sometimes.

I actually stopped reading it and picked it back up on a whim. I agree. It started out slow and gossipy, but I loved it. I loved the blended family troubles, Jane and how hard it is to have your self-esteem crushed, the representation of DV. I'd heard it was going to be made into a series (that was why I bought it originally) but hadn't heard anything since. I think it would be easy to carry these characters a few seasons after the book ends, ya know?

[lovelyshoes]

May 11, 2016 10:12:47 GMT -5 Mrs.Rad888 said:

May 11, 2016 9:53:47 GMT -5 lovelyshoes said:

I need a recommendation on what to read next. I just finished The Nightingale last week and I need something less emotional to breeze through.

I've loved all the Liane Moriarty books I've read, but I could not get into The Nightingale. The lead character was so whiny! I might come back to it at some point, but I've got a bunch of other books on my Nook just waiting for me.

I'm getting ready to read Rise of the Rocket Girls which I am pretty excited about.

Definitely pick it up again, you won't regret it. Once I got past the beginning I couldn't put it down. I was sneaking time to read it anywhere I could find a spare few minutes. It's haunting and it should be.

[lovelyshoes]

May 11, 2016 10:12:08 GMT -5 jojoandleo said:

May 11, 2016 9:53:47 GMT -5 lovelyshoes said:

I need a recommendation on what to read next. I just finished The Nightingale last week and I need something less emotional to breeze through.

OMG! I recently finished this one too! I cried. SO HARD. OMG! I am trying to think of something light and breezy that I have read recently, but when I go breezy, I tend to go really crappy romance novel. Like, you would likely judge me. Otherwise I am reading shit like Orphan Train (tears for days), or reading young adult series (Like Throne of Glass/Miss Peregrine).

Whatever works, I don't judge:). I have All the Light We Cannot See and I just don't want to start it now. I need a fun filled book. I browse on Amazon and can't pick anything out. I'll check out those YD books.

[Nonny]

I read this last year for one of my book clubs, and I really liked it. I figured out most of the little twists along the way, but I wasn't expecting who was killed or who was the killer. I want to read more of her stuff, but I keep reading my other books too slowly, and by the time I'm done I need to move on to my next book club book. (One of the hazards of being in two different book clubs.)

[jojoandleo]

May 11, 2016 10:37:46 GMT -5 Nonny said:

I read this last year for one of my book clubs, and I really liked it. I figured out most of the little twists along the way, but I wasn't expecting who was killed or who was the killer. I want to read more of her stuff, but I keep reading my other books too slowly, and by the time I'm done I need to move on to my next book club book. (One of the hazards of being in two different book clubs.)

I guessed who was killed, but not who killed him. I also figured out Ziggy's father pretty quickly. But even with that, I just really loved her character development. 

I'm only in one book club and we are the WORST about meeting. LOL. 2 of us are in one city and 2 in another-about 1 1/2 drive. We said to meet once a month, but it hasn't worked out.

[rockinrobyn]

May 11, 2016 7:47:45 GMT -5 @beachgal said:

This is one of my favorite reads, with all its twists and turns, along with The Husband's Secret.

jojoandleo , they are making this into a series on HBO: link

ETA: There are some pretty big names in the case, including the yummy Alexander Sarsgard.

Ohh! I am excited for this. I really liked the book but it took me a little while to get into it as well. With all the big names I hope it turns out to be good. 

[youhadmycuriosity]

Yes, loved this book. I've read all of Liane Moriarty's books- I started with The Husband's Secret and she just sucked me in. The only negative consequence has been that "you done stuffed it up, buttercup" has worked it's way into my speech and yielded me some weird looks from H!

[jojoandleo]

May 11, 2016 12:52:57 GMT -5 youhadmycuriosity said:

Yes, loved this book. I've read all of Liane Moriarty's books- I started with The Husband's Secret and she just sucked me in. The only negative consequence has been that "you done stuffed it up, buttercup" has worked it's way into my speech and yielded me some weird looks from H!

I am so going to start saying, "Oh calamity!"  I loved that.  I could just see a little five year old girl rolling her eyes all "Oh calamity!"