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An Absolute Deception
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- GenresFiction
450 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2012
15 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Lesley Lokko
26 books317 followersLESLEY spent seven years training as an architect but always dreamed of writing a novel. Eight novels (and counting) later, and aside from building her own home in Ghana, she hasn’t looked back. She splits her time between Johannesburg, Accra and London, (although now she’s dreaming of a flat in Edinburgh) and counts the BA lounges at Heathrow amongst her favourite places in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 30, 2012
I loved Lesley Lokko's first book Sundowners... The second book was ok and progressively its gone downhill since then.
This last book was more skim reading than actual reading overall disappointing
This last book was more skim reading than actual reading overall disappointing
May 17, 2013
Oh how I would trade places right now; Melbourne for Bali… was it only 5 weeks ago that we were lying by the pool in the 32 degree heat? And here I am today… admittedly sick and at home, but with the heater and my favourite trackie pants on. Well, that is Melbourne for you, the good and the bad weather wise!
Bali gave us some wonderful memories, one of which was the discovery of a fantastic café/restaurant/bookstore named ‘Biku’ in Seminyak. It stored a collection of new books printed in English and Indonesian and a selection of second hand titles for us travelers who discover they didn’t pack enough books for their trip (I seriously thought 5 was going to be enough for 10 days!). I came across An Absolute Deception and it caught my eye immediately as I have read two other titles by the same author, and I admittedly loved the cover illustration. A lengthy 500 pager, I knew it would take me to the end of my trip.
An Absolute Deception, like Lokko’s other publications, follows a series of characters over a great expanse of time; in this case 30+ years. The story unfolds from the perspective of her main characters Hannelore, Annelise, Callan, Tara, Lindi, Ree and Hayley. As we learn about each character’s past and present we see how they all connect in their unique and individual ways, culminating in the final chapters of the novel.
Annelise is an A class fashion designer based in London, yet we know her roots are both German and South African. Callan is her brazenly independent daughter who moves from New York back to London when her mother’s company needs her. Callan does not know the identity of her father, yet never pushes her mother for the details. This irritates me! Her mother reveals nothing of her past to her daughter, has come up with a whole new personality in fact to deceive the world of her upbringing and the events that led her to leave South Africa and come to Europe.
Lokko jumps around between characters and time periods energetically; it creates a strangely disjointed story that I found difficult to engage with. It took me a long time to finish this as I couldn’t find an ‘in’ until the last 100 pages or so when all of the ‘deceptions’ were brought to the surface.
Although this novel is ideally ‘chick lit’, it deals with themes of love, lies, family, sex and identity, is goes on a genre bender throughout touching on highly political topics of the countries it sets it story against; South Africa and Namibia play a leading role, as they have in Lokko’s other books. Apartheid, democracy and corruption are laced through the story and highlight a very intelligent author who feels passionately about these topics, yet at times they detract from the main story line. Knowledge on these areas created far more interesting characters who were motivated and educated, however my ability to bond with them lacked. This was one of the initial reasons I chose this book, Lokko’s characters in Bitter Chocolate and A Private Affair were tantalizingly seductive and fascinating. In both instances I finished reading wanting to know more about them and what happened after ‘The End’. In An Absolute Deception I was done with the characters after the somewhat ‘soggy’ ending.
I like Lokko’s writing style; however maybe two reads of the same genre/composition by the same author is enough for me.
Bali gave us some wonderful memories, one of which was the discovery of a fantastic café/restaurant/bookstore named ‘Biku’ in Seminyak. It stored a collection of new books printed in English and Indonesian and a selection of second hand titles for us travelers who discover they didn’t pack enough books for their trip (I seriously thought 5 was going to be enough for 10 days!). I came across An Absolute Deception and it caught my eye immediately as I have read two other titles by the same author, and I admittedly loved the cover illustration. A lengthy 500 pager, I knew it would take me to the end of my trip.
An Absolute Deception, like Lokko’s other publications, follows a series of characters over a great expanse of time; in this case 30+ years. The story unfolds from the perspective of her main characters Hannelore, Annelise, Callan, Tara, Lindi, Ree and Hayley. As we learn about each character’s past and present we see how they all connect in their unique and individual ways, culminating in the final chapters of the novel.
Annelise is an A class fashion designer based in London, yet we know her roots are both German and South African. Callan is her brazenly independent daughter who moves from New York back to London when her mother’s company needs her. Callan does not know the identity of her father, yet never pushes her mother for the details. This irritates me! Her mother reveals nothing of her past to her daughter, has come up with a whole new personality in fact to deceive the world of her upbringing and the events that led her to leave South Africa and come to Europe.
Lokko jumps around between characters and time periods energetically; it creates a strangely disjointed story that I found difficult to engage with. It took me a long time to finish this as I couldn’t find an ‘in’ until the last 100 pages or so when all of the ‘deceptions’ were brought to the surface.
Although this novel is ideally ‘chick lit’, it deals with themes of love, lies, family, sex and identity, is goes on a genre bender throughout touching on highly political topics of the countries it sets it story against; South Africa and Namibia play a leading role, as they have in Lokko’s other books. Apartheid, democracy and corruption are laced through the story and highlight a very intelligent author who feels passionately about these topics, yet at times they detract from the main story line. Knowledge on these areas created far more interesting characters who were motivated and educated, however my ability to bond with them lacked. This was one of the initial reasons I chose this book, Lokko’s characters in Bitter Chocolate and A Private Affair were tantalizingly seductive and fascinating. In both instances I finished reading wanting to know more about them and what happened after ‘The End’. In An Absolute Deception I was done with the characters after the somewhat ‘soggy’ ending.
I like Lokko’s writing style; however maybe two reads of the same genre/composition by the same author is enough for me.
January 3, 2019
This one was a bit of a slow burner and had a lot if unnecessary detail at places but I did enjoy it. I liked how the characters were all connected. I did guess the main plot early on but there were a few unexpected twists and turns.
August 15, 2012
I'm really disappointed with this book. I really loved Lesley Lokko's first thre novels but this one was just a real waste of two days of my life. It did take me three months to really get stuck in but as I'd paid for it on my kindle I thought I would "solider through". Shouldn't have bothered really. The ending was "wet" and diserved more of a "climax"!
August 9, 2017
This book gives you the impression that it was written by two different people.
It has a powerful begining and interesting plot up untill the middle and then everything gets confusing and not in an intriguing way.
Several parts are left unfinished, totally forgoten about and then the end is a mess.
I would not recommend it!!!
It has a powerful begining and interesting plot up untill the middle and then everything gets confusing and not in an intriguing way.
Several parts are left unfinished, totally forgoten about and then the end is a mess.
I would not recommend it!!!
October 9, 2012
Very enjoyable, but a little confusing at times as moves from place/date and person very quickly.
November 18, 2013
Disappointing.....
December 30, 2025
An Absolute Deception by Lesley Lokko is about Anneliese de St Phalle, a well-known fashion designer with a troubled past. She grew up in Namibia and moved to Europe at eighteen to escape a traumatic experience. Over time, she builds a successful career and raises her daughter, Callan, with the support of her close friend Bruno, whom she met at university.
The story is told from six different points of view, including Anneliese; Callan; Tara - Anneliese’s adopted daughter and Callan’s boarding school best friend; Ree - an architect hired to design Anneliese’s new shop and who later becomes involved with Callan; Hayley - Ree’s wife and a former model; and Lindi - Tara’s friend who was adopted from Namibia by a Norwegian couple. Each perspective adds another layer to the story, gradually revealing how deeply interconnected these characters are.
I especially did not like how the affair between Ree and Callan was portrayed as acceptable and romantic, while Hayley who was clearly struggling with her husband’s lack of interest, was instead presented as the problematic one.
While the book is interesting and rich in details, the many characters, locations, and flashbacks can be hard to follow at times. Some storylines feel fragmented and unfinished, and the ending seems rushed, leaving a few questions unanswered.
The story is told from six different points of view, including Anneliese; Callan; Tara - Anneliese’s adopted daughter and Callan’s boarding school best friend; Ree - an architect hired to design Anneliese’s new shop and who later becomes involved with Callan; Hayley - Ree’s wife and a former model; and Lindi - Tara’s friend who was adopted from Namibia by a Norwegian couple. Each perspective adds another layer to the story, gradually revealing how deeply interconnected these characters are.
I especially did not like how the affair between Ree and Callan was portrayed as acceptable and romantic, while Hayley who was clearly struggling with her husband’s lack of interest, was instead presented as the problematic one.
While the book is interesting and rich in details, the many characters, locations, and flashbacks can be hard to follow at times. Some storylines feel fragmented and unfinished, and the ending seems rushed, leaving a few questions unanswered.
November 28, 2022
Great book. Absolutely.
Once again I fell victim to Lesley Lokko's trademark: an intriguing story, the three young women with intertwined stories, the handsome black man (whose parents were part of the liberation movement, who himself is a rising star, a complicated relationship with a white woman who's close to one of the main characters), half the story taking place in London and the backstory beginning in an African nation, all culminating in a cliffhanger and many unanswered questions.
I thought I knew better, but I couldn't resist the shiny new book. If given the chance, I'd do it again though, and go through the whole heartbreak cycle again.
Lesley Lokko is a gifted author, able to weave so much drama and intrigue, always with the merest suggestion of leading you to the answers you seek, then yanking them out of reach right when you get to the 'conclusion'; it's not really a conclusion if it ends on a cliffhanger, is it?
From my frustration, it's easy to guess why I gave the book four stars instead of five. It was indeed 'An Absolute Deception;, and I loved every bit of it.
Once again I fell victim to Lesley Lokko's trademark: an intriguing story, the three young women with intertwined stories, the handsome black man (whose parents were part of the liberation movement, who himself is a rising star, a complicated relationship with a white woman who's close to one of the main characters), half the story taking place in London and the backstory beginning in an African nation, all culminating in a cliffhanger and many unanswered questions.
I thought I knew better, but I couldn't resist the shiny new book. If given the chance, I'd do it again though, and go through the whole heartbreak cycle again.
Lesley Lokko is a gifted author, able to weave so much drama and intrigue, always with the merest suggestion of leading you to the answers you seek, then yanking them out of reach right when you get to the 'conclusion'; it's not really a conclusion if it ends on a cliffhanger, is it?
From my frustration, it's easy to guess why I gave the book four stars instead of five. It was indeed 'An Absolute Deception;, and I loved every bit of it.
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January 7, 2020Very well written, however I think that it was somewhat confusing at the beginning. Swapping between characters who seem to have no connection at first other than Africa bamboozled me to begin with. Eventually it all makes sense though
May 20, 2020
“I could eat you for breakfast, gentlemen. For breakfast. And I’d still be hungry.” Anneliese Zander de Saint Phalle
April 23, 2021
I love how she wrote the details and the transition. However, that thing about Callan and Ree sucks. This book could have been better. I can't read any much longer because of that affair.
October 27, 2022
il mistero è capire perchè ho pensato che mi potesse piacere
September 15, 2013
Premetto che credo che questo sarà l’ultimo romanzo che leggerò della Lokko, sebbene tutti mi parlino bene de L’estate francese e Cioccolato amaro. Sono arrivata a stento a finire questo libro, estremamente lungo – non che abbia avuto mai un problema con il libri “voluminosi”, tutt’altro -, eccessivamente ridondante e malinconico allo svilimento. Potrei ripetermi, menzionando più o meno le stesse pecche che avevo riscontrato in Un perfetto sconosciuto, ma in questo caso direi che il tutto è più grave, avendo constatato che l’utilizzo dello stesso schema narrativo non fa altro che stancare il lettore.
Incontriamo Anneliese Zander de Saint Phalle, una famosissima stilista londinese che si appresta a concludere la propria carriera. Ha un marchio prestigioso e tutto quello che si possa desiderare, ma il suo successo deriva dall’aver messo da parte tutto ciò che concerneva la sua vita sociale e familiare.
Scopriamo dunque la storia di Hannelore von Riedesal, una ragazza di origini tedesche che vive la sua infanzia con la famiglia in Sud Africa nel 1940, per poi frequentare le scuole a Città del Capo. Forse i racconti della madre o il forte disprezzo per la società autoctona del padre, le fanno decidere di prendere una nave per la Germania, alla scoperta di un mondo nuovo e così diverso dalla sua Africa. Inutile dire che Hannelore e Anneliese sono la stessa persona, e che la stilista rifiuta fortemente il suo passato che prima o poi verrà a galla. Costruendo il proprio destino da zero, Anneliese è diventata fredda e impassibile, tanto da avere un rapporto di odi et amo con la figlia appena ventenne Callan, che sembra avere ereditato il carattere della madre e aver rinunciato a tentare di snodare le fila del suo passato. Compare anche Tara, amica di Callan e orfana, che Anneliese prenderà sotto la sua ala protettiva. Motore maschile della storia è invece l’architetto Ree Herz, sposato con l'ex top model Hayley, assunto da Annaliese per la progettazione del suo showroom londinese, e che sembra avere una malcelata attrazione nei confronti di Callan. Ruolo importante è poi quello di Lindi, la cui storia viene svelata solo nelle battute conclusive del romanzo, della quale si sa solo che i genitori, come quelli di Ree, hanno partecipato come attivisti alla lotta per l���indipendenza del Sud Africa.
Il romanzo, come avevo già accennato all’inizio della recensione, è lento, in alcuni casi lentissimo. Il salto temporale e continentale non fa altro che rendere pesante la lettura, come anche il continuo mutare dei punti di vista. Sono tante le tematiche delle quali si tratta, tra cui la diversità, la segregazione razziale, la lotta per ciò che si ritiene giusto, la difficoltà delle relazioni madre-figlia che abbraccia più generazioni. Nonostante l’intento, quello che dovrebbe essere un romanzo di formazione, alla fine risulta essere un lungo e esasperante monologo categorizzabile come chick-lit.
L’impressione è che il romanzo sia una commistione di storie che si susseguono su un continuum storico disarticolato non solo dagli improvvisi sbalzi temporali - ai quali la Lokko ci abbondantemente abituato – ma anche dalla promessa della trama dell’opera che ci portava a pensare fosse ambientato prevalentemente in Africa, mentre questa fa solo parte del passato dei protagonisti. Inoltre, l’intento di stimolare emozioni forti e melanconiche viene surclassato da una prosa altamente ricca di subordinate. La mia convinzione è che la Lokko avrebbe potuto scrivere una storia ben più toccante e leggibile servendosi di sole trecento pagine. Non ho trovato nulla di diverso da tanti romanzi che si trovano in circolazione, ma soprattutto, non ho trovato un motivo valido che potesse trattenermi su quelle pagine, mentre continuavano a vorticarmi nel pensiero i diritti del lettore di Daniel Pennac.
Incontriamo Anneliese Zander de Saint Phalle, una famosissima stilista londinese che si appresta a concludere la propria carriera. Ha un marchio prestigioso e tutto quello che si possa desiderare, ma il suo successo deriva dall’aver messo da parte tutto ciò che concerneva la sua vita sociale e familiare.
Scopriamo dunque la storia di Hannelore von Riedesal, una ragazza di origini tedesche che vive la sua infanzia con la famiglia in Sud Africa nel 1940, per poi frequentare le scuole a Città del Capo. Forse i racconti della madre o il forte disprezzo per la società autoctona del padre, le fanno decidere di prendere una nave per la Germania, alla scoperta di un mondo nuovo e così diverso dalla sua Africa. Inutile dire che Hannelore e Anneliese sono la stessa persona, e che la stilista rifiuta fortemente il suo passato che prima o poi verrà a galla. Costruendo il proprio destino da zero, Anneliese è diventata fredda e impassibile, tanto da avere un rapporto di odi et amo con la figlia appena ventenne Callan, che sembra avere ereditato il carattere della madre e aver rinunciato a tentare di snodare le fila del suo passato. Compare anche Tara, amica di Callan e orfana, che Anneliese prenderà sotto la sua ala protettiva. Motore maschile della storia è invece l’architetto Ree Herz, sposato con l'ex top model Hayley, assunto da Annaliese per la progettazione del suo showroom londinese, e che sembra avere una malcelata attrazione nei confronti di Callan. Ruolo importante è poi quello di Lindi, la cui storia viene svelata solo nelle battute conclusive del romanzo, della quale si sa solo che i genitori, come quelli di Ree, hanno partecipato come attivisti alla lotta per l���indipendenza del Sud Africa.
Il romanzo, come avevo già accennato all’inizio della recensione, è lento, in alcuni casi lentissimo. Il salto temporale e continentale non fa altro che rendere pesante la lettura, come anche il continuo mutare dei punti di vista. Sono tante le tematiche delle quali si tratta, tra cui la diversità, la segregazione razziale, la lotta per ciò che si ritiene giusto, la difficoltà delle relazioni madre-figlia che abbraccia più generazioni. Nonostante l’intento, quello che dovrebbe essere un romanzo di formazione, alla fine risulta essere un lungo e esasperante monologo categorizzabile come chick-lit.
L’impressione è che il romanzo sia una commistione di storie che si susseguono su un continuum storico disarticolato non solo dagli improvvisi sbalzi temporali - ai quali la Lokko ci abbondantemente abituato – ma anche dalla promessa della trama dell’opera che ci portava a pensare fosse ambientato prevalentemente in Africa, mentre questa fa solo parte del passato dei protagonisti. Inoltre, l’intento di stimolare emozioni forti e melanconiche viene surclassato da una prosa altamente ricca di subordinate. La mia convinzione è che la Lokko avrebbe potuto scrivere una storia ben più toccante e leggibile servendosi di sole trecento pagine. Non ho trovato nulla di diverso da tanti romanzi che si trovano in circolazione, ma soprattutto, non ho trovato un motivo valido che potesse trattenermi su quelle pagine, mentre continuavano a vorticarmi nel pensiero i diritti del lettore di Daniel Pennac.
May 20, 2025
Anneliese Zander De St Phalle is a famous fashion designer, having created an international brand with just her talent and determination.
The storyline focuses on the years that go by , flash backs back and forth through time , as we learn Annelisese complex past and follow her journey as she claws her way to the top .
Those flashbacks break the nattative up in a fractured and confusing manner , it was hard to get into the story .
Absolute deception was a bit of a disappointment , leaving too many loose ends untied .
It did have the potential to be such a great story , but the ending felt rushed and incomplete.
The storyline focuses on the years that go by , flash backs back and forth through time , as we learn Annelisese complex past and follow her journey as she claws her way to the top .
Those flashbacks break the nattative up in a fractured and confusing manner , it was hard to get into the story .
Absolute deception was a bit of a disappointment , leaving too many loose ends untied .
It did have the potential to be such a great story , but the ending felt rushed and incomplete.
May 7, 2013
Lesley Lokko does it again. Complex characters spanning Europe and Africa. It tells the story of Hannelore who becomes pregnant and is sent away from her family in disgrace. She eventually reinvents herself as Annelise a world famous dress designer. The only negative is at the beginning you can become confused as there are so many characters. Good beach read.
May 13, 2014
Love Lokko as an author but this book lets her down, took a while to get into, was a little boring in places, not her usual page turner. The ending, what happened? It felt like the stories were hurriedly thrown together in the last couple of chapters and without piecing it together, several story lines were completely forgotten about.
August 24, 2014
My first book by Lesley Lokko. I enjoyed the way she entroduced al the different characters and jump around in time as well as characters with all of them part of everybody elses lives without them knowing it, coming together in the end. I love the way she writes, a very toned down "struggle" novel. Easy reading but quite enjoyable. looking forward to more of het books
February 5, 2015
It was a little hard to stay interested when the main character looks like she dies in the first page. But I persisted. It turned out to be a better read but inconsistencies drive me crazy. How does the main character become flustered with the name of the woman she meets when she's already been told her name beforehand?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2013
I really enjoyed all her other books but I found this one far too long. It was slightly boring in places and very long winded , where things could have been explained in a couple of sentences a whole chapter was dedicated to it ... The ending was a bit of a anti- climax too ...
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June 27, 2016Deludente. Della Lokko ho letto un paio di altri libri e questo non è all'altezza. Il finale in particolare è un po' troppo veloce, soprattutto se si considera la mole di pagine precedente. Mi sono rimasti tanti dubbi, è come se ci dovesse essere un seguito che invece non c'è.
August 11, 2014
I didn't enjoy this. It jumped around and the ending was weak. I also could not understand an adult daughter not questioning her mother about her past and her father.
August 16, 2012
Another good novel from Lesley lokko. Recommend this author.
October 2, 2021
Very good. Especially liked the parts relating to Namibia. Wonder if there will be a sequel.
November 11, 2012
Not a bad read, a bit disjointed. The ending was disappointing as I felt there was far too much left unanswered.
March 6, 2013
Not her best, decidedly predictable. Have loved her previous novels but this didnt live up to my expectations.
May 4, 2013
Disappointing compared to her others which I've read & loved.
June 26, 2013
I was excited to read this novel, but unfortunately it did not live up to other Lokko books, good to read though.
December 30, 2013
Boring only read 20 pages and lost interest.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews