Review: A Beautiful Lie
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 21, 2013
The opening page of the book really helped set the mood and theme of the story. Angela Richardson wrote "I lie in bed at night, surrounded by darkness that haunts me. It crawls underneath the covers and gets in my head.....So I find solace in music that moves me; that fills me with words that speak to my soul, and gives me hope that there are others as troubled in this world, who might know my kind of pain...I listen to A Beautiful Lie by 30 Seconds to Mars and I think about how I am the person in that song, walking the world in a beautiful lie." That first page really spoke to me and helped me see that this book and this character that Ms. Richardson wrote about would be something that would really stay with me. I loved this story and I am so looking forward to book 2. Norah is a complex character, she has a past that haunts her and sometimes it seems to overshadow her. There are so many layers to her and she is so real. Red Smith has a quote that states that "Writing is easy. You just sit at the typewriter and open a vein." Ms. Richardson has done this in this book, she has shown us a part of her soul. Nora has transferred to McLaren University at the end of her degree and she has changed her name. She doesn't want to be known there for who her father is, she wants some freedom. Her father kept her under his thumb as best he could while she was in NYC so she loves being away. Her best friend since she was 13 years old is at the school and he has been invited into a secret society. Josh sets Norah up at a party and didn't tell her what kind of party it actually was. He wanted their relationship to be more but he stupidly took her to that party and ruined his chance. Norah loves Josh but trust and honesty are integral to her and he crossed a line. At that party she is introduced to Clint, very old money and the epitome of a player. Clint shows Norah that he is not just a stereotype, that there is more to him than what he shows to the world. Terrible things have happened to Norah in her past and she's very careful but she's got this amazing draw toward Clint. Her ex-fiance comes back into the picture wanting her back. So Norah has Josh, Clint and Samuel all trying to be the one she ends up with. Both Samuel and Clint do some underhanded things to be with her. I think the only true character in this story is Josh. I mean don't get me wrong, what he did to Norah was pretty dasterdly but he is the only one that has always been there for her and does everything he can for her. He steps to the side so she can be happy with someone else, because he truly loves her. Josh has cared about Norah since they were 13 years old and has always been there. I'm rooting for Josh, that's who I hope she ends up with. Please don't let me down Ms. Richardson.