DebJpole Hello all,
For my next and penultimate Challenge 2020 read is from Books from A Different Country – this one is set in Australia.
“Oh Calamity.”
Big Little Lies follows the journeys of three women, each at a crossroads in their lives.
“Reading a novel was like returning to a once beloved holiday destination.”
Madeline has just turned 40 and isn’t quite ready to feel another year older yet. She’s a force to be reckoned with: a proud mum, funny and passionate – she remembers everything, forgets nothing. She’s definitely one to hold a grudge. When her ex-husband and his new, shiny wife move into her beloved community, tensions arise and these only steps worse when their daughter and Madeline’s youngest start kindergarten in the same class and Madeline’s oldest seems to be choosing her ex over her!
“Those we love don’t go away, they sit beside us every day.”
Celeste is the type of woman that makes the whole world stop and stare. She turns heads wherever she goes. With twin boys starting kindergarten, Celeste and her husband have become king and queen of the playground. But with royalty comes a price, how much is it worth? How much is she willing to pay?
Jane is a single mum and a new addition to their little community. She’s younger than all the other mums, so young in fact, that she is mistaken as a nanny! Jane is wise before her years and has many secrets that she harbours. What is she trying to run away from?
When Madeline and Celeste take Jane under their wing, they don’t quite realise how much of an impact she and her adorable little boy Ziggy will have on their lives.
“I don’t know why I stay. I don’t know why I deserve this. I don’t know why you do this, why we do this, why this keeps happening.”
Yes, the school playground drama was always going to end in tears…I don’t think anyone expected it to end in murder…
“…one broken ankle…one broken collarbone…broken nose…three cracked ribs…three black eyes, two nasty cuts and ninety-four splitting headaches. And one death.”
This grown up chick lit novel, tackles many important themes. From domestic violence, friendship, bullying, rumours, lies and parent playground rivalries and parenting in all its glory.
“Violent relationships tend to become more violent over time.”
It also looks at the aspects of parenting we may not think of – difficulties of broken homes and the problems posed by being a single parent, ex-husbands and second wives. It also makes us look at those big, little lies that we tell ourselves, just to get through the day.
“Parents do tend to judge each other. I don’t know why. Maybe because none of us really know what we’re doing? And u can guess that can sometimes lead to conflict.”
The book is written very cleverly. It flits between present and future with statements from the police investigation. The book doesn’t give anything away until something happens. It’s a book that tackles important themes that aren’t spoken about in every day society.
You can find it on Amazon
You know what this means everyone? Just ONE book left from my Challenge 2020!
Until next time,
Keep reading,
D x
