Big Little Lies in Reading with Style

Feb 21, 2017 Tanya rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery, made_into_movie, published-2010s, home_library, family_dynamics, mental_health, abuse_and_domestic_violence, friendship

Madeline is a fixture at Pirriwee Public School, having sent her 14-year-old daughter Abigail through already. Now, on her daughter Chloe's kindergarten orientation day, she is confident that the day will be business as usual. It is, until a stumble in the street brings her into contact with Jane, a new mom in town. Madeline introduces Jane to her friend Celeste and the three are fast friends. By the time orientation is over Jane's son has been accused of hurting a young girl in his class, Jane Madeline is a fixture at Pirriwee Public School, having sent her 14-year-old daughter Abigail through already. Now, on her daughter Chloe's kindergarten orientation day, she is confident that the day will be business as usual. It is, until a stumble in the street brings her into contact with Jane, a new mom in town. Madeline introduces Jane to her friend Celeste and the three are fast friends. By the time orientation is over Jane's son has been accused of hurting a young girl in his class, Jane defends her son when he says he didn't do it, Madeline defends Jane from the girl's angry mother, and battle lines have been drawn. The book takes off from there, touching on school bullying, helicopter parenting, sexual violence, domestic abuse, self-confidence, single parenting, money, blended families, the pressure of keeping up appearances, and the dangers of gossip until racing toward a final stunning murder during the school's Trivia Night fundraiser.

Sending your children to school is not unlike going back to school yourself and Moriarty captures that with biting accuracy. The "Blonde Bobs" (known for their similar fashionable haircuts) are the Type-A moms of Pirriwee Public, running committees and signing petitions. Moriarty perfectly captures these women and the children they pass off as trophies. One parent quips that a Blonde Bob is lucky that her child is both gifted and has a mild peanut allergy, proving that motherhood is often viewed as a competition and to have more of a struggle is seen as a badge of honor and a sign of dedication. There's also a quiet rivalry brewing between the "career moms" and the "stay at homes" that any mother would probably recognize on some level. As a mother with a child in elementary school, I do not find these characterizations to hit far from their mark.

Moriarty peppers the novel with police interview tidbits from the other parents at the school that serve as a Greek chorus, commenting (usually with a delicious bit of snark) about the goings-on at the school. Their insight into the dynamics of the school community were a great insight into how much gossip and social alliances can color the reputations of others. They were often some of the funniest, laugh-out-loud moments in the book.

"Mrs. Lipmann: Look, I'd rather not say anything further. We deserve to be left in peace. A parent is dead. The whole school community is grieving.

Gabrielle: Hmmm, I wouldn't say the entire school community is grieving. That might be a stretch. "

The characterization was perfect, with each woman, husband, and child having a unique voice and well-developed persona. The infuriating voice of Madeline's teen daughter was even spot-on, projecting just the right balance of self-absorption, self-righteousness, and naiveté all at once. When you can accurately capture how infuriating and adorable a 14 year old girl can be, you know you've done something right.

There were no wasted scenes and no points at which the book dragged. All of the subplots converged and were resolved at just the right time and the ending was satisfyingly believable, despite being (at least for me) a possibility I never once considered. In the end, Big Little Lies showcased just what kind of lies we tell ourselves and other and the disastrous consequences those lies can have. ...more

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May 31, 2016 Joanna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-read, audiobooks, bookclub-grasslands, rws-2016-summer

I really enjoyed this book. I got completely caught up in the story and did not predict the ending at all. The tone is breezy and light, but the subject matter here ranges across parenting, bullying, domestic violence, and friendship. The book deftly handles the subject in a way that didn't feel heavy handed but was also not completely flippant. I'm really glad that my book club picked this one because I think it'll make a great discussion point and I probably wouldn't have read it on my own. Th ...more

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Oct 02, 2017 Rachel N. rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2017, family, humor, friendship, australia, domestic-violence, school, parenting

Madeline is divorced with a teenager and two younger kids from her second marriage. She's friend with Celeste, a beauty with twins and a seemingly perfect life. They both befriend Jane, a single mom. All three have kids starting kindergarten. From the beginning you know someone dies at the schools trivia night but it takes most of the book to find out who. I liked all three women and their stories. I think the events of the trivia night were a bit of a let down considering all the suspense leadi ...more

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Jul 03, 2014 Erin rated it really liked it

3.5 stars, rounded up because it's better than a 3-star novel. Fun read, if you can call murder and domestic violence fun. (That sentence actually makes me a little sick, but if you read the book you'll understand.)

Really relatabke parents. Understandably flawed and familiarly shitty. Guess Australia has mommy wars, too. The only problem: you can see the the big "reveals" coming from a mile (= about 200 pages) away. Still enjoyed watching it unfold, however. ...more

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