Lying: A Metaphorical Memoir

Phenomenal example of what a Memoir should be. I could not put it down, and when I finally did, I did so with tears in my eyes and feeling of completeness.

one of my favorite books of all time

A fascinating

currently reading

Lauren Slater's Lying intentionally toes the line between fiction and memoir. The book is a called a metaphorical memoir. Her epilepsy may or may not be real. Perhaps she is making it all up. The writing is often quite wonderful and the character of Lauren Slater is a compelling little liar. The novel manages to raise a number of interesting questions about narrative truths when compared to...more

Lauren Slater's Lying intentionally toes the line between fiction and memoir. The book is a called a metaphorical memoir. Her epilepsy may or may not be real. Perhaps she is making it all up. The writing is often quite wonderful and the character of Lauren Slater is a compelling little liar. The novel manages to raise a number of interesting questions about narrative truths when compared to factual truths. Human beings do all create narratives. We seek a way to impose order on the past. This novel is interesting because it raises that basic memoir question, what can actually be remembered? This is a common technique, the questioning of memory in a memoir but Lauren Slater ups the ante by essentially admitting that she may be lying throughout the book to better access truth. Which winds up meaning, this is an interesting memoir worth reading more for the questions about the memoir genre it raises than as a work of pure literature. If you like the genre it is worth reading.   hide

confusing, but interesting

I need to read this again soon. I thought it was a very interesting approach to the concept of memoir, kind of a complete mindfuck in a good way.

A great "memoir" about a woman with epilepsy. Except her epilepsy can't be proved and there is the question of our narrators own honesty as the book progresses. Absolutely amazing.