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The First True Lie
An utterly compelling, heartbreaking novel that introduces a revelatory young voice to the U.S. market.
Meet Luca, a curious young boy living with his mother, a taciturn woman who every now and then tries out a new father. Luca keeps to himself, his cat, Blue, and his favorite toys — words. One February morning his mom doesn't wake up to bring him to school, so Luca —driven by a deep fear of being an orphan — decides to pretend to the world that his mom is still alive. At first it's easy. Luca dresses himself for school, makes sure Blue gets his dinner, and manages to avoid nosy neighbors. He and Blue camp out in the living room and embark on imaginary expeditions to outer space, and Luca dreams about marrying his school crush, Antonella. Soon, however, the laundry starts piling up, the fridge emptying—and the smell of Mama's decaying body begins to permate the apartment.
As Luca grapples with what to do, we ultimately witness something much more poignant than the morbid circumstance — a young boy's journey to the point at which he can say: “I am no longer an orphan. I am a single human being. It's a matter of words.”
Meet Luca, a curious young boy living with his mother, a taciturn woman who every now and then tries out a new father. Luca keeps to himself, his cat, Blue, and his favorite toys — words. One February morning his mom doesn't wake up to bring him to school, so Luca —driven by a deep fear of being an orphan — decides to pretend to the world that his mom is still alive. At first it's easy. Luca dresses himself for school, makes sure Blue gets his dinner, and manages to avoid nosy neighbors. He and Blue camp out in the living room and embark on imaginary expeditions to outer space, and Luca dreams about marrying his school crush, Antonella. Soon, however, the laundry starts piling up, the fridge emptying—and the smell of Mama's decaying body begins to permate the apartment.
As Luca grapples with what to do, we ultimately witness something much more poignant than the morbid circumstance — a young boy's journey to the point at which he can say: “I am no longer an orphan. I am a single human being. It's a matter of words.”
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
37 people are currently reading
1083 people want to read
About the author
Marina Mander
16 books10 followersMarina Mander , Trieste, lives and works in Milan.
She writes for communication and publishing and collaborating with the newspaper "Il Piccolo" in Trieste, dealing with contemporary art. Among his works of fiction: Manual hypochondria fantastic (Transeuropea 2000 et al. 2012), Catalogue of goodbyes (Editions du Rouergue, 2008 et al., 2010) The first real lie (et al. 2011), already out in Germany, France, Holland, Spain and being published in Israel, England and the United States.
She writes for communication and publishing and collaborating with the newspaper "Il Piccolo" in Trieste, dealing with contemporary art. Among his works of fiction: Manual hypochondria fantastic (Transeuropea 2000 et al. 2012), Catalogue of goodbyes (Editions du Rouergue, 2008 et al., 2010) The first real lie (et al. 2011), already out in Germany, France, Holland, Spain and being published in Israel, England and the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
March 28, 2014
As a reader, I expect a novel to contain a certain mystery and excitement: unexpected twists, phenomenal insights, or an alternative perspective that I have never considered before. I can even forgive poor writing if something entertaining is happening in the novel. Unfortunately, The First True Lie lacked anything of any interest to me. The concept of the novel is indeed appealing, which led me to want to read the book. But when an entire novel is summed up (quite completely) by the paragraph on the back of the book, you know there is something wrong.
Having discussed this novel with a fellow reader, we have come to the conclusion that this novel is missing an entire other half: the half that describes what happens to Luca when he becomes a true orphan. Or, if the author is ambitious, what happens to his mental state as an adult after having experienced the trauma of his childhood. This book is only one thought; it needs additional ideas and action in order to be successful.
Having discussed this novel with a fellow reader, we have come to the conclusion that this novel is missing an entire other half: the half that describes what happens to Luca when he becomes a true orphan. Or, if the author is ambitious, what happens to his mental state as an adult after having experienced the trauma of his childhood. This book is only one thought; it needs additional ideas and action in order to be successful.
August 9, 2013
“If Mama is dead, I can’t tell anyone. If I tell, they’ll take me to the orphanage.”
Imagine you’re ten years old. You have no father, and your mother is alive, but not really there. But, still, she’s all you have. Imagine waking up one morning to find your mother dead, after years of depression and psychological issues. What would be your immediate reaction?
It’s hard to imagine what I would do as this child, but I’m guessing I would call the police first thing. That’s what we’ve been taught to do from a young age. But The First True Lie examines what would happen if this child made a completely different decision, and decided to go on as if nothing ever happened, while his mother rots in her bedroom.
Meet Luca, a young Italian boy living alone with his mother. Luca believes he is a ‘half-orphan’, meaning he has no father (though he has had to deal with a number of ‘dads’ throughout the years). We don’t really know how old he is, but we do know that his mother is still supposed to drop him off at friend’s houses for playdates. But Luca is living a lie. His mother is actually dead in their apartment, and somehow, he continues to go to school every day and live a complete farce.
In my opinion, Luca’s narration of the story was almost believable. We spend the entire story in his head, and for the majority of the time, it’s what I imagine a little kids head to be like. He constantly goes off on tangents when he thinks about how to deal with his mother’s death, and his mind hops from subject to subject with no warning. And yes, I do think that being able to take care of himself with his dead mother in the next room is also realistic, because isn’t that what he’s been doing all along? She was hardly present when she was alive, so it makes sense that he would be able to make some fish sticks for himself. However, the one thing that bothered me was the swearing. I don’t see why or how any young child would think the way Luca does. His mother often chastised him about swearing, and didn’t use the words frequently enough to set a bad example.
I don’t know if this book was supposed to end where it did, or if this was only a preview. If this is, indeed, the original ending, and you are the kind of person who enjoys a happy, concrete ending, then this book isn’t for you. But if you’d like to learn more about how pop culture can really affect children, this is definitely an interesting book. Luca’s reasons for not telling anyone about his mother’s death make sense in his mind, because of what he’s seen on television or because of what he’s heard adults talking about.
Overall, a lovely story. 3.5 stars
Some select quotes that broke my heart:
“There’s only one hope—that she’ll be resurrected, like Jesus. We’ve just begun the second, and who knows if it’s true that Jesus was resurrected.”
“Maybe I wasn’t able to make her stay in my life, to make her live for me at least. Maybe I’m not worth much at all, not for her, not for anyone.”
“Now the storm is here and we’re all about to drown, but Blue and I are still bobbing around.”
“If everything weren’t becoming so complicated, I’d say it’s all the same to me, that in some ways I understand her, that I understand if she was sick of living.”
I received this ARC from NetGalley.
Imagine you’re ten years old. You have no father, and your mother is alive, but not really there. But, still, she’s all you have. Imagine waking up one morning to find your mother dead, after years of depression and psychological issues. What would be your immediate reaction?
It’s hard to imagine what I would do as this child, but I’m guessing I would call the police first thing. That’s what we’ve been taught to do from a young age. But The First True Lie examines what would happen if this child made a completely different decision, and decided to go on as if nothing ever happened, while his mother rots in her bedroom.
Meet Luca, a young Italian boy living alone with his mother. Luca believes he is a ‘half-orphan’, meaning he has no father (though he has had to deal with a number of ‘dads’ throughout the years). We don’t really know how old he is, but we do know that his mother is still supposed to drop him off at friend’s houses for playdates. But Luca is living a lie. His mother is actually dead in their apartment, and somehow, he continues to go to school every day and live a complete farce.
In my opinion, Luca’s narration of the story was almost believable. We spend the entire story in his head, and for the majority of the time, it’s what I imagine a little kids head to be like. He constantly goes off on tangents when he thinks about how to deal with his mother’s death, and his mind hops from subject to subject with no warning. And yes, I do think that being able to take care of himself with his dead mother in the next room is also realistic, because isn’t that what he’s been doing all along? She was hardly present when she was alive, so it makes sense that he would be able to make some fish sticks for himself. However, the one thing that bothered me was the swearing. I don’t see why or how any young child would think the way Luca does. His mother often chastised him about swearing, and didn’t use the words frequently enough to set a bad example.
I don’t know if this book was supposed to end where it did, or if this was only a preview. If this is, indeed, the original ending, and you are the kind of person who enjoys a happy, concrete ending, then this book isn’t for you. But if you’d like to learn more about how pop culture can really affect children, this is definitely an interesting book. Luca’s reasons for not telling anyone about his mother’s death make sense in his mind, because of what he’s seen on television or because of what he’s heard adults talking about.
Overall, a lovely story. 3.5 stars
Some select quotes that broke my heart:
“There’s only one hope—that she’ll be resurrected, like Jesus. We’ve just begun the second, and who knows if it’s true that Jesus was resurrected.”
“Maybe I wasn’t able to make her stay in my life, to make her live for me at least. Maybe I’m not worth much at all, not for her, not for anyone.”
“Now the storm is here and we’re all about to drown, but Blue and I are still bobbing around.”
“If everything weren’t becoming so complicated, I’d say it’s all the same to me, that in some ways I understand her, that I understand if she was sick of living.”
I received this ARC from NetGalley.
January 17, 2014
Determined not to become a full orphan, Luca decides that his mother's decaying body is best kept secret. The First True Lie by Marina Mander takes on an emotional roller-coaster with this heartbreaking yet inspiring novel. Through Luca's narrative, we come to understand why Luca chooses not to tell the world he is no longer only missing a father, but a mother as well.
The thing I can't shake about The First True Lie is how beautifully written it is. Often times I wonder how a child could be so insightful and true. Luca warns readers that it's been said that he's sensitive. He often finds his self sad, just like his mother, but knows he can't be too sad or else the sadness will drown the both of them. She tells him she suffers from loneliness. Luca would love to just be normal. To have a father that hasn't disappeared into the void leaving him half an orphan. Or to have a mother that loved him enough to stick around. It almost choked me up thinking a child could ever feel the guilt of not being good enough to make their parent want to stay.
The tension in The First True Lie is thick enough to cut with a knife. Between moments of Luca reminiscing about life before his mother just never woke up again or other childhood thoughts, there is a huge sense of loss. What would happen to their cat Blue? Cats aren't allowed in an orphanage. What happens to his childhood? He's already proven he can endure life as a single adult. He could lose his home, his friends, and his neighborhood just by letting the world in on his secret. In the midst of all these potential losses, he realizes that he can find a new life. He can become whoever he wants to be.
It's clear from page one that Luca will be a character who will forever be imprinted on the minds of all who read this novel. He's intelligent, observant, responsible, and good enough to stay alive for. There are moments of pure brilliance in this text that is often found only in the minds of children uncomplicated by "the real world". I hope Mander completes his story since The First True Lie feels so incomplete.
Copy provided by Crown Publishing via Netgalley
The thing I can't shake about The First True Lie is how beautifully written it is. Often times I wonder how a child could be so insightful and true. Luca warns readers that it's been said that he's sensitive. He often finds his self sad, just like his mother, but knows he can't be too sad or else the sadness will drown the both of them. She tells him she suffers from loneliness. Luca would love to just be normal. To have a father that hasn't disappeared into the void leaving him half an orphan. Or to have a mother that loved him enough to stick around. It almost choked me up thinking a child could ever feel the guilt of not being good enough to make their parent want to stay.
The tension in The First True Lie is thick enough to cut with a knife. Between moments of Luca reminiscing about life before his mother just never woke up again or other childhood thoughts, there is a huge sense of loss. What would happen to their cat Blue? Cats aren't allowed in an orphanage. What happens to his childhood? He's already proven he can endure life as a single adult. He could lose his home, his friends, and his neighborhood just by letting the world in on his secret. In the midst of all these potential losses, he realizes that he can find a new life. He can become whoever he wants to be.
It's clear from page one that Luca will be a character who will forever be imprinted on the minds of all who read this novel. He's intelligent, observant, responsible, and good enough to stay alive for. There are moments of pure brilliance in this text that is often found only in the minds of children uncomplicated by "the real world". I hope Mander completes his story since The First True Lie feels so incomplete.
Copy provided by Crown Publishing via Netgalley
January 3, 2014
Reading a book about a sensitive young boy named Luca who lives in an apartment with a decomposing mother and an amazing doglike cat named Blue doesn’t exactly sound like the best possible way to while away a few hours.
And yet. In the hands of Marina Mander, a talented Italian writer, the story is mesmerizing and haunting. While most child-based narrations eventually become cloying, Luca’s musings remain fresh and often poetic.
Luca’s deep-seated fear is to be sent to an orphanage: “There are lots of parents who decide to split up, lots of kids who see only one or the other parents, and only once in a while; but not orphans, that’s really a nasty business, like you’re missing something and everyone only sees the part that’s not there.” This fear drives him to pretend to the rest of the world that his mother is still living and that everything is going on like before.
As Luca experiences total freedom (“I’m free and I’m a prisoner at the same time, like hamsters who spin their wheels and stay in the same place”), he becomes a master of the true lie, telling stories as if they’re his “personal lullabies”, surpassing fear because “you’re the one who invented them.”
Eventually, Luca determines to identify himself as a “single human being” rather than an orphan, although we – the readers – know that he doesn’t have the emotional wherewithal or the financial means to be able to survive on his own.
In ways, the reader becomes complicit; there were many times I wanted to reach into the pages and save Luca and keep him loved and safe. This novel is only 143 pages and reads quickly, but its effect is enduring. (4.5)
And yet. In the hands of Marina Mander, a talented Italian writer, the story is mesmerizing and haunting. While most child-based narrations eventually become cloying, Luca’s musings remain fresh and often poetic.
Luca’s deep-seated fear is to be sent to an orphanage: “There are lots of parents who decide to split up, lots of kids who see only one or the other parents, and only once in a while; but not orphans, that’s really a nasty business, like you’re missing something and everyone only sees the part that’s not there.” This fear drives him to pretend to the rest of the world that his mother is still living and that everything is going on like before.
As Luca experiences total freedom (“I’m free and I’m a prisoner at the same time, like hamsters who spin their wheels and stay in the same place”), he becomes a master of the true lie, telling stories as if they’re his “personal lullabies”, surpassing fear because “you’re the one who invented them.”
Eventually, Luca determines to identify himself as a “single human being” rather than an orphan, although we – the readers – know that he doesn’t have the emotional wherewithal or the financial means to be able to survive on his own.
In ways, the reader becomes complicit; there were many times I wanted to reach into the pages and save Luca and keep him loved and safe. This novel is only 143 pages and reads quickly, but its effect is enduring. (4.5)
February 24, 2017
In diesem Buch geht es um einen Jungen, der keinen Vater mehr hat und als Halbwaise mit seiner des Lebens müden Mutter zusammenlebt. Eines Tages kommt es dazu, dass die Mutter nicht mehr aufwacht und der Junge verheimlicht ihren Tod, weil er unter gar keinen Umständen in ein Heim will. So lebt er fortan mit seinem Kater Blu zusammen und versucht den Alltag wie ein Erwachsener zu meistern und natürlich ohne die erste große Lüge seines Lebens auffliegen zu lassen.
Das Buch hat mir ganz gut gefallen. Da die Geschichte ziemlich kurz ist und von der Handlung her kaum etwas Interessantes aufweist, hat es für mich nicht für mehr als drei Sterne gereicht, aber dennoch war es ein gutes Buch mit einer spannenden Thematik, die in einer sehr freundlichen Form umgesetzt wurde, denn das Buch ist weder melodramatisch noch deprimierend. Es ist aus der Sicht des Kindes geschrieben, dem die Schnauze gewachsen ist, wie sie eben wächst und das auch so spricht. Schöner Weise ist es aber auch sehr poetisch geschrieben und die Autorin bedarf sich einigen wundervollen Metaphern sowie Vergleichen, die mir gänzlich neu waren und mir somit unglaublich gut gefallen haben.
Insgesamt war es also für mich definitiv der Erzählstil, der mich durch diese Geschichte getragen hat und das ist keinesfalls schlimm. Erzählen kann die Autorin, wenn es auch nicht so richtig spannend ist, so ist es doch relativ poetisch und tiefgründig.
Man hätte durchaus aber auch mehr aus diesem Buch, der Idee und eben dieser Thematik herausholen und machen können. Letztendlich war die Geschichte nett, aber wirklich tief ging sie am Ende leider nicht. Dennoch habe ich den Kleinen, sowie seinen Kater Blu, ziemlich schnell ins Herz geschlossen.
Das Buch hat mir ganz gut gefallen. Da die Geschichte ziemlich kurz ist und von der Handlung her kaum etwas Interessantes aufweist, hat es für mich nicht für mehr als drei Sterne gereicht, aber dennoch war es ein gutes Buch mit einer spannenden Thematik, die in einer sehr freundlichen Form umgesetzt wurde, denn das Buch ist weder melodramatisch noch deprimierend. Es ist aus der Sicht des Kindes geschrieben, dem die Schnauze gewachsen ist, wie sie eben wächst und das auch so spricht. Schöner Weise ist es aber auch sehr poetisch geschrieben und die Autorin bedarf sich einigen wundervollen Metaphern sowie Vergleichen, die mir gänzlich neu waren und mir somit unglaublich gut gefallen haben.
Insgesamt war es also für mich definitiv der Erzählstil, der mich durch diese Geschichte getragen hat und das ist keinesfalls schlimm. Erzählen kann die Autorin, wenn es auch nicht so richtig spannend ist, so ist es doch relativ poetisch und tiefgründig.
Man hätte durchaus aber auch mehr aus diesem Buch, der Idee und eben dieser Thematik herausholen und machen können. Letztendlich war die Geschichte nett, aber wirklich tief ging sie am Ende leider nicht. Dennoch habe ich den Kleinen, sowie seinen Kater Blu, ziemlich schnell ins Herz geschlossen.
August 6, 2016
I was so excited to read this book prior to doing so. The idea of a story written from the perspective of a young boy whose mother has died in her bed and whose father is not in his life sounded fascinating. However, there was a lot missing in this book that I was looking for.
It turns out, that a child's perspective depicts the world in a very narrow and shallow way. To make matters worse, the author depends heavily on the thoughts going on inside the boy's brain when he is alone rather than the experiences he has interacting with others in an attempt to keep on the charade that everything is normal. Instead we get lots of memories, random outbursts of anger, and lots of Luca playing with his cat Blue. The best part of this book is that it is short and the writing is easy to read. The content is unfortunately not very satisfying.
The ending leaves a lot to be desired too. It felt like this was the beginning of a very interesting novel, not something that stands alone as something great.
It turns out, that a child's perspective depicts the world in a very narrow and shallow way. To make matters worse, the author depends heavily on the thoughts going on inside the boy's brain when he is alone rather than the experiences he has interacting with others in an attempt to keep on the charade that everything is normal. Instead we get lots of memories, random outbursts of anger, and lots of Luca playing with his cat Blue. The best part of this book is that it is short and the writing is easy to read. The content is unfortunately not very satisfying.
The ending leaves a lot to be desired too. It felt like this was the beginning of a very interesting novel, not something that stands alone as something great.
March 3, 2015
This Italian novella has the aspect of a thought experiment or writing exercise, more so than a traditional story with an arc, and as such, readers seeking a tidy progression to resolution will be frustrated. It reads almost as if a professor in a graduate creative writing or child psychology seminar had given the assignment to consider what might happen if a child raised by a single mother discovered his mother dead in bed one day -- and the result is this lengthy story by a gifted student.
The first third of the book sets up the life of 10-year-old Luca, who lives up seven flights of stairs in an unnamed Italian city, with his depressive mother (his father was never in the picture). The other two-thirds detail his realization one morning that she died in her sleep, and the two weeks that follow, as he attempts to hide the fact that he is now an orphan. The book is concerned less with what he does, than what he thinks -- and in that sense, is a swirling piece of psychological horror.
Since I was drawn to the book wondering more about "what he does", this left me a little disconnected. I've never been able to fully buy into fiction that is as interior as this is. There are basically a hundred pages where he gets up each morning, goes to school, comes home, potters around the apartment, plays with the cat, and has wild daydreams. I suppose to a certain extent, the book is going to fail or succeed with most readers based on how believable they find Luca's thoughts and reactions to be, as he rapid-cycles through denial, rage, hopelessness, and all the other stages, all while dreading the social stigma and practical discomforts of becoming an orphan. Personally, I needed more plot and story to draw me into Luca's plight.
The first third of the book sets up the life of 10-year-old Luca, who lives up seven flights of stairs in an unnamed Italian city, with his depressive mother (his father was never in the picture). The other two-thirds detail his realization one morning that she died in her sleep, and the two weeks that follow, as he attempts to hide the fact that he is now an orphan. The book is concerned less with what he does, than what he thinks -- and in that sense, is a swirling piece of psychological horror.
Since I was drawn to the book wondering more about "what he does", this left me a little disconnected. I've never been able to fully buy into fiction that is as interior as this is. There are basically a hundred pages where he gets up each morning, goes to school, comes home, potters around the apartment, plays with the cat, and has wild daydreams. I suppose to a certain extent, the book is going to fail or succeed with most readers based on how believable they find Luca's thoughts and reactions to be, as he rapid-cycles through denial, rage, hopelessness, and all the other stages, all while dreading the social stigma and practical discomforts of becoming an orphan. Personally, I needed more plot and story to draw me into Luca's plight.
September 6, 2013
What a traumatizing book. When I got into it and realized what was happening, I wanted to quit. I didn't think I could emotionally handle a 10-year old boy's lonely life with his mother's corpse rotting in the apartment. But Mander is kind of a genius. She puts you in Luca's head, and he's very realistic for the most part. His voice is innocent but raw. He hops from topic to topic, woven through with his memories and imaginations. When going gets rough as the days go by, he spends more and more time in his head, trying to escape the horror behind the closed bedroom door.
The narrative made me feel tenderness for the kid, even when he screamed obscenities and said/thought violent and unexpectedly explicit things. It's pretty realistic that he was able to take care of himself for so long, and even his foul language and too much knowledge of the adult world rang true. The thing that didn't work for me was the writing. It was really great. Too great. Some turns of phrase and metaphors were way too sophisticated for a 10-year-old, even an Italian one. It threw me from the story a couple of times. This could, however, be partially because of the translation. Or maybe kids in Italy are smarter than teenagers here. Who knows. It was incongruous nonetheless.
This book is good, if you can deal with the subject matter. It's very, very heavy stuff, off-set by a beautifully written child's voice. It made the reading much easier. I give it 3-stars because of some issues in writing, and personal aversion to the subject matter. I honestly didn't enjoy reading it. I'm also yet to make up my mind about the ending. It felt perfect for the moment, but I really want to know what happened next. For a person with stronger nerves than mine, this is a solid 4 or even 5-star book.
-I got a free ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review-
The narrative made me feel tenderness for the kid, even when he screamed obscenities and said/thought violent and unexpectedly explicit things. It's pretty realistic that he was able to take care of himself for so long, and even his foul language and too much knowledge of the adult world rang true. The thing that didn't work for me was the writing. It was really great. Too great. Some turns of phrase and metaphors were way too sophisticated for a 10-year-old, even an Italian one. It threw me from the story a couple of times. This could, however, be partially because of the translation. Or maybe kids in Italy are smarter than teenagers here. Who knows. It was incongruous nonetheless.
This book is good, if you can deal with the subject matter. It's very, very heavy stuff, off-set by a beautifully written child's voice. It made the reading much easier. I give it 3-stars because of some issues in writing, and personal aversion to the subject matter. I honestly didn't enjoy reading it. I'm also yet to make up my mind about the ending. It felt perfect for the moment, but I really want to know what happened next. For a person with stronger nerves than mine, this is a solid 4 or even 5-star book.
-I got a free ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review-
August 14, 2015
Luca is a boy who is wounded by the reality that he is an orphan. Although he is wise among his peers, he still feels that no one understands or tries to comprehend what he is all about. Blue, his cat is the only one that is dear to him, other than the pet;no one really makes a lasting impression. A mother and a cat are his only two friends, but he worries about his mom's mental state. Introducing him to strange males, she tries to convince him that he has a father. Luca does not take her seriously though, he just wants to be accepted by everyone. Raw language and hope collide in this unforgettable novel about becoming accepted in the midst of rejections.
The most reasonable question is why the three stars? Mainly cause it was fell flat with consistency and characterization. Luca was the only likable character, his mother did not really contribute significantly prior to her demise. Some parts of the book came across unbelievable, and Luca's language ticked me off in some ways. In his defense, he had every right to be bitter about his upbringing, but I still think that he could at least showed some respect. I also hated the rush ending, there was a lot of unanswered questions.
Besides those details,it was a decent story; I do plan on reading more novels by Mander.
The most reasonable question is why the three stars? Mainly cause it was fell flat with consistency and characterization. Luca was the only likable character, his mother did not really contribute significantly prior to her demise. Some parts of the book came across unbelievable, and Luca's language ticked me off in some ways. In his defense, he had every right to be bitter about his upbringing, but I still think that he could at least showed some respect. I also hated the rush ending, there was a lot of unanswered questions.
Besides those details,it was a decent story; I do plan on reading more novels by Mander.
January 28, 2014
Translated from the Italian, this book marks the U.S. debut of the author who has two previous novels under her belt. The translation here feels quite smooth and there are no noticeable errors. At not even 150 pages long, this is perhaps more properly a novella, but it such a sad and powerful book that it really takes the reader by surprise. Luca, the narrator, is ten. This stream of consciousness covers at least two weeks (perhaps even longer) when he lives in his apartment with his mother’s corpse. Luca is an observant child, humourous at times and tragically wise to the ways of the world (he knows just how to mask the fact that he has become an orphan).
It is a heartbreaking story, though it would be nice to see the storyline go even further. It ends a bit abruptly, but it definitely allows for the reader’s imagination to fill in the blanks of Luca’s life. Luca is a sympathetic and realistically drawn narrator. The book could have been a much darker one, but it is his imagination and lightness that prevent this from being a completely depressing read. I hope that the author’s other novels will be released in the U.S.!
It is a heartbreaking story, though it would be nice to see the storyline go even further. It ends a bit abruptly, but it definitely allows for the reader’s imagination to fill in the blanks of Luca’s life. Luca is a sympathetic and realistically drawn narrator. The book could have been a much darker one, but it is his imagination and lightness that prevent this from being a completely depressing read. I hope that the author’s other novels will be released in the U.S.!
March 7, 2014
Someone with more literary knowledge than I should read this book and explain to me why the author was able to get this story published. Oh, right she works in the publishing field. Okay, I'll tone it down. The concept was pretty original, both the story itself and a grown woman author speaking in a male child's voice. But, as you read and try to imagine what will happen it's gut-wrenching (this is in the author's favor as it shows the power of her words) and the ending is not quite as drastic as it could be. So I changed my rating from one star to two.
July 17, 2014
I am giving this book one star because the idea behind the story is kind of touching. However, this little book was just a hot mess. It is the story of a little boy whose mother suffers from depression. She takes anti-anxiety medication for her troubles and apparently overdoses one night. When her son, Luca, awakes in the morning, he believes that she's dead, and he tries to keep that fact a secret and attempts to take care of himself. He does not want to end up in an orphanage. He lives in his apartment with his dead, decomposing mother for two weeks. Other than these facts, the entire novel is about the inner musings of this little boy as he tries to figure out what to do with himself. It is written from Luca's point of view and he swears and curses frequently. He also likes his cat, and towards the end of the novel he decides it is a fun thing to piss on himself. There is no real ending. The story just cuts off abruptly and leaves you hanging. I didn't like that. It is just such an odd mix of things, it was hard to feel sorry for the kid (and you really want to). It was also hard to laugh at the moments that were intended to be funny, because you are constantly wondering about the corpse in the bedroom. The swearing didn't mix well either. It was like watching a serious documentary narrated by Archie and Jughead or The Three Stooges.
On the upside, there are lots of pretty quotes in this book - good one liners to use in papers or letters - and it does make you wonder about how your kids would fare if they were left alone in the world. It was pretty terrible, all in all, and if you have anything else to read, I mean ANYTHING else - even a JC Penney catalog - peruse that instead!
On the upside, there are lots of pretty quotes in this book - good one liners to use in papers or letters - and it does make you wonder about how your kids would fare if they were left alone in the world. It was pretty terrible, all in all, and if you have anything else to read, I mean ANYTHING else - even a JC Penney catalog - peruse that instead!
January 23, 2014
Luca is a ten yr. old boy who acts, and for the most part speaks much older than ten. He is observant and is able to formulate thoughts and actions, realize repercussions well beyond his chronological age. Unfortunately this includes using many curse words.
After he finds his mother dead, the reader learns the inner life of this amazing and unfortunate child. Heartbreaking yes, but poignant and wonderful as well. Although many of his thoughts are not childlike, many of his actions are. He moves from subject to subject and is a well of thoughts and feelings. He has his cat Blue, and Blue becomes part of the fantasy Luca uses to keep himself in place. He manages to have hope in the face of overwhelming sorrow and disaster. Luce will leave an imprint in the reader's thoughts.
The reason I did not rate this higher, is that there were a few instances when despite the brightness of Luca I just could not accept that a ten yr. old (and I have a very bright ten yr. old grandson)would act or figure out a few of the things he did. Also the story abruptly ends. Not ends open ended for the reader to figure out for himself what happens, but literally just stops. Despite that I believe Luca is worth knowing, ending or not.
After he finds his mother dead, the reader learns the inner life of this amazing and unfortunate child. Heartbreaking yes, but poignant and wonderful as well. Although many of his thoughts are not childlike, many of his actions are. He moves from subject to subject and is a well of thoughts and feelings. He has his cat Blue, and Blue becomes part of the fantasy Luca uses to keep himself in place. He manages to have hope in the face of overwhelming sorrow and disaster. Luce will leave an imprint in the reader's thoughts.
The reason I did not rate this higher, is that there were a few instances when despite the brightness of Luca I just could not accept that a ten yr. old (and I have a very bright ten yr. old grandson)would act or figure out a few of the things he did. Also the story abruptly ends. Not ends open ended for the reader to figure out for himself what happens, but literally just stops. Despite that I believe Luca is worth knowing, ending or not.
December 5, 2014
The story of a 10 year old who comes home from school and finds his mother dead in her bed. A heartbreaking and sad glimpse into the mind of a child that finds himself alone in the world, but worst of all, orphan. You can't imagine the things he has to go through in order not to end up in an orphanage. It saddened me very deeply.
August 22, 2013
Excellent, well-written, short (143 pages) book to be published in January 2014. The impressive translation from its original Italian to English made this book a pleasure to read. If you liked Room by Emma Donoghue, you could very well enjoy this one, too.
June 23, 2015
The writing is lovely, but the subject matter is just too dark for me to enjoy reading it.
September 9, 2019
Wow! Such a physically small book, but such a heavy, emotionally weighty story.
Young Luca lives at home with his depressed mother and cat, Blue. He's seen a string of 'potential fathers' drift in and out of he and his mum's life, but they remain alone. When he wakes one morning to find his mother has died he realises he is now an orphan and will be sent away to live in an orphanage if anyone finds out.
So he does the only logical thing... he simple leaves his mother in her bed, visiting her in a few heartbreaking scenes to check in case he made a mistake, and to chat with her, and finally closing the door to her bedroom when the smell begins to be noticeable.
He carries on with school and day to day life as best he can until the truth must surely come to the surface.
Although sometimes a little hard to believe, I love the raw honesty that comes from such a young but wise narrator....although a sad story, I found Luca's voice strong and uplifting - a great read.
Young Luca lives at home with his depressed mother and cat, Blue. He's seen a string of 'potential fathers' drift in and out of he and his mum's life, but they remain alone. When he wakes one morning to find his mother has died he realises he is now an orphan and will be sent away to live in an orphanage if anyone finds out.
So he does the only logical thing... he simple leaves his mother in her bed, visiting her in a few heartbreaking scenes to check in case he made a mistake, and to chat with her, and finally closing the door to her bedroom when the smell begins to be noticeable.
He carries on with school and day to day life as best he can until the truth must surely come to the surface.
Although sometimes a little hard to believe, I love the raw honesty that comes from such a young but wise narrator....although a sad story, I found Luca's voice strong and uplifting - a great read.
September 25, 2017
In een heerlijke taal, vol associaties en precies op maat van het tienjarig hoofdpersonage, weet Marina Mander een ontroerend verhaal te vertellen van een jongentje wiens moeder overlijdt, maar die uit angst om naar een weeshuis te moeten, dat voor iedereen verbergt. Dit is een heerlijk boek door de virtuoze stijl en het verhaal raakt je zonder ooit zeemzoeterig te worden.
September 16, 2025
Perfekt, hat mich gebrochen.
November 7, 2021
It seems a lot of people didn't really like this book and while I agree that there should be closure to this story, I think that what's here is riveting and well told. I won't forget this book anytime soon.
February 8, 2014
Luca is a young boy living in Italy with his mother, who suffers from depression, and their cat, Blue. He has never known his father and doesn't quite understand where he went, so many of his classmates call him an orphan. Sometimes he and his mother have a typical relationship—they have fun, she nags him about getting up on time, taking a bath, doing his homework. But sometimes his mother is unable to cope with the world and locks herself in her bedroom for a day or two, but Luca is attuned to those moods.
"They say that for a child I'm extremely sensitive—whether or not they mean it as a compliment, I don't know. They say it with a smile, but there's something sad behind that nice smile that makes me think they haven't understood much of anything. I train myself to be sensitive and my antennae tune in on their own."
One morning, however, Luca's mother doesn't wake up. At first he thinks she has taken some of her pills, which often make her sleep deeply and not hear anything, but when he returns from school that day and sees she hasn't moved at all, he knows that she has died. And now, he truly is a "complete orphan," and he is sad that his love and his presence weren't enough to keep his mother alive. But beyond that, he fears that when his mother's death is discovered they'll put him in an orphanage, a horrible place where you aren't encouraged to be yourself or be free, and they'll separate him from Blue.
"This is terrible. I don't want to go. I don't want to be a complete orphan. Anything else would be better. Better to say that Mama's left. Or else say nothing and act like it doesn't matter. Better to find a way to make do. It can't be that difficult. Better to try to survive. Better to keep it a secret and smile. Better to use my imagination, to make myself come up with something special. Better to hope it will all just be over soon."
At first, like many young children who discover they're suddenly without adult supervision, Luca enjoys the freedom of eating only junk food, of leaving their apartment a mess, and staying up as late as he can. But he knows he must pretend to the outside world that everything is fine. He tries not to act overly sad or even overly happy—he doesn't want anyone to question his behavior, which might lead them to want to talk to his mother. He figures out how to go the grocery store and act like he belongs there, to pass his mother off as busy at work or running late so people don't encounter her, all while he has all the windows to her bedroom open to combat the increasing smell of decomposition.
The First True Lie is a heartbreaking story of one boy's courage and ingenuity in the face of what he knows is inevitable. Luca is a tremendously endearing narrator—smart and imaginative, impish and mischievous. His sensitivity in recognizing his mother's moods and feeling for her even if he doesn't understand them is moving, as is his fervent desire to stay in his home with his cat. While obviously not every young child could keep up the subterfuge (and it's clearly a measure of how much his mother has disconnected from the world), you find yourself rooting for him to succeed.
This was a tremendously compelling book, because you want to know what happens to Luca. Its narrative is at times a little disjointed and peppered with curses, much as dialogue with a young boy might be. But you are moved, and even impressed, by Luca's bravery.
"They say that for a child I'm extremely sensitive—whether or not they mean it as a compliment, I don't know. They say it with a smile, but there's something sad behind that nice smile that makes me think they haven't understood much of anything. I train myself to be sensitive and my antennae tune in on their own."
One morning, however, Luca's mother doesn't wake up. At first he thinks she has taken some of her pills, which often make her sleep deeply and not hear anything, but when he returns from school that day and sees she hasn't moved at all, he knows that she has died. And now, he truly is a "complete orphan," and he is sad that his love and his presence weren't enough to keep his mother alive. But beyond that, he fears that when his mother's death is discovered they'll put him in an orphanage, a horrible place where you aren't encouraged to be yourself or be free, and they'll separate him from Blue.
"This is terrible. I don't want to go. I don't want to be a complete orphan. Anything else would be better. Better to say that Mama's left. Or else say nothing and act like it doesn't matter. Better to find a way to make do. It can't be that difficult. Better to try to survive. Better to keep it a secret and smile. Better to use my imagination, to make myself come up with something special. Better to hope it will all just be over soon."
At first, like many young children who discover they're suddenly without adult supervision, Luca enjoys the freedom of eating only junk food, of leaving their apartment a mess, and staying up as late as he can. But he knows he must pretend to the outside world that everything is fine. He tries not to act overly sad or even overly happy—he doesn't want anyone to question his behavior, which might lead them to want to talk to his mother. He figures out how to go the grocery store and act like he belongs there, to pass his mother off as busy at work or running late so people don't encounter her, all while he has all the windows to her bedroom open to combat the increasing smell of decomposition.
The First True Lie is a heartbreaking story of one boy's courage and ingenuity in the face of what he knows is inevitable. Luca is a tremendously endearing narrator—smart and imaginative, impish and mischievous. His sensitivity in recognizing his mother's moods and feeling for her even if he doesn't understand them is moving, as is his fervent desire to stay in his home with his cat. While obviously not every young child could keep up the subterfuge (and it's clearly a measure of how much his mother has disconnected from the world), you find yourself rooting for him to succeed.
This was a tremendously compelling book, because you want to know what happens to Luca. Its narrative is at times a little disjointed and peppered with curses, much as dialogue with a young boy might be. But you are moved, and even impressed, by Luca's bravery.
January 22, 2014
A review copy was provided by Hogarth in return for an honest review
The First True lie is narrated by Lucas, a strange and rather intelligent 6 year old boy. Lucas lives in an apartment with his mamma, who has tried out several different dads, but none of them have worked out.
From what little we know about his mother she seems to be tired of love and tired of life itself. To the reader it seems like she is slowly slipping into a deep depression. Like many she goes to bed to escape the world. She never wakes again.
Lucas copes remarkably well with his mothers death. He always wanted to just grow up. Now it has happened.
Over the next fortnight everything appears normal. He goes to school. Does the food shopping and has play dates with friends. Inside he is struggling to deal with the loss of his mother and the incredible fear he has of being sent to an orphanage and having to abandon his cat, blue. He feels he should have been able to save his mother, if only he could have made her happy enough. I think this was the most heartbreaking part of the story. Lucas really believes that if had proved to his mother that he loved her enough, she would still be alive. Usually we focus on the love a mother has for a child but really, it goes both ways. A child longs to love its parents as much as the parent will long to love the child.
This was a one sitting read that unfortunately ended rather abruptly. The reader is saved from learning lucas' fate when his secret is uncovered. It is up to each individual to decide it for him.
Readers who like a concrete ending may find this novel frustrating. No matter what your opinion Lucas is a boy who will stay with you long after the last page.
January 5, 2014
Writing Style:
The way this book is written reminds me of poetry. I would describe it as insightful, inspiring, depressing, and complicated beautiful morbid lyrical poetry.
My review:
The First True Lie is a hard book to digest. The story is told through the voice of a young boy named Luca who deals with the death of his mother in a very strange and grim way. He decides to carry on with his life as if she isn't really dead, hoping that she may come back to life. You witness Luca slowly losing grip with reality and bouts of madness and insanity. It was overwhelming to see such a brilliant young boy crumble in such a manner. I honestly wanted to pull him out of the book so I could hug him and tell him everything would be okay. If I could, I would adopt him. I would have done anything just to soothe him. (Which is saying a lot because kids aren't my forte.)
So, yes...I loved Luca and his story but I couldn't bring myself to rate it higher than 3 stars for a few reasons. First off the ending irritated me. It is the mother of all cliff-hangers and left me with many questions. It almost feels like the story isn't completely finished. The hurt it brought was unimaginable. Secondly, I had to re-read some portions of the book a few times before I could understand them. I expected this because it is told through the voice of a young child and children usually don't have rational behavior but I found myself confused far too often. I may have to read this one again to see if my opinion changes. I will say, give this book a chance because you have to meet Luca... I guarantee he will steal your heart.
The way this book is written reminds me of poetry. I would describe it as insightful, inspiring, depressing, and complicated beautiful morbid lyrical poetry.
My review:
The First True Lie is a hard book to digest. The story is told through the voice of a young boy named Luca who deals with the death of his mother in a very strange and grim way. He decides to carry on with his life as if she isn't really dead, hoping that she may come back to life. You witness Luca slowly losing grip with reality and bouts of madness and insanity. It was overwhelming to see such a brilliant young boy crumble in such a manner. I honestly wanted to pull him out of the book so I could hug him and tell him everything would be okay. If I could, I would adopt him. I would have done anything just to soothe him. (Which is saying a lot because kids aren't my forte.)
So, yes...I loved Luca and his story but I couldn't bring myself to rate it higher than 3 stars for a few reasons. First off the ending irritated me. It is the mother of all cliff-hangers and left me with many questions. It almost feels like the story isn't completely finished. The hurt it brought was unimaginable. Secondly, I had to re-read some portions of the book a few times before I could understand them. I expected this because it is told through the voice of a young child and children usually don't have rational behavior but I found myself confused far too often. I may have to read this one again to see if my opinion changes. I will say, give this book a chance because you have to meet Luca... I guarantee he will steal your heart.
April 21, 2014
I was first intrigued by "The First True Lie" by Marina Mander because of the name. When I read the blurb on the back I grew more interested. As I read I truly was drawn into the world Mander has created; a world which is both tragic and deftly described.
The topic of the book, a young boy trying to cope both with the loss of his mother and the impending orphan status that that will place him in, is well handled and brilliantly explained. Mander describes the young boy's experiences and thoughts adeptly and in detail- the logic and thought process of child wiser than he should need to be.
The content may be difficult but the actual book is short and easy to read. It's a thought-provoking experience that opens the reader up to many possibilities.
The topic of the book, a young boy trying to cope both with the loss of his mother and the impending orphan status that that will place him in, is well handled and brilliantly explained. Mander describes the young boy's experiences and thoughts adeptly and in detail- the logic and thought process of child wiser than he should need to be.
The content may be difficult but the actual book is short and easy to read. It's a thought-provoking experience that opens the reader up to many possibilities.
April 16, 2015
An unusual, well constructed novel. Written in the first-person voice of young Luca, who lives with his talented but troubled mother in an apartment in an Italian city. One morning he finds his mother dead, and his worst fears paralyze him. As an "orphan," what will happen to him? How long can he hide the truth from his teachers and classmates? Luca uses what he loves most, words, to reach a place where he can finally open the door to others. An excellent reading group selection.
started_finish_later
June 1, 2014read only a few pages but a great young boy voice that makes one alternately sad and happy at his naivety, innocence and situation in life; in the same literary space with the acclaimed Room and I see this novel being at the same literary level too, but it's early yet
March 12, 2014
Boy's mom dies but he's kinda mental so he just lets her rot in her room. That's not giving anything away because that's on the back of the book. His inner monologue is interesting about once every 10 pages, and there aren't many pages.
June 6, 2014
This book was confusing in the sense that the narrator was supposed to be a young boy but narrated and spoke as if he was an adult. There were some clever parts, but overall, this book was just sad. In a pathetic way.
March 25, 2014
Although a short book, it was very powerful in the way the author showed the stigma of being an orphan. Luca will go to any extent possible to avoid the orphanage and keep what he knows as home.
February 15, 2014
Difficult book to read. Not sure if I'm glad I read it yet.
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