Comment

Community comment are the opinions of contributing users. These comment do not represent the opinions of Okanagan Regional Library.
brianreynolds
Jun 25, 2012brianreynolds rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
I'm becoming used to Ann Patchett's endings; I am not a person who demands certainty or dislikes surprises, but simply refusing to finish is different than subtlety or craftiness or being hip. Avoidance is particularly annoying from an author who is already in her debut novel a master at storytelling. The Patron Saint of Liars grabs the reader very early and doesn't let go. She makes me lose sleep, lose track of time, lose perspective when I find myself lecturing her characters, cheering them one, weeping at their dilemmas, and wondering how in the world they got to be the way they are. The problem is, these are not just character studies, not even photographs sitting in the kitchen at Saint Elizabeth's home for unwed mothers. Even in that small setting, they move. They perform. The plot simmers from the start and reaches a rolling boil by the end. Chickens come home to roost. There are half a dozen ways the lies that hold everything together could come unglued. Patchett doesn't underline them, doesn't laugh at us. But they are there, little threads the reader would like to grab in the hope of unraveling her story. I'm spellbound. The writing, the story, the ideas behind the story. It's all here. And after now three times being led down her garden path, I give up. Her endings be damned; it was an incredible read. It's been awhile since I was so wrenched by a situation, so touched by a crossroads, so compelled to finish a book.