The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

We will be starting Monday.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

There are 33 chapters, so 7 a day?

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

Sounds good.

[Lys]

Have you guys read anything else by this author?

[Sheri, Bookworm]

I haven't.

[Lys]

Just curious. I hadn't ever heard of her until Leigh mentioned this book.
I finally posted my thoughts on Timeless. :)

[Sheri, Bookworm]

I had heard of her before. Both of her book series - The Lying Game and Pretty Little Liars - have TV series now. I haven't watched either of them.

[Lys]

My students last semester talked about Pretty Little Liars constantly. I tried to watch it (I try to read and watch the things they like to talk about), but I couldn't get into it. I can usually read their books, but I can *rarely* watch their television.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

Lol! I don't watch much TV. The only show I watch faithfully is The Walking Dead. Besides that, shows on the Food Network probably come in second :)

[Lys]

I watch Ru Paul's Drag Race. I adore that show. I also watch Dr. Who. Then I kinda rotate between some of the newer shows. My limit is usually three shows a week.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

I don't watch a lot of TV but I like the Voice and Person of Interest.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

I like The Voice, too, but I don't get to watch it all the time. I've never seen Person of Interest.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

Sheri, you need to check it out. Great acting and premise.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

Interesting so far. I like how it is narrated by the dead girl.

Ethan could be a possible confidante?

[Lys]

I haven't finished today's reading, but it's fairly obvious that Emma will become Sutton. I really like the quote at the beginning from Vonnegut though, and the implications of that becoming . One thing I wonder is about Sutton's presence ... do you think the girls will share the body, or that Emma will just BE Sutton?

Also, Travis ... do people really act like that?
I'd kill him.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

Travis is irratating. Just started listening. Interesting premise.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

Alyssia wrote: "I haven't finished today's reading, but it's fairly obvious that Emma will become Sutton. I really like the quote at the beginning from Vonnegut though, and the implications of that becoming . O..."

I had wondered that, too. Today's reading doesn't really get into any depth yet, but from what I can tell I think Sutton is just going to be an outsider without any way to get involved.

[Lys]

I agree. I just finished chapter 7. It definitely has "teen" vibe. I'm not saying it's bad, but the book is very concerned about ... Well teen things.
I'm thinking of the girls in "Before I Fall".

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

It is definitely teen. The voice is very young narrating this one.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

Lol, I was thinking that too :) Sutton definitely had a Sam kind of life. It will be interesting to see how Emma incorporates herself into it. Especially with Sutton's family - I would think that if one of my children were switched with an identical twin I would know. Things like body language and facial expressions would be a huge tell, unless Sutton wasn't terribly close to her family.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

Sutton is tagging along with Emma. How did they connect with each other? In death the twin soul connected with her sister?

[Sheri, Bookworm]

That sounds about right. Sutton was probably drawn to Emma because they were twins.

[Lys]

Sheri wrote: "That sounds about right. Sutton was probably drawn to Emma because they were twins."

I wonder if someone kills the Twitter Twins, the same will happen :D

[Sheri, Bookworm]

Lol!

[Lys]

So, I have to tell you guys, I just saw that this is a series and I am pretty sad about that.
The synopsis for book two reads as though the killer is as yet undiscovered.
My understanding is that Pretty little Liars worked this way as well. Someone is killed or disappeared in the beginning and the series is a convoluted 'whodunit' that unwraps over a lot of material.

I am just sort of wondering what it is that Emma will accomplish in the 300+ pages then.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

Alyssia wrote: "So, I have to tell you guys, I just saw that this is a series and I am pretty sad about that.
The synopsis for book two reads as though the killer is as yet undiscovered.
My understanding is that ..."

Interesting...so far the set up is good. We'll see how she pulls off the story without dragging it out.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

It sounds like Sutton was something else...always in trouble.

[Lys]

I read the next section.
I hate how much focus there is on brand names and looks and clothes and money.
I even get that this is supposed to be a "cautionary tale" but Shepard definitely deifies a "bitch" life for young girls.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

I'm reading it now...I think I'm on chapter 12.

[Lys]

It's gonna be one of those "doubting everybody" things.

Also... why didn't she mention her caseworker?
Her foster mom?
Her social security number?
...
It's an interesting story, but there are some clear flaws. I hate teen novels where all adults are incompetent and disengaged.

Most of them, sure. But all?

[Lys]

And what teacher calls her student "devil child?"

[Sheri, Bookworm]

I agree. I was thinking the same things when I was reading. She could have pretty easily proved that she wasn't Sutton with a couple of phone calls.

[Lys]

Y'know, I'd have been alright with Emma deciding that she didn't want to. That she wanted to live this life for right now, and not go back to her crummy existence.
Fine.
But "couldn't" tell anyone? "No one" would believe?
bleh.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

I don't know how she could pull this switch off. If nothing else, the tennis thing. Emma said she had never played before and she is supposed to step in as captain of the team? It would never happen.

I think Ethan will be an interesting twist.

[Lys]

Indeed.
I feel bad for Sutton's boyfriend though.
He's "damaged" and crowding is his "MO". It makes me think that there's something there. Emma is going to hurt him, because she has a thing for Ethan.

Also... Ethan is awfully friendly with the mean girl.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

WOW! I missed a lot of discussion. I,for once, didn't go ahead. I am just not getting into this one. These teens are getting on my nerves.

[Lys]

I only went "ahead" because it is 24 hour library for the end of the semester, and it was After midnight.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

I stopped at the end of today's too. So I'm up to chapter 15.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

I will have to catch up with y'all.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

Sutton is the popular but trouble maker twin. Emma is the good twin who is not necessarily popular and works hard for what she has.

What is up with Laurel?

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

The killer/killers took down the video. Not good having a police record when you are trying to report a murder.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

I'm wondering about Laurel, too. Her and Sutton obviously didn't get along but it seems that maybe her and Emma will. Maybe she will see through the act.

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

I thought when Sutton's dad noticed the scar that they would believe her. They just made a joke out of it. What's up with that?

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

Did Sutton have the goods on everyone in the file? Is that why she was killed?

[Lys]

Why kind of killer invites someone to be a part of the secret? Why not just let people think sutton ran away (like Thayer).

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

Did Thayer runaway or was he killed like Sutton?

[Lys]

That is the question. ;)

[Sheri, Bookworm]

So where have you ladies been today?

I'm not really feeling this book right now. I was liking it up until today's reading. I'm not even exactly sure what it is that I don't like - it's just not really holding my interest. Maybe because I know they are not going to bring it to any sort of conclusion during this book. I'm not super fond of Emma either. I am curious still about what's going to happen with Ethan.

[Sheri, Bookworm]

Garrett seems too nice for Sutton...what was he doing with her?

[Leigh, ⚔️ Wonder Woman ⚔️]

I'm sorry I have been busy with award ceremony for my daughter and a death in the family. I will have to catch up.