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The First Lie

(Necessary Lies #0.5)

Diane Chamberlain (Goodreads Author)

4.04 · Rating details · 3,207 ratings · 267 reviews

The First Lie gives readers an early glimpse into the life of thirteen-year-old Ivy Hart. It’s 1958 in rural North Carolina, where Ivy lives with her grandmother and sister on a tobacco farm. As tenant farmers, Ivy and her family don’t have much freedom, though she and her best friend, Henry, often sneak away in search of adventure…and their truest selves. But life on the ...more

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ebook, 35 pages

Published June 4th 2013 by St. Martin's Press

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Nov 15, 2015 Deanna rated it it was amazing

This is the short (39 pages) prequel to the authors novel Necessary Lies.

It introduces us to a few of the characters from the upcoming novel.

It's 1958 in rural North Carolina where thirteen-year-old Ivy Hart lives with her grandmother and sister on a small tobacco farm. We learn more about Ivy and her sister, Mary Ella and their lives on the farm.

We find out more about the Hart family, their past and how they relate to each other. We are given an indication of the secrets that will be reveale ...more

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Nov 20, 2015 Bionic Jean rated it it was ok

Recommended to Bionic Jean by: Deanna

Shelves: read-authors-c-d, kindle

The First Lie is a short story by the American author Diane Chamberlain, written as a prequel to her novel "Necessary Lies", although the author states that they may be read independently. Both works were published in 2013.

This short story is set in 1958, two years before the novel. The reader follows the events in Ivy Hart's life, when she is 13 years old. Ivy lives with her grandmother and sister on a tobacco farm in rural North Carolina. They are very poor and live extremely restricted lives. The First Lie is a short story by the American author Diane Chamberlain, written as a prequel to her novel "Necessary Lies", although the author states that they may be read independently. Both works were published in 2013.

This short story is set in 1958, two years before the novel. The reader follows the events in Ivy Hart's life, when she is 13 years old. Ivy lives with her grandmother and sister on a tobacco farm in rural North Carolina. They are very poor and live extremely restricted lives. The short story is told from Ivy's point of view, conveying her experiences with her family, her burgeoning adolescence, and thoughts about her best friend Henry. Her sister Mary Ellen is 2 years older than her, and pregnant. She is very beautiful but apparently slow-witted, and eventually gives birth without telling anyone who the father is. However the reader understands, from Ivy's thoughts, who the father is likely to be. The story follows the birth and continues for a short time afterwards. It is clear from all the females' reactions after the birth, what has happened to Mary Ellen since, although the younger Ivy does not quite understand it. The way is paved for the novel proper, and we have been given clues that there are family secrets here, both lies and suppressed knowledge.

As a short story this does not quite work. It does not have an ending as such, and you can see the mechanics of the story rather too easily. A scene in a church, for instance, with the two teenagers using a planchette, seems to have no purpose other than to convey some information to the reader, so that they can anticipate events in the forthcoming novel.

Diane Chamberlain is an enormously experienced and popular author, with 24 novels published since her first in 1989. She describes herself on her author page as writing "fiction and historical fiction", and elsewhere she is described as writing mysteries and thrillers. She is often compared with Jodie Picoult. However, I cannot say that I enjoyed this piece. There was little description to lift the piece, or much sense of place. And as an English reader I had difficulties with the Southern States vernacular. But these are side issues.

It is clear that Diane Chamberlain deals with serious issues in her works, that she intends them to be social novels and perhaps primarily issue-lead. However, the writing itself - the "treatment" - feels like women's fiction. By far the strongest characters are female, and the reader gets no impression of any male viewpoint, or a fully rounded feel for any male characters. In this short story there are just 2 males. One, the boy, Henry, is completely neutral and flat. I can remember nothing whatsoever about him. The other, the suspected father, is described in terms of his handsome physical appearance, his race - and very little else. One gains the impression that the males are present in the novel as mere adjuncts or sometimes triggers to move the action along, the interest lying solely with the females.

Women's fiction seems to be concerned largely with relationships in all their forms. Relationships between men and women, between parents and children, brothers and sisters, and friends. The better novels investigate the psychological complexity of a family, and give an indication of a developing character. Common themes seems to focus on love, compassion and forgiveness within a family. It is likely that if you enjoy this type of fiction then you will enjoy this author. Diane Chamberlain has a background in psychology which has given her a good understanding and the ability to create realistic characters. Prior to her writing career, she worked in hospitals in San Diego and Washington, D.C. and opened a private psychotherapy practice in Alexandria Virginia for adolescents. Diane Chamberlain additionally includes a combination of drama, mystery, secrets, intrigue, and unexpected twists in her storylines, which is perhaps why a new novel by her is considered such an exciting event.

Personally though, if I am reading about serious issues such as racial segregation and eugenics, or any other other shocking social wrongs from a historically authentic point of view, then to have this written within the genre of entertaining woman's fiction would make me uneasy. It seems to smack slightly of sensationalism.

The First Expectation - this must be good. People whose opinion I value, and critics, all say it is.

Necessary Expectations - if a short example has a female focus, if everything about the covers of the author's books, (pretty coloured pictures showing partial or secretive views of pretty young women) screams "women's-fiction-for-women-who-don't-want-to-appear-to-be-reading-women's-fiction", if scanning down a list of readers reveals that actually every single one is female, and the only males on the list have noted it as "to-read", then despite what the author says, it probably is women's fiction.

There's nothing wrong with that. It's just not what I expected ... nor a style I personally enjoy.

Note: This ebook also contains an extract from the novel itself. ...more

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Jun 20, 2013 Sharon rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own-read, read-on-kindle

Thirteen year old Ivy Hart and her fifteen year old sister Mary Ella live with their grandmother Nonnie on a tobacco farm in North Carolina. Their father died in a tractor accident and their mother has been institutionalised for many years in a mental facility.

Ivy quite often sneaks out at night to spend time with her friend Henry as they like to hang out together. One night they decide to spend some time at the local church here they find a ouija board and start playing around with it. Ivy retu ...more

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Sep 27, 2019 Susan rated it it was amazing

Wow this is only 35 pages but it sure pulled me in and I'm going straight to Necessary Lies! It's going to be a real page turner! ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Dec 23, 2013 Lynda rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks-amazon, z-read-2013, 3-stars, author-usa, historical

Diane Chamberlain is the bestselling author of 21 novels published in more than 11 languages. She lives in North Carolina with her partner, photographer John Pagliuca.

I've never read a Chamberlain story before, but as a Jodi Picoult fan, Chamberlain was recommended to me by friends who believe she is WAY better. The First Lie did not convince me of this.

The First Lie is an e-short story. It was written with the sole purpose of setting the scene and characters for her new novel Necessary Lies, wh ...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Judy D Collins rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2013-releases

The First Lie a novella, short-story as a prequel to the upcoming, riveting, haunting, and absorbing NECESSARY LIES, offers readers a glimpse into the early life of thirteen-year-old, Ivy Hart.

It is 1958 in the rural deep south of North Carolina, where we meet the Hart family. A poor teenage girl, Ivy currently living with her elderly grandmother, and older sister on a tobacco farm.

Having read NECESSARY LIES first, it was nice to go back to revisit and learn more about the early days of Mar ...more

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Jun 07, 2013 Julie rated it really liked it

Shelves: e-book, netgalley

This is a short story, about 35 pages long, written by Diane Chamberlain and published by St. Martin's Press.
In Grace County, North Carolina in the late 1950's, Ivy at the age of 13 lives with her grandmother and older sister, Mary Ella in tenement house.
Mary Ella is pregnant and in labor when Ivy returns home after a night out with her friend. She and Henry had gotten their hands on a Ouija board and had been visited by a spirit. Now, Ivy is trying to get her sister some help having her baby a ...more

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Jun 04, 2013 Diane S ☔ rated it really liked it

Just a preview for her upcoming novel Necessary Lies, and based on this it looks like it is going to be full of suspense, secrets and mystery. Churches and spirits and a wonderful character in a young girl named Ivy and her sister Mary Ellen, who is slow but at fifteen has just had a baby. Can't wait to see where it goes from here. ...more

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Jun 09, 2013 Christa rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebook-arc

This novella is a good indication of why Diane Chamberlain is one of my favorite authors. It is rare that such a short story can so completely capture my attention and then leave me feeling entirely satisfied with what I read. I loved the character of Ivy, and enjoyed the glimpse into her life and family. The storyline was very engrossing, and I am anxious to read Necessary Lies to find out how it connects to The First Lie.

Thirteen year old Ivy lives in a tenant farmer's cottage on a tobacco far ...more

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Feb 21, 2018 Rebecca rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 00-own-a-copy

In this prequel to Necessary Lies, 15 yo girl (Mary Ella) births a son (William). ...more

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Mar 31, 2016 Jo Ann rated it really liked it

Shelves: e-books, historical-fiction, short-stories, kindle, 2016, ultimate-book-challenge-2016

This was good! Why did I wait so long to read something from this author? I’m always the last one to the party it seems. Probably because I keep telling myself I don't care for these kinds of stories when in fact I do. That's one of the nice things about Goodreads it encourages you to try new authors. Now, I'm off to find out what happened to Ivy and Mary Ella, and their Grandmother.
Necessary Lies here I come! ...more

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Jun 22, 2013 Sofia Lazaridou rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

I dont know what happened with the book. It is short so no character development for you future reader of the book. Maybe there might be a tiny exception in the end but I am not sure. I think I have realised what the title means but if its not that than there is the case of the title being unrelated to the books contain. I am intrigued since this is an intro to a story and I am looking forward to reading the next book because I have questions that need to be answered.

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Jul 04, 2014 ☺Trish rated it it was amazing

This engrossing short story, a prequel to Chamberlain's novel Necessary Lies, makes me so glad that I am going to start reading the book tonight! The scene in the church in the middle of the night when Ivy and Henry are attempting to contact the spirits using a "borrowed" Quija board is really spooky! The First Lie is a very entertaining and effective introduction to thirteen-year-old Ivy, her best friend Henry, her paternal grandmother Nonnie, and her sister Mary Ella, etc. Excellent! ...more

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May 09, 2013 Carol rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebook, read-2013, stc-bookclub

This very good short e-story (with a ghost) is the prequel to Diane Chamberlain's new book Necessary Lies. I'm hooked! ...more

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Sep 19, 2014 Nicole rated it it was amazing

I loved this short introduction to Necessary Lies! It helped having a little more background on the family and experiencing a pivotal day that we had only bits and pieces of in the full novel. Great short story!

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Nov 25, 2019 Desiree Gobble rated it really liked it

A short story prequel to my favorite Diane Chamberlain book Necessary Lies 😊

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Jan 02, 2020 Kelley rated it liked it

Shelves: my-e-books

It's hard to rate a short story, but I do know this is the prequel that leads up to Necessary Lies, so I am ready to go on that one now. ...more

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Apr 09, 2020 Zainab Cader rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020

I enjoy the fast paced writing and different background

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Jul 30, 2020 Debbie Allain rated it really liked it

Short introduction to the next book, Necessary Lies

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Dec 16, 2018 Carole rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2018

Wow! I went into this novella thinking it would be another unnecessary introduction to a novel as novellas have been a trend recently. I was pleasantly surprised by how well written and compelling The First Lie was! With Diane Chamberlain as the author, I shouldn't have been surprised. She always turns out quality writing that hooks me in immediately.

I actually read this novella after having read Necessary Lies a few years ago and I really enjoyed getting more of the backstory and being able to ...more

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Apr 09, 2019 Vanessa Mozayani rated it it was amazing

This hooked me, can’t wait to read Necessary Lies to find out what happened to Ivy, William and Mary Ella.

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Apr 22, 2020 Melanie rated it really liked it

This novella is a prequel to Necessary Lies. While it is short it packs a big punch and I couldn’t put it down. From finding out more about the spirit named Ruby and what comes from the lies told about an appendectomy, and finally the mystery of who is William’s father. Can’t wait to read what happens next. I really love reading books by Diane Chamberlain.

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Apr 19, 2013 Gina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: family, novella, relationships, sisters, paranormal, romance, ccc-club, medical, short-story, kindle

Goodreads Description- The First Lie gives readers an early glimpse into the life of thirteen-year-old Ivy Hart. It’s 1958 in rural North Carolina, where Ivy lives with her grandmother and sister on a tobacco farm. As tenant farmers, Ivy and her family don’t have much freedom, though she and her best friend, Henry, often sneak away in search of adventure…and their truest selves. But life on the farm takes a turn when Ivy’s teenage sister gives birth—all the while maintaining her silence about th ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 27, 2013 Laura P rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed

The First Lie is a short story prequel to Diane Chamberlain’s upcoming novel Necessary Lies. In The First Lie we are briefly introduced to thirteen-year-old Ivy Hart’s world. Even though the short story is just that, short, the world that Chamberlain is able to create is vivid, round and extremely compelling. In just a few pages the reader learns a great deal about the Hart family dynamic through allusions to the many secrets that could potentially be revealed in Necessary Lies, as well as throu ...more

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Jun 04, 2013 PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps rated it it was amazing

After spending the night playing with an oujia board in a church graveyard,, thirtren-year-old Ivy Hart arrives home at 4:00AM to hear her fifteen-year-old sister Mary Ella screaming with labor pains. Rather than calling the nurse, their grandmother instructs Ivy to call their social worker, who says Mary Ella has to go to the hospital to get her "appendix out" after giving birth.

Diane Chamberlain has created a wonderful, unique voice in Ivy, a poor girl growing up half a century ago. She captur ...more

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Apr 11, 2013 TamElaine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2013

This is a short story, leading up to Diane's new release in September. Having read most of Diane's books, I knew there would be a twist or two and I couldn't wait to see how she would do this in just 35 pages....the reveal is subtle but powerful !

This e-book included the first chapter of her next book, Necessary Lies, and I love how it hints at discovering more of what we learned in this short story....
...more

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Aug 10, 2013 Kathy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The First Lie – a teaser, a tantilizer, the short prequel to Diane Chamberlain’s newest novel coming out now Necessary Lies……Loved 'The First Lie' from the first page as we are introduced to Ivy and her family which I am assuming sets the scene for us ready for the new novel. Compelling, loved the characters and made me hungry for more. Luckily, Necessary Lies is now out and I could start reading it immediately. I am a huge Diane Chamberlain fan and was super excited by the novella and now Neces ...more

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Mar 08, 2014 Debra Jauss rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2014

This is a prequel to Necessary Lies. However, I don't believe it's written in such a way that you should actually read it first. Read Necessary Lies first and when you want another dose of the characters, read this. This short story just pissed me off about the whole book again! How dare someone make that sort of decision for someone else!!! I fully support help to make that decision if you want it, even today. We should help people that want the procedure done and can't afford it. But to take a ...more

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Feb 11, 2015 Sthomas rated it really liked it

This is a short prequel to Necessary Lies. I decided to read it even though I read Necessary Lies first, and I was glad I did. It gives more background to some pivotal events that happen two years before Necessary Lies.

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Jun 28, 2013 Jayne Burnett rated it it was amazing

brilliant preview to the author s new book - Necessary Lies. we meet Ivy & her sister Mary Ellen. makes you want to have the whole story to read right now.

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About Diane Chamberlain

Diane Chamberlain

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Diane Chamberlain is the New York Times, USA Today and (London) Sunday Times best-selling author of 27 novels. The daughter of a school principal who supplied her with a new book almost daily, Diane quickly learned the emotional power of story. Although she wrote many small “books” as a child, she didn’t seriously turn to writing fiction until her early thirties when she was waiting for a delayed ...more