A book with an unreliable narrator

[Marisa]

I am finally going to read Gone Girl for this prompt!

[Nadine in NY]

Marisa wrote: "I am finally going to read Gone Girl for this prompt!"

that is the perfect unreliable narrator!

[Sara]

Nadine wrote: "Marisa wrote: "I am finally going to read Gone Girl for this prompt!"

that is the perfect unreliable narrator!"

Hmm...maybe I should finally break down and read that one too. I was put off by its popularity (yes, I'm that person!) and it isn't really my favorite genre, but I kinda want to see what all the fuss was about.

[Lisa]

I haven't read Gone Girl yet either. May be time to bite the bullet and go for it!

[Nadine in NY]

Sara wrote: ... I was put off by its popularity (yes, I'm that person!) ..."

Hahahah I'm "that person" too!! I'm ALWAYS cautious when a book is super popular! And usually my caution is warranted, usually I end up wondering what all the fuss was about. I really liked Gone Girl, however, and I went on to eventually read everything else Flynn wrote - however I know a lot of people did not like this book, also. So ... remain cautious, but read it anyway!

[Cindy]

Nadine wrote: "Sara wrote: ... I was put off by its popularity (yes, I'm that person!) ..."

Hahahah I'm "that person" too!! I'm ALWAYS cautious when a book is super popular! And usually my caution is warranted, ..."

I felt so guilty for hating Gone Girl because everyone I knew loved it. I didn't even finish it.

[Cindy]

The Last Warner Woman by Kei Miller, is said to have two unreliable narrators. It's told from the POV of two characters. One is a woman in a mental institute who has psychic gifts, and the other one is her therapist. It sounds intriguing!

[Erin]

Any book by Mary Kubica would fit this category.

[Lorry]

Just finished Paul Tremblay's terrifically chilling "A Head Full of Ghosts." The narrator basically blurts her unreliability at the beginning of Chapter 3, so no spoilers!

[Erin]

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

[Sundhus]

Would "the grownup" by Gillian Flynn work for this?

[Nadine in NY]

Sundhus wrote: "Would "the grownup" by Gillian Flynn work for this?"

No, the narrator is reliable in that one (it's the people around her who aren't necessarily reliable).

[Ashley]

What about the Couple Next Door?

[Emma]

Alias Grace would fit. I absolutely adore this book. I am not allowing rereads for most prompts but might have to reread this AND read another for this prompt.

My current idea is Our Endless Numbered Days - I've only read the blurb and the first 10 pages or so but get the feeling it would fit.

[Erin]

Gina wrote: "Would you consider Libby from Dark Places as an unreliable narrator??
This book is in my TBR for way too long and I'm trying to fit it in any prompt :P"

Yes I would. I read it this year for a murder mystery. Very good!

[Letizia]

I would suggest "Made You Up" and "The Gospel of Loki". The narrator of the former is a girl who suffers of mental illness, and the narrator of the later is... well... Loki XD

[Emma]

Finished Our Endless Numbered Days in 2 days. Definitely recommend.

Does fit the bill for this prompt though knowing that does detract a little. Would also work for wilderness (2/3 of book set in wilderness/forest) and possibly 2 different time periods (though only a decade different).

[Lizzy]

(view spoiler)[The Murder of Rodger Ackroyd (hide spoiler)] is perfect for this, but knowing the narrator is unreliable in advance makes it slightly less fun. I'm currently reading A Clockwork Orange to fulfill this requirement. I would recommend it for anyone who is looking for a shorter read and doesn't mind somewhat graphic descriptions of violence.

[Kirsten]

From the Guardian:

Top 10 unreliable narrators
From Edgar Allan Poe to Gillian Flynn, storytellers who cannot be trusted are great devices for writers, and a compelling challenge for readers
https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

[Ashley]

Kirsten *Brrrr.... It's WAY Too Cold Outside!" wrote: "From the Guardian:

Top 10 unreliable narrators
From Edgar Allan Poe to Gillian Flynn, storytellers who cannot be trusted are great devices for writers, and a compelling challenge for readers
https..."

Oh wow what a great post - thanks for sharing! Some new options for me from my TBR shelf are The Wasp Factory, The Girl on the Train (yes, I know - late to this party!), and Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell Tale Heart". So excited!!

[Pioup]

The Remains of the Day is a good one for this challenge, and I really enjoyed it
And I second the rec for We Were Liars.

[Sierra]

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

[Kayla Rae]

I'm currently reading Middlesex right now for this category. It could also be used as a book about an immigrant (kind of), a book that spans generations, and also, personally, as book that's been on my TBR for a long time.

The narrator in this one is unreliable because most of the story is told about the past from the present.

[Meg]

Planning on reading before I go to sleep for this. The narrator has some form of amnesia which I feel in itself makes her unrealizable. This would work right? Or is it intended more for someone who is intentionally lying?

[Nadine in NY]

Meg wrote: "Planning on reading before I go to sleep for this. The narrator has some form of amnesia which I feel in itself makes her unrealizable. This would work right? Or is it intended more for someone who..."

Yes I think Before I Go to Sleep would qualify for this.

[Noina]

I think Me & Earl & the Dying Girl would fit ?!? I lived it :)
I'll probably be reading Silver Linings or We have always lived in the castle

[Rachelle]

The Girl On The Train? Well, I'm using it. :)

[Tori]

I'm considering rereading Kazuo Ishiguro's "The Buried Giant" for this one. I had it as a textbook in my capstone for my Creative Writing degree, and really enjoyed it.

[Noina]

Ohhh Atonement would be perfect for those who haven't read it yet !

[Tori]

Atonement would be perfect! It's one of my favourite books of all time!

[Sukriti]

Lisa wrote: "I haven't read Gone Girl yet either. May be time to bite the bullet and go for it!"

Gone Girl is total YES for this prompt. I just did finish reading it last week and put it in my Book about an Interesting Woman for now.. but it may move around as the year progresses to this prompt.

[Shelly]

Kirsten *Miss Misty is awfully sick... please send good thoughts her way!" wrote: "From the Guardian:

Top 10 unreliable narrators
From Edgar Allan Poe to Gillian Flynn, storytellers who cannot be trusted are great devices for writers, and a compelling challenge for readers
https..."

Thanks for the link, Kristen. I added The Wasp Factory to my plan!

Kirsten *Miss Misty is awfully sick... please send good thoughts her way!" wrote: "From the Guardian:

Top 10 unreliable narrators
From Edgar Allan Poe to Gillian Flynn, storytellers who cannot be trusted are great devices for writers, and a compelling challenge for readers
https..."

[Stina]

Erin wrote: "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie"

And that's not the only Christie with an unreliable narrator, but I hesitate to say more.

Also, one could make a case for Doyle's Dr Watson not being completely reliable. Just think of how often Holmes chided him for how he'd portrayed events.

[Maia]

El túnel (The tunnel) by Ernesto Sábato is a great one, short as well.

[Thegirlintheafternoon]

Just finished "Turn of Mind," by Alice LaPlante - I'm using it for another challenge, but it's a nonspoiler unreliable narrator: the POV character has Alzheimer's. It's REALLY well written, but certainly a tough topic, and ymmv for whether you can read it. Fantastic book, though!

[Kate]

Lora wrote: "What about a book like Prodigal Summer with more than one narrator? Do you think this would work for this category?"

Prodigal would be a stretch, but you should do it anyway because it's so good.

[Allison]

Hi everyone,
I came across a book that may fall into this category. I was reading the description at the library and a part of the intro talks about how the author plays with the trustworthiness of the narrator. Looks to be an interesting mystery book and the author has won awards. I plan on trying The Last Detective. Thought I'd post it in case anyone wants to try it. If it turns out to be a bust for this category it can always be used for the first in a series.

[Perfumegirl]

Rachel wrote: "What about I Never Promised You a Rose Garden? I read this once before but I have no memory of it whatsoever, but the main character has schizophrenia."

Really good book but I'm not sure if it would qualify as I am not really understanding what an "unreliable narrator" is...

[Chani]

I was planning on reading Furiously Happy for this prompt; but after finishing the book, it did not fit in this prompt. I moved it to an interesting woman. Would Fight Club or American Psyco fit in this prompt?

[Stina]

I've never read Fight Club, but Invisible Monsters by that author would qualify.

[Nadine in NY]

Chani wrote: "I was planning on reading Furiously Happy for this prompt; but after finishing the book, it did not fit in this prompt. I moved it to an interesting woman. Would Fight Club or American Psyco fit in..."

I've got Fight Club on my short list for this category. Having seen the movie, yeah, it qualifies.

[Sarah (is clearing her shelves)]

I will be reading The Catcher in the Rye for this prompt. I own (through my dad) a paperback copy of this book. This will be a reread for me, but under my own rules rereads are allowed if I haven't previously reviewed the book. I read this book over ten years ago, well before I started reviewing, so it's time for a reread and a review.

[Ana]

I might read The Dead Fathers Club for this. Actually, one could also argue that Hamlet would also work.

[Raluca]

Just finished Elizabeth Is Missing for this prompt and I can strongly recommend it, really very good.

[SheridaK]

I'm going to read catcher in the rye for this one

[9987]

Tatra wrote: "I might read The Dead Fathers Club for this. Actually, one could also argue that Hamlet would also work."

I love Elizabeth Is Missing. It's so good and would definitely fit.

[Michelle]

I think (view spoiler)[ The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro (hide spoiler)] would be an excellent choice but also spoilery...

[Stephanie]

There is a list of Unreliable Narrator books on GR. I'm going with Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson a book that was on my TBR list already anyway.

[Tara]

Fantastic book and easy read Stephanie

[Jackie]

Stephanie wrote: "There is a list of Unreliable Narrator books on GR. I'm going with Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson a book that was on my TBR list already anyway."

I loved that book in HS, but I don't remember the narrator being unreliable. After you read it, let us know what you think. Maybe I should reread that one.