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The Lie
This short story from the collection Wild Child was originally published in the New Yorker.
Lonnie is tired. He's tired of his job, the monotony of it, and tired of the predictability ofhis home life now that he's a father. It's a day like every other day, and hecan't face the inevitability of it all. So he lies. It's a small lie, but heknows small lies become big ones. He knows it as soon as he says his daughteris in the hospital. But he can't stop himself, and he can't stop the lie fromtaking on a life of its own.
Lonnie is tired. He's tired of his job, the monotony of it, and tired of the predictability ofhis home life now that he's a father. It's a day like every other day, and hecan't face the inevitability of it all. So he lies. It's a small lie, but heknows small lies become big ones. He knows it as soon as he says his daughteris in the hospital. But he can't stop himself, and he can't stop the lie fromtaking on a life of its own.
1 pages, Audible Audio
First published April 14, 2008
2 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
T. Coraghessan Boyle
160 books3,024 followersT. Coraghessan Boyle (also known as T.C. Boyle, is a U.S. novelist and short story writer. Since the late 1970s, he has published eighteen novels and twleve collections of short stories. He won the PEN/Faulkner award in 1988 for his third novel, World's End, which recounts 300 years in upstate New York. He is married with three children. Boyle has been a
Professor of English at the University of Southern California since 1978, when he founded the school's undergraduate creative writing program.
He grew up in the small town on the Hudson Valley that he regularly fictionalizes as Peterskill (as in widely anthologized short story Greasy Lake). Boyle changed his middle name when he was 17 and exclusively used Coraghessan for much of his career, but now also goes by T.C. Boyle.
Professor of English at the University of Southern California since 1978, when he founded the school's undergraduate creative writing program.
He grew up in the small town on the Hudson Valley that he regularly fictionalizes as Peterskill (as in widely anthologized short story Greasy Lake). Boyle changed his middle name when he was 17 and exclusively used Coraghessan for much of his career, but now also goes by T.C. Boyle.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 25, 2025
A story about a stupid liar who tells a stupid lie
Two days ago I started a local community college course called "Writing Short Stories". As an example the first week's material had a video of author T. Coraghessan Boyle reading his story The Lie aloud.
The story in summary is that the protagonist (certainly not a hero), who is a lazy guy, doesn't want to go to work one morning, so he calls his boss and tells him a really stupid lie. The next day he skips work again and he doubles down on the lie. Eventually he gets caught by his wife.
There are a lot of stories of stupid people acting stupid. There are so many that I have to assume some people like these stories. I am not one of them.
Blog review.
Two days ago I started a local community college course called "Writing Short Stories". As an example the first week's material had a video of author T. Coraghessan Boyle reading his story The Lie aloud.
The story in summary is that the protagonist (certainly not a hero), who is a lazy guy, doesn't want to go to work one morning, so he calls his boss and tells him a really stupid lie. The next day he skips work again and he doubles down on the lie. Eventually he gets caught by his wife.
There are a lot of stories of stupid people acting stupid. There are so many that I have to assume some people like these stories. I am not one of them.
Blog review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2022
Just a mess!! Why?! Lol. This was a quick listen, but I wish there was more.
July 17, 2020
Heart breaking
April 11, 2022
why would anybody lie like that? what a fucking mess..
April 7, 2021
A very fun, dark humored short story. I first started off by thinking “Wow, I really understand what you’re saying here.” To being totally flabbergasted and horrified! This author is great at writing terrible people!
September 5, 2021
One of the best short stories I have read. At times I was very afraid the worst was gonna happen. It builds and builds……
August 23, 2023
( Format : Audiobook )
"Funeral."
My first encounter with this author and I was very pleasantly surprised. The lie is very short, just over half an hour, and though the lie from the title is one unlikely to be told, to someone in the main protagonist's frame of mind - despair, fear and anger - it was not impossible given his need for time off work.
The author, T.C.Boyle also narrates the story with all the skill of a professional voice artist, the timbre of his voice warm, mid tone and very pleasant to the ear as well as being word perfect with clarity, good timing and modulation, the story.itself well written. My only complaint? I had wished it not to be over so soon.
Currently available for free download with the Audible Plus programme. An very enjoyable half hour and recommended.
"Funeral."
My first encounter with this author and I was very pleasantly surprised. The lie is very short, just over half an hour, and though the lie from the title is one unlikely to be told, to someone in the main protagonist's frame of mind - despair, fear and anger - it was not impossible given his need for time off work.
The author, T.C.Boyle also narrates the story with all the skill of a professional voice artist, the timbre of his voice warm, mid tone and very pleasant to the ear as well as being word perfect with clarity, good timing and modulation, the story.itself well written. My only complaint? I had wished it not to be over so soon.
Currently available for free download with the Audible Plus programme. An very enjoyable half hour and recommended.
July 16, 2019
I'm trying to understand why someone, anyone would tell such a lie. My guess is that the narrator is experiencing a psychological burnout and it's clouding his judgment. Not that I'd place much value in his judgment (who marries and has a baby by 26?).
April 10, 2020
One of my very favourite authors. Never lets me down. ‘The Lie’ is a very good example of his work and just how to construct and deliver a short story.
November 17, 2020
Wanted to give this 1 star, but I feel it's a better book than that. I hate these situations, so I am not the right audience.
December 25, 2020
A good short story about an irresponsible lying husband
August 29, 2021
Loved Stephen Colbert as narrator! Such a twisting tale, that I reread print version immediately. Next, the movie & margaritas?
October 1, 2021
Ole lying ass!
March 31, 2022
Who lies like that?? Wow smh
December 22, 2022
Sadly I know plenty of women like this…
March 26, 2023
Please make a second book to answer the questions I have!!!
March 3, 2024
Quick read but wtf! Who would lie about that?
March 21, 2024
I liked the story. The main character is an awful person.
Read
January 4, 2025¿Cuál es la mentira? Acaso, la que nos contamos sobre nuestra vida en familia, las responsabilidades que asumimos, la rutina que hay que cumplir. ¿Cuál de las mentiras es más difícil de sostener?
August 30, 2021
A Lie like that was not a smart thing to do. Good short story.
November 22, 2015
THE LIE, by T.C. Boyle, is exactly what short stories are supposed to be. The quintessential short story, if you will. It's real, and also exaggerated. It's funny, and also sad. It's short, and yet says so much. It starts in media res, and leaves you wondering what will happen after it ends. I listened to the audio version on audible.com. It was narrated by the author himself. Writers shouldn't always read their work, but he does a great job.
The Lie is a week in the life of an unnamed narrator: a husband, father, and employee at a production company. One day, he can't bear to go to work so he tells his boss a little lie ... You know how it goes. But, Boyle has that wonderful was of picking up on the minutiae of life that makes the reader immediately identify with.
Four Honest Stars (he loses one for not being terribly original)
The Lie is a week in the life of an unnamed narrator: a husband, father, and employee at a production company. One day, he can't bear to go to work so he tells his boss a little lie ... You know how it goes. But, Boyle has that wonderful was of picking up on the minutiae of life that makes the reader immediately identify with.
Four Honest Stars (he loses one for not being terribly original)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews