Book review - Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

I am sorry. I suck, I know. So much for blogging every day. Getting really busy these days, so bear with me for being sloppy when it comes to blogging.

Anyway, here is my review for this book!

Big Little Lies - Liane Moriarty 3/5

I got interested in this book after accidentally coming across the TV series one day when I was bored out of my mind. I watched 3 episodes and found out that it was actually based on a book. I got really interested in the story line while watching the tv series so I literally forced myself to stop watching and got the book instead. I told myself that I was going to continue with the TV series only after completing the book. I have never till today found a movie/tv series version of any book nicer than the book itself. So, my theory has always been that if you like movie, you definitely need to read the book, and if you watched a remake of a book on screen and thought it was shitty, then don't judge the book by its cover and read the book instead cause it's always so much better. So as planned, I got out and bought the book.

I have to admit that if I didn't watch it on screen, the first few chapters would have been dry and boring to me. First of all, the book has 85 chapters or so. Yeah, I think it's 85. I don't have it beside me right now, so I'm just trusting my memory. But don't get petrified by this. The chapters are really short and crisp. Not draggy so it's a good thing. I always thought that maybe the book was designed for housewives/moms not because of the story line! Just for the fact of how short the chapters are. You know how they are running around most of the time and statistics show that housewives/moms prefer books with short chapters so that they don't feel irritated or pressured when they have to put down their book after reading for 5 minutes cause their kid just hit their head against the coffee table. Hey, I'm really not labelling moms okay. Huge respect for them, any issues, take it out of people who create these statistics.

Coming back to the story line, as superficial as it looks that it's for moms, it is not just your typical story about 3 mothers and their kids. I think everyone of all ages can read this book. The problems are all very real and not something you have to imagine it happening, cause it can very well be happening to anyone in your neighbourhood. The funny thing about it was I picked it up not knowing that Moriarty is an Australian, who lives in Sydney. The story line is actually based in Sydney so the places she mentions in the book, I go like, woah I know this town. It was more believable to me in a sense because of that, a little more interesting!

The thing which disappointed me was that, I was expecting the climax to really have me shitting in my pants because of all the reviews and build ups about how unexpected it turned out to be and how Stephen King refers it to be "scary", but I guessed two things correctly even before I finished half the book (and no, it's not because I watched 3 episodes of the show). One, was who died. Two, Ziggy's father. Like I said, it could be because of my "criminally alert" mind. Due to all the documentaries and shit I watch and do. I kid you not, I can smell a criminal at the beginning of movies/shows/documentaries before most of the other people get it. It's frustrating sometimes, because I don't enjoy the thrill as much.

Besides that, the book was good, I knew that we shouldn't judge people based on their appearance, or how colourful their social media lives are, or how big their houses are, we are all human and we ALL have our problems and sufferings to deal with. Regardless of whether we deem their problems as small compared to ours, we should always be empathetic towards one and other and even if we can't help them cope with their pressing issues, we shouldn't dismiss them. Especially if you are someone's friend, and your friend is going through something, the least and best thing to do for them is to genuinely lend them your ears and shoulder, so they know that they are never really alone, no matter what life decides to throw on them. This book helped to remind and refresh me about these points which I believe so strongly about.

Oh, you know how books which are typically long, or actually majority of the books I read always have redundant paragraphs or chapters. I always fish them out as the writer trying to drag it out, or to increase the word count. Those things which have no relevance at all. I couldn't find it in this book. It was long, but everything was of relevance to the next thing (or a few chapters later). So I really appreciated and liked that. I get annoyed by small things like these, yes I can be quite anal, I can't help it.

I would definitely say that I prefer the book to the tv series. I watched the show till Ep 6, and there's one more to go (it's not out yet) the minute I finished the book. And there are alot of fun facts! So read on if you are not worried that I will spoil the book for you if you were planning to read it.

1) I really liked Melanie. Compared to Jane and Celeste. She's so genuinely naive and has a beautiful nature (always wanting to help people), not to mention, she's funny without trying. But I liked her a lot better in the book, cause she doesn't make me squirm like she did in the show when I found out she cheated on Ed. Yes, she doesn't cheat on Ed or any one else for that matter in the book.

2) Melanie has two girls and a son in the book, instead of two girls as seen in the series. (Or did I just not spot the boy in the show? Chances are low, but yeah)

2) Jane has supportive parents who are physically active and present in Ziggy's life. They are introduced physically in the book, so as Jane's brother, Dane, which was so much nicer to know, I always felt a stinging heart ache whenever they showed scenes of just Jane and Ziggy on screen. Their relationship comes across as so much warmer, towards each other as compared to the vibe I got while watching.

3) I love Ziggy, on screen and in the book. He's bloody awesome and cute and I love the way Moriarty didn't stop herself from describing the innocence and naivety of the kids while they spoke in the book. I just felt like picking Ziggy up every time I read his scenes, or saw him on screen and plaster him with kisses and pinching his cheeks. He's soooooo cute. (I normally don't get annoyingly girly like this, so I'm dead serious that he's cute.) He is officially my favourite on screen child now. My number one used to be Dustin, from Stranger Things. Oh man, this is so tough. I think they are either on par, or Ziggy is just a notch higher. Sigh, tough times.

4) Bonnie is an Australian white blonde female in the book. (Not that there's anything wrong with that) But, I appreciated how racially diversed the cast was on screen as compared to the book. (even the other parents on the show we nicely evened out)

5) The book is based in Sydney, Australia whilst the tv series is based in the US. (This we all already know)

That's all that is at the back of my head for now.

Do read it, if you can and definitely if you liked the TV series. The book IS better.

There is only one more episode which can possibly change my mind, but I highly doubt it. With that said, I'm still looking forward to the finale this Sunday.

Till the next time, take care my friend.

Love,

Naia

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