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The Big Lie
A startling coming-of-age novel set in a contemporary Nazi England.
Jessika Keller is a good girl: she obeys her father, does her best to impress Herr Fisher at the Bund Deutscher Mädel meetings and is set to be a world champion ice skater. Her neighbour Clementine is not so submissive. Outspoken and radical, Clem is delectably dangerous and rebellious. And the regime has noticed. Jess cannot keep both her perfect life and her dearest friend. But which can she live without?
THE BIG LIE is a thought-provoking and beautifully told story that explores ideas of loyalty, sexuality, protest and belief.
Jessika Keller is a good girl: she obeys her father, does her best to impress Herr Fisher at the Bund Deutscher Mädel meetings and is set to be a world champion ice skater. Her neighbour Clementine is not so submissive. Outspoken and radical, Clem is delectably dangerous and rebellious. And the regime has noticed. Jess cannot keep both her perfect life and her dearest friend. But which can she live without?
THE BIG LIE is a thought-provoking and beautifully told story that explores ideas of loyalty, sexuality, protest and belief.
323 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
July 24, 2018
In all honestly I should have DNF'd this book. I made the mistake of continuing to think it was going somewhere. I love dystopian books and so this alternate 'history' of the Nazi's winning WWII and what that regime would look like post-2000 sounded like a brilliant premise. And it probably still is. So two stars for a good idea; but only two stars for poor execution.
The Missing Plot
Unfortunately Julie Mayhew didn't deliver any solid plot or story. Instead The Big Lie is just a telling of how the world is and one girls 'participation' in said dystopian world. Nothing really happens. Many things seem like they are about to happen and when one really huge thing does transpire 2/3 of the way through the book the narrative that comes after is just confusing and frustrating.
I feel a bit like a broken record on this but plot is important! It's not enough to tell the story of someone existing in a certain world. I want to know what drives, excites, worries, pleases, etc. them given the context of the world they live in. Characters need a driving force. And while yes there are many real people who may have no real passion or movement in their lives when you take that type of a person and drop them in a story they are a dull, boring and frustrating character. A poor choice for the lead heroine for sure.
Annoyingly Obscure
If you've read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas then you're going to know what I say when I talk about obscure references. The boy in that story says "Out-With" to refer to Auschwitz. Due to his age he is unable to say the name correctly. Within about three pages of the weird wording an aha moment happens for most readers and they catch on to what the boy is actually saying. This is done for a handful of terms quite effectively with the child’s voice.
Mayhew did not achieve this aha moment for me with her obscure and varying descriptions or inferences to situations. I did not at all understand that an X on a girls belly meant that she would be sterilized until 100 pages AFTER the reference was first made. I'd like to think I am not that slow or inattentive of a reader that I missed some key clue. Instead I think a lot was expected to be inferred. So much so that at times I reread chapters twice to make sure I didn't miss some hint or tip about what they were actually talking about. Obscurity done well is a wonderful story telling mechanism. But done poorly it can be the downfall of an entire book. For The Big Lie it falls down a long ladder of missed nuances for me.
Character Annoyances
I really wanted to like our lead heroine. I really did. But by the end of the book I just wanted to torture her into submission. Ironic given some of the things that happen in the last 1/3 of the story... Indoctrination is a very dangerous thing and it can be done without you ever realizing it's happened. Take school shootings... they have become such a common occurance in the USA that they are barely reported on anymore. And if they are reported on it's only for a day, maybe two. In the past people would be obsessed with a school shooting incident for months, possibly even years. But we have become desensitized, normalized, or even indoctrinated (depending on how you view media) to accept that school shootings happen and that's just the way it is. This is what politics can do to society when they simply 'ignore' an issue.
If there is one thing to take from this book it’s how easy it is to fall prey to the indoctrination when everyone around you is pushing it. One voice of reason is not enough. I guess in the end I’m annoyed and ultimately disappointed by our heroines inability to even grasp what could have been. Maybe that’s the point Mayhew is making; that we are all likely to be failures in our lives about issues we know are wrong. If that is the message I still think it’s not worth getting from this narrative.
In the End
Maybe my point above about the indoctrination is what Mayhew wanted to really say to her readers. If that is the case then she certainly managed to get the point across. Unfortunately it was done in an annoying and unproductive way. I would not recommend this book to even the most politically interested of readers as I don't think it says anything new and it certainly didn't appeal to me at either the story, plot, character or political level.
For this and more of my reviews please visit my blog at: Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
The Missing Plot
Unfortunately Julie Mayhew didn't deliver any solid plot or story. Instead The Big Lie is just a telling of how the world is and one girls 'participation' in said dystopian world. Nothing really happens. Many things seem like they are about to happen and when one really huge thing does transpire 2/3 of the way through the book the narrative that comes after is just confusing and frustrating.
I feel a bit like a broken record on this but plot is important! It's not enough to tell the story of someone existing in a certain world. I want to know what drives, excites, worries, pleases, etc. them given the context of the world they live in. Characters need a driving force. And while yes there are many real people who may have no real passion or movement in their lives when you take that type of a person and drop them in a story they are a dull, boring and frustrating character. A poor choice for the lead heroine for sure.
Annoyingly Obscure
If you've read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas then you're going to know what I say when I talk about obscure references. The boy in that story says "Out-With" to refer to Auschwitz. Due to his age he is unable to say the name correctly. Within about three pages of the weird wording an aha moment happens for most readers and they catch on to what the boy is actually saying. This is done for a handful of terms quite effectively with the child’s voice.
Mayhew did not achieve this aha moment for me with her obscure and varying descriptions or inferences to situations. I did not at all understand that an X on a girls belly meant that she would be sterilized until 100 pages AFTER the reference was first made. I'd like to think I am not that slow or inattentive of a reader that I missed some key clue. Instead I think a lot was expected to be inferred. So much so that at times I reread chapters twice to make sure I didn't miss some hint or tip about what they were actually talking about. Obscurity done well is a wonderful story telling mechanism. But done poorly it can be the downfall of an entire book. For The Big Lie it falls down a long ladder of missed nuances for me.
Character Annoyances
I really wanted to like our lead heroine. I really did. But by the end of the book I just wanted to torture her into submission. Ironic given some of the things that happen in the last 1/3 of the story... Indoctrination is a very dangerous thing and it can be done without you ever realizing it's happened. Take school shootings... they have become such a common occurance in the USA that they are barely reported on anymore. And if they are reported on it's only for a day, maybe two. In the past people would be obsessed with a school shooting incident for months, possibly even years. But we have become desensitized, normalized, or even indoctrinated (depending on how you view media) to accept that school shootings happen and that's just the way it is. This is what politics can do to society when they simply 'ignore' an issue.
If there is one thing to take from this book it’s how easy it is to fall prey to the indoctrination when everyone around you is pushing it. One voice of reason is not enough. I guess in the end I’m annoyed and ultimately disappointed by our heroines inability to even grasp what could have been. Maybe that’s the point Mayhew is making; that we are all likely to be failures in our lives about issues we know are wrong. If that is the message I still think it’s not worth getting from this narrative.
In the End
Maybe my point above about the indoctrination is what Mayhew wanted to really say to her readers. If that is the case then she certainly managed to get the point across. Unfortunately it was done in an annoying and unproductive way. I would not recommend this book to even the most politically interested of readers as I don't think it says anything new and it certainly didn't appeal to me at either the story, plot, character or political level.
For this and more of my reviews please visit my blog at: Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
August 21, 2015
A chilling & persuasive tale of loyalty, love and choices in a Nazi occupied Britain in 2013.
Julie Mayhew’s Big Lie is the bleak, but utterly compelling tale of Jessika Keller a teenage girl brought up in hard-core British Nazi family who begins to doubt the truth of what she has been told as her friendship with her rebellious friend Clementine develops. Jessika treads a fine line between what she has been told is right, and what she knows morally is right leading to a tense climax.
You can tell Mayhew has really done her research into what might have been should the Nazis have occupied Britain in 1940. Some clever detailed touches included the change of name of the major UK retail store Marks & Spencers to Spencers as Marks was Jewish. Also the use of the name Clementine in a subtle form of protest by Clementine’s parents (Clementine was the first name of Winston Churchill’s wife).
Don’t forget to read the Historical Notes section at the end of the book where the author explains the events that inspired her to write The Big Lie including the unlikely inspiration of Justin Bieber and how the dangers in the book are still echoed across our world today.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Julie Mayhew’s Big Lie is the bleak, but utterly compelling tale of Jessika Keller a teenage girl brought up in hard-core British Nazi family who begins to doubt the truth of what she has been told as her friendship with her rebellious friend Clementine develops. Jessika treads a fine line between what she has been told is right, and what she knows morally is right leading to a tense climax.
You can tell Mayhew has really done her research into what might have been should the Nazis have occupied Britain in 1940. Some clever detailed touches included the change of name of the major UK retail store Marks & Spencers to Spencers as Marks was Jewish. Also the use of the name Clementine in a subtle form of protest by Clementine’s parents (Clementine was the first name of Winston Churchill’s wife).
Don’t forget to read the Historical Notes section at the end of the book where the author explains the events that inspired her to write The Big Lie including the unlikely inspiration of Justin Bieber and how the dangers in the book are still echoed across our world today.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
August 31, 2016
I have to say I'm a little disappointed. I expected a lot more and felt even with the Nazi regime oppression progression it didn't seem like 2014 as much as it perhaps should have. What I was't expecting, though, was the LGBTQ discussion, which I really appreciated and kind of saved my rating!
December 31, 2015
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
The Big Lie is a book that immediately intrigued me when I heard about it. The synopsis automatically drew me in - imagine what England would be like if The Battle of Britain failed, and the Nazi's won World War Two. The War Years is an era of history that I love, and one I want to read more about in YA fiction. To top it all off, the main character, Jess, is struggling with her sexuality and her feelings towards other girls - a big no no in the Greater German Reich. When Jess starts to question everything she knows, and her position in the Nazi led country, it becomes really dangerous for her.
Unfortunately, this book was one that sort of fell a bit flat for me. It had a lot of promise to begin with, but once the main plot line finished - only half way in - it became seriously choppy. The Zwei and Drei sections of the book were what I'd describe as 'blah' - I really just skim read through them, as it was holding my attention. In Zwei particularly, each chapter jumped between events, and though one of these events was seriously dramatic, the jumpy nature of it dulled the action.
What brought up my rating for the story was the world in which it was set. The Nazi propaganda was so ingrained in the characters, that they were still sort of living in the 1940s. Only certain tv channel were allowed, and computers were used solely by the chief officials. Women were expected to go through school, but then be good wives and mothers - jobs were not allowed, unless they were deemed unsuitable for marriage. And then, the really nitty gritty Nazi propaganda came into force.
- Winston Churchill - one of the greatest prime ministers Britain has ever had - is described in a similar way to how we'd describe Hitler: 'He was a charming monster. He took England's schoolboys, sent them off on his renegade schemes and brought their terrible early deaths.' (page 69). He was ridiculous, and committed 'so many horrors'. Eventually the British people got so sick of him, that they welcomed in the Germans after The Battle of Britain failed.
- The Holocaust is never mentioned - rather, the Jews and other 'undesirables' were sent to America.
- If there are any abnormalities in your family, girls are basically forced to undergo hysterectomies, to ensure the strength of German blood.
- Finally, the Greater German Reich, which I think is basically the majority of Europe and Britain, is wholly segregated from the rest of the world. Places like America, Japan, Russia, Canada, etc. are alien entities to Jess, and when an American pop star visits, carrying mobiles, etc., it's a entirely new experience.
I wish there was more of Clementine and her family in this story. Their connections to the outside world and revolutionary spirit really got to me, and I wanted more of this. I actually wanted Jess to be stronger than she was - she was really quite weak, and under the thumb of her father. She believed anything he said, and when she was forced to undergo hormone therapy (I think to stop her 'urges'), she didn't question it. Jess really wasn't the best narrator for this; Clementine would have done a much better job, in my eyes.
I know loads of people have truly loved this book, but, unfortunately, I did not. The premise of it was perfect, and I liked that it was diverse - though her sexuality wasn't really developed. I know many people would still enjoy this book, but it's only saving grace for me was the propaganda side, and that was underdeveloped.
The Big Lie is a book that immediately intrigued me when I heard about it. The synopsis automatically drew me in - imagine what England would be like if The Battle of Britain failed, and the Nazi's won World War Two. The War Years is an era of history that I love, and one I want to read more about in YA fiction. To top it all off, the main character, Jess, is struggling with her sexuality and her feelings towards other girls - a big no no in the Greater German Reich. When Jess starts to question everything she knows, and her position in the Nazi led country, it becomes really dangerous for her.
Unfortunately, this book was one that sort of fell a bit flat for me. It had a lot of promise to begin with, but once the main plot line finished - only half way in - it became seriously choppy. The Zwei and Drei sections of the book were what I'd describe as 'blah' - I really just skim read through them, as it was holding my attention. In Zwei particularly, each chapter jumped between events, and though one of these events was seriously dramatic, the jumpy nature of it dulled the action.
What brought up my rating for the story was the world in which it was set. The Nazi propaganda was so ingrained in the characters, that they were still sort of living in the 1940s. Only certain tv channel were allowed, and computers were used solely by the chief officials. Women were expected to go through school, but then be good wives and mothers - jobs were not allowed, unless they were deemed unsuitable for marriage. And then, the really nitty gritty Nazi propaganda came into force.
- Winston Churchill - one of the greatest prime ministers Britain has ever had - is described in a similar way to how we'd describe Hitler: 'He was a charming monster. He took England's schoolboys, sent them off on his renegade schemes and brought their terrible early deaths.' (page 69). He was ridiculous, and committed 'so many horrors'. Eventually the British people got so sick of him, that they welcomed in the Germans after The Battle of Britain failed.
- The Holocaust is never mentioned - rather, the Jews and other 'undesirables' were sent to America.
- If there are any abnormalities in your family, girls are basically forced to undergo hysterectomies, to ensure the strength of German blood.
- Finally, the Greater German Reich, which I think is basically the majority of Europe and Britain, is wholly segregated from the rest of the world. Places like America, Japan, Russia, Canada, etc. are alien entities to Jess, and when an American pop star visits, carrying mobiles, etc., it's a entirely new experience.
I wish there was more of Clementine and her family in this story. Their connections to the outside world and revolutionary spirit really got to me, and I wanted more of this. I actually wanted Jess to be stronger than she was - she was really quite weak, and under the thumb of her father. She believed anything he said, and when she was forced to undergo hormone therapy (I think to stop her 'urges'), she didn't question it. Jess really wasn't the best narrator for this; Clementine would have done a much better job, in my eyes.
I know loads of people have truly loved this book, but, unfortunately, I did not. The premise of it was perfect, and I liked that it was diverse - though her sexuality wasn't really developed. I know many people would still enjoy this book, but it's only saving grace for me was the propaganda side, and that was underdeveloped.
December 13, 2018
This books does not have a happy ending. Think “handmaid’s tale” for teens.
August 22, 2016
Feminism, activism and a LGBT protagonist??? Sign me up! My expectations for this book were different but I really loved how the content surprised and affected me. I need to get my hands on more of Julie Mayhew's books!
August 26, 2015
This review was originally posted on It Starts at Midnight
I am going to be honest, at the start of this book, I was already sure it was headed for 5-star territory. I was insanely engaged, and it was so, so unique. I was hooked from page one, because come on, Nazi-run England?! Yes, I needed to read that!
Jessika... man, she was flawed. Remember that discussion about whether you'd fight for the rebellion ? Yeah, Jessika was the "Sweatpants and Cheetos" option. No, she wasn't lazy, she was actually quite driven.. but she was also a blind rule follower and had less than no desire to rock the boat. Her best friend was another story though. Clementine was rebellious, and not planning on stifling it anytime soon. In fact, she was getting more rebellious and making Jess more and more nervous- especially since Jess's dad was a public figure.
Most of this book was badass and basically I could not put it down. Here's what I absolutely loved about it:
Morality was not even almost cut and dry. Was there even a "right" or "wrong"? Not likely, because that isn't really how life works, and The Big Lie showed that better than probably any book I have read. Jess didn't know that what was happening in her country was not okay, it's the life she always knew, so she was just trying to please her parents. Clementine grew up very differently, and had so many more facts.
Jess was questioning her sexuality and was quite often confused. She seriously wasn't sure what she wanted, which to be honest, was kind of a recurring theme for her in the beginning. But as you'd imagine in Nazi England (or Nazi anywhere for that matter) anything other than cisgender heterosexuality was not ever okay, so Jess was confused as hell when she had even the slightest feelings of attraction.
The political climate was so intriguing, especially since we knew virtually nothing about the U.S. and their role. I loved that this book was basically isolated from the U.S., because it's refreshing, quite frankly! Usually it's the opposite- the plot is happening in America, and we don't know what the rest of the world is doing. In this book, all we know that the Americans seem to have "questionable standards", at least as far as Nazis are concerned.
The plot was really amazing, especially the first half. I can't say much more because of spoilers, but I was glued to this book. My jaw dropped on several occasions, and holy crap, I just was blown away by it.
I loved how complex the characters were. Like Jess and the morality in general, everyone had such multifaceted personalities! There wasn't a "bad guy". There were just people, on some spectrum of good and evil, but no one ever fully touching one end. You know, they were real, and believable.
So what went wrong? Why isn't this a new favorite, as I was 100% sure it was going to be? Le sigh. I don't want to have qualms with it, but I do. I have zero problems with the first, say, 65% of the book. But then things got... a but dull. Like, this epicness was happening, and then it wasn't so much. It was still good, but not as captivating. And then the ending happened, and I was not thrilled with it, and am now super conflicted about my thoughts on this book. The more time I give it, the more I can appreciate it, I suppose.
Bottom Line: I don't even care if I liked the end or not, this book is worth the read, 150%. Like, you must. Even if you don't like the ending either, trust me that the rest of the book is worth it. And make sure you stick around for the author's note!
**Copy provided by publisher for review
I am going to be honest, at the start of this book, I was already sure it was headed for 5-star territory. I was insanely engaged, and it was so, so unique. I was hooked from page one, because come on, Nazi-run England?! Yes, I needed to read that!
Jessika... man, she was flawed. Remember that discussion about whether you'd fight for the rebellion ? Yeah, Jessika was the "Sweatpants and Cheetos" option. No, she wasn't lazy, she was actually quite driven.. but she was also a blind rule follower and had less than no desire to rock the boat. Her best friend was another story though. Clementine was rebellious, and not planning on stifling it anytime soon. In fact, she was getting more rebellious and making Jess more and more nervous- especially since Jess's dad was a public figure.
Most of this book was badass and basically I could not put it down. Here's what I absolutely loved about it:
Morality was not even almost cut and dry. Was there even a "right" or "wrong"? Not likely, because that isn't really how life works, and The Big Lie showed that better than probably any book I have read. Jess didn't know that what was happening in her country was not okay, it's the life she always knew, so she was just trying to please her parents. Clementine grew up very differently, and had so many more facts.
Jess was questioning her sexuality and was quite often confused. She seriously wasn't sure what she wanted, which to be honest, was kind of a recurring theme for her in the beginning. But as you'd imagine in Nazi England (or Nazi anywhere for that matter) anything other than cisgender heterosexuality was not ever okay, so Jess was confused as hell when she had even the slightest feelings of attraction.
The political climate was so intriguing, especially since we knew virtually nothing about the U.S. and their role. I loved that this book was basically isolated from the U.S., because it's refreshing, quite frankly! Usually it's the opposite- the plot is happening in America, and we don't know what the rest of the world is doing. In this book, all we know that the Americans seem to have "questionable standards", at least as far as Nazis are concerned.
The plot was really amazing, especially the first half. I can't say much more because of spoilers, but I was glued to this book. My jaw dropped on several occasions, and holy crap, I just was blown away by it.
I loved how complex the characters were. Like Jess and the morality in general, everyone had such multifaceted personalities! There wasn't a "bad guy". There were just people, on some spectrum of good and evil, but no one ever fully touching one end. You know, they were real, and believable.
So what went wrong? Why isn't this a new favorite, as I was 100% sure it was going to be? Le sigh. I don't want to have qualms with it, but I do. I have zero problems with the first, say, 65% of the book. But then things got... a but dull. Like, this epicness was happening, and then it wasn't so much. It was still good, but not as captivating. And then the ending happened, and I was not thrilled with it, and am now super conflicted about my thoughts on this book. The more time I give it, the more I can appreciate it, I suppose.
Bottom Line: I don't even care if I liked the end or not, this book is worth the read, 150%. Like, you must. Even if you don't like the ending either, trust me that the rest of the book is worth it. And make sure you stick around for the author's note!
**Copy provided by publisher for review
February 4, 2017
"She refused to fall."
Wow... this book is bleak. It's left me utterly depressed.
The beginning was quite slow, so it took me some time to get into it. But once you past the 50 page mark, things start getting interesting. VERY interesting.
One of my favourite things about this novel was the characterisation of Jess, our protagonist. It was so subtle, so slight, only obvious if close attention be paid. You don't realise she's changed until she shocks you. The conformist girl we learn to know at the beginning of the novel is so utterly annihilated by the end, its heartbreaking. But the transformation is so truly necessary.
Also, the German dialect? A brilliant touch (although it was more like a ton-weighted truck load, since it featured so fluently and frequently in the text).
I loved, loved, LOVED the lgbt+ discourse/representation, and the fact that being q***r didn't DEFINE who a character was, only added to their person, alongside a plethora of other traits!!! It was so refreshing!
This is honestly such a fantastic book, WHY AREN'T MORE PEOPLE READING IT???!!! The premise is so fascinating and original!! I would definitely recommend this, especially to those that are intrigued by history, or in the words of Margaret Atwood, "speculative fiction".
Wow... this book is bleak. It's left me utterly depressed.
The beginning was quite slow, so it took me some time to get into it. But once you past the 50 page mark, things start getting interesting. VERY interesting.
One of my favourite things about this novel was the characterisation of Jess, our protagonist. It was so subtle, so slight, only obvious if close attention be paid. You don't realise she's changed until she shocks you. The conformist girl we learn to know at the beginning of the novel is so utterly annihilated by the end, its heartbreaking. But the transformation is so truly necessary.
Also, the German dialect? A brilliant touch (although it was more like a ton-weighted truck load, since it featured so fluently and frequently in the text).
I loved, loved, LOVED the lgbt+ discourse/representation, and the fact that being q***r didn't DEFINE who a character was, only added to their person, alongside a plethora of other traits!!! It was so refreshing!
This is honestly such a fantastic book, WHY AREN'T MORE PEOPLE READING IT???!!! The premise is so fascinating and original!! I would definitely recommend this, especially to those that are intrigued by history, or in the words of Margaret Atwood, "speculative fiction".
September 30, 2015
Two of my favourite kind of books are coming-of-age books and what-if-the-Nazis-won-the-war? books. The Big Lie asks: what if someone came of age in Nazi-occupied England? which for me is pretty much the perfect question for a book to pose.
April 18, 2015
A really excellent and thought-provoking alternate reality about a Britain under Nazi rule. Dark and troubling and extremely clever, this is an absolute must-read book.
July 3, 2019
Trigger warnings: Oppression, homophobia
My Video Review
My Video Review
February 24, 2025
I’ve had this book on my bookshelf for years and something drew me to it this month; and I’m glad I finally decided to read it!
This book is such a clever concept; I’ve never read anything like this before. It’s clear that Mayhew really did her research throughout writing.
This book is written in such a clever way that makes you really think about life and how things could have been.
I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of Jessika and Clementine’s characters and personalities, yet how they complemented each other at the same time.
As it’s set in the modern day (2013) I enjoyed some of the details added to storyline to make it clear. However, there were some storylines that’s some readers might find triggering (i.e. abuse of power)
Following on from this, when looking online I believe this book said the age rating could be for teenagers and young adults; I believe as the way it’s written (with all the changes) if a younger person is reading this, they need to understand that this is not how the history really happened! But it’s how Jessiker and her friends have been told it has happened. While I really enjoyed this concept, I wonder if it might be a little confusing for younger minds.
The book is split into 3 different sections, and I enjoyed how the opening chapter starts with a flash forward, so then we kind of know what we’re building up to.
I didn’t enjoy the last third of the book as much as the others. I felt as though some of the details were left out towards the end and I wanted to catch up with everyone else too. However, I guess it leaves it more open for interpretation about how things ended for everyone.
This book is such a clever concept; I’ve never read anything like this before. It’s clear that Mayhew really did her research throughout writing.
This book is written in such a clever way that makes you really think about life and how things could have been.
I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of Jessika and Clementine’s characters and personalities, yet how they complemented each other at the same time.
As it’s set in the modern day (2013) I enjoyed some of the details added to storyline to make it clear. However, there were some storylines that’s some readers might find triggering (i.e. abuse of power)
Following on from this, when looking online I believe this book said the age rating could be for teenagers and young adults; I believe as the way it’s written (with all the changes) if a younger person is reading this, they need to understand that this is not how the history really happened! But it’s how Jessiker and her friends have been told it has happened. While I really enjoyed this concept, I wonder if it might be a little confusing for younger minds.
The book is split into 3 different sections, and I enjoyed how the opening chapter starts with a flash forward, so then we kind of know what we’re building up to.
I didn’t enjoy the last third of the book as much as the others. I felt as though some of the details were left out towards the end and I wanted to catch up with everyone else too. However, I guess it leaves it more open for interpretation about how things ended for everyone.
April 14, 2020
3.5 stars
This was pretty good, but the writing was just a bit too vague for me to really enjoy it. I really liked the premise - it’s an alternate present, where Britain lost the Battle of Britain, Germany invaded and we are now part of the Greater German Reich. The characters were ok and I liked the development of the MC. It was super spooky, but dystopias work best when you get a lot of worldbuilding - otherwise, what is there to mark them as a dystopian?
This was pretty good, but the writing was just a bit too vague for me to really enjoy it. I really liked the premise - it’s an alternate present, where Britain lost the Battle of Britain, Germany invaded and we are now part of the Greater German Reich. The characters were ok and I liked the development of the MC. It was super spooky, but dystopias work best when you get a lot of worldbuilding - otherwise, what is there to mark them as a dystopian?
November 10, 2018
Trigger warnings: racism, homophobia, antisemitism, torture, violence, fire.
So I bought this book in the middle of 2017 and then promptly put off reading it for the better part of 18 months. Whoops?
It's an interesting concept - the Germans conquered Britain in 1940 and now sixty years later, it's the perfect Aryan colony and our protagonist, Jess, is the perfect daughter of the Reich. Well, apart from the fact that she's attracted to girls...
Look, I wanted to like this. But it was hella mediocre for me for a couple of reasons:
1. Jess is really fucking stupid. It's supposed to be naivety - she's grown up with her father telling her how to act and what's appropriate and she's never questioned any of it. She just...goes along with what she's told. And even when she starts to realise that there's more going on than she thought, she basically writes it all off as a mistake. And it. was. EXHAUSTING.
Add in the fact that I didn't really like any of the characters and that I wasn't entirely convinced by the worldbuilding and this was just...middle of the road.
So I bought this book in the middle of 2017 and then promptly put off reading it for the better part of 18 months. Whoops?
It's an interesting concept - the Germans conquered Britain in 1940 and now sixty years later, it's the perfect Aryan colony and our protagonist, Jess, is the perfect daughter of the Reich. Well, apart from the fact that she's attracted to girls...
Look, I wanted to like this. But it was hella mediocre for me for a couple of reasons:
1. Jess is really fucking stupid. It's supposed to be naivety - she's grown up with her father telling her how to act and what's appropriate and she's never questioned any of it. She just...goes along with what she's told. And even when she starts to realise that there's more going on than she thought, she basically writes it all off as a mistake. And it. was. EXHAUSTING.
Add in the fact that I didn't really like any of the characters and that I wasn't entirely convinced by the worldbuilding and this was just...middle of the road.
March 9, 2021
This could and should have been an excellent read, but it was hindered by a frustrating, unlikable protagonist. I originally thought Jessika was much younger than she was, so had a nasty shock when Fisher propositions her after school that time. (Is this a new trope, by the way? Predatory authority figures trying it on with lesbian students?) I get that she’s been brainwashed by the regime, but other than her ice skating, we weren’t shown any glimmers of a personality or why we should care about her. I didn’t buy her relationship with Clementine - they barely seemed to stand each other, yet she was allegedly the great love of her life, unlike poor GG.
The author also assumes a great deal. I only have a GCSE level knowledge of German, and that was years ago, so the continual lapses into German were maddening. Yes, there’s a glossary of terms at the back, but many readers might not get that far. Mayhew might have done her homework, but she dumps alien concepts on her audience with little to no explanation and just expects them to keep up. As another reader mentions, we’re supposed to know that a cross on somebody’s stomach means they have been sterilised. I don’t think I’m particularly dense, but that went straight over my head; they could have had a conversation instead.
Disappointing.
The author also assumes a great deal. I only have a GCSE level knowledge of German, and that was years ago, so the continual lapses into German were maddening. Yes, there’s a glossary of terms at the back, but many readers might not get that far. Mayhew might have done her homework, but she dumps alien concepts on her audience with little to no explanation and just expects them to keep up. As another reader mentions, we’re supposed to know that a cross on somebody’s stomach means they have been sterilised. I don’t think I’m particularly dense, but that went straight over my head; they could have had a conversation instead.
Disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2023
This book was a big disappointment for me. I would have DNFd it if it weren’t a book a wanted to discuss with others. The plot was disappointing, underwhelming and at times confusing.
December 30, 2021
2.5 stars
This book was... okay. It was recommended to me because I like LGBT books and alternate history books, and this book is a combination of the two. The Big Lie had a good premise: an LGBT girl living in modern day England, but an England that is ruled by Nazis. Unfortunately, the execution wasn't the best. This book was supposed to be about Jess' relationship with Clementine, but they don't really even get along at all. In fact, I didn't care about their relationship. I much preferred Jess with GG. GG was a far more interesting character and she wasn't rude to Jess the whole time. I didn't really care about any of the characters and the plot was kind of boring. This could have been a lot better.
This book was... okay. It was recommended to me because I like LGBT books and alternate history books, and this book is a combination of the two. The Big Lie had a good premise: an LGBT girl living in modern day England, but an England that is ruled by Nazis. Unfortunately, the execution wasn't the best. This book was supposed to be about Jess' relationship with Clementine, but they don't really even get along at all. In fact, I didn't care about their relationship. I much preferred Jess with GG. GG was a far more interesting character and she wasn't rude to Jess the whole time. I didn't really care about any of the characters and the plot was kind of boring. This could have been a lot better.
December 1, 2015
An impressive debut that blends exceptional prose with bold storytelling Mayhew takes risks in her writing--challenging the reader with a main character who is, by design, difficult to love at times. Jessika is, in many ways, as good a person as can hope to exist in this world. She's hardworking, caring, yet still blind to what's going on around her. It would have been easy to make Clementine the main character and thus satisfy our desire to believe that even in a Nazi England we would be rebels, but Mayhew forces us to see things through Jessika's naive--and oddly realistic--viewpoint. The Big Lie is a reminder that those around us who we think we are fully aware of our own conformity are often sadly mistaken.
December 6, 2019
3.5 Stars. Great premise, well written, but honestly I spent a lot of the book confused by what was going on. The timeline is all jumbled and listening to the audiobook probably did not help. The issue of narrator credibility also was made a big deal of in the beginning and end, but ultimately I'm not sure how much it mattered since the book was a bit anticlimactic in the end. My favorite part of the book was the author's amazingly written and insightful notes section at the end of the book. It would be a fantastic essay to teach.
July 13, 2018
I’ve had this in my TBR electronic pile for two years! Brilliantly executed, the authors notes at the end provide incredible insight into her thinking, inspiration and research that I found fascinating. It’s a good choice for students to read after The Handmaid’s tale - really scary to read about another regime with a very restrictive view of women’s place and role in society.
December 30, 2019
DNF 30%
I really wanted to love this book because of the feminist premise, but even though I tried several times to read it (even tried it as audiobook) I couldn't connect with the story.
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I really wanted to love this book because of the feminist premise, but even though I tried several times to read it (even tried it as audiobook) I couldn't connect with the story.
Book Blogger
,
Bookstagramer
and
Speculative Fiction
Writer,
passionate about TrueStory, OwnVoices, Diversity and
Equality.
Find me here: linktr.ee/d.ark.studio
Email: contactme@danielaark.com
June 19, 2019
This is a book that I simultaneously enjoyed and feel confused about. Jessika is such a convincing and strong character, all of the characters have just so much conviction--and yet it feels strange to not only entertain and alternative history that leads to Nazi Germany still being in existence today, but it also feels weird to follow a protagonist who, at the beginning, is so clearly on the wrong side of history.
But I feel like these narratives are so needed, despite any of my apprehension. Yes, we love our radicals, but what about our protagonists who realize that what they've been doing their whole lives is wrong? The protagonists who commit little, tiny acts of treason every now and then, who long for the chance to rebel but are too afraid to.
As Jessika and Clementine grow up, the farther they grow apart. Where Clementine is straight, open, and radical, Jessika is a lesbian, demure, and conservative. And all Jessika wants to do is keep Clementine safe--and if that means observing her and reporting her, then so be it.
This whole book was just incredible and intriguing and chronologically fascinating as timelines are weaved with each other, compounding upon each other to build tension. And even the ending is something both satisfying and disturbing--Jessika comes out safe, and yet so many of her dreams and wants are deferred...which she's okay with, because she knows its her penance. And yet even within that frame of disturbing reclamation of her homeland, she finds revolution and rebellion in found books that may or may not have been banned years ago.
Sometimes, we must make do with what we have, and we must make do while keeping ourselves safe. It's a hard lesson to learn, especially when I feel that we as a society are now so used to the trend of strong female protags who take down an evil regime with the help of her friends.
Overall, this book is well worth the read. It's intriguing, it makes you think, it offers a scary look at what could have been--and what may be today in the United States.
Review cross-listed here!
But I feel like these narratives are so needed, despite any of my apprehension. Yes, we love our radicals, but what about our protagonists who realize that what they've been doing their whole lives is wrong? The protagonists who commit little, tiny acts of treason every now and then, who long for the chance to rebel but are too afraid to.
As Jessika and Clementine grow up, the farther they grow apart. Where Clementine is straight, open, and radical, Jessika is a lesbian, demure, and conservative. And all Jessika wants to do is keep Clementine safe--and if that means observing her and reporting her, then so be it.
This whole book was just incredible and intriguing and chronologically fascinating as timelines are weaved with each other, compounding upon each other to build tension. And even the ending is something both satisfying and disturbing--Jessika comes out safe, and yet so many of her dreams and wants are deferred...which she's okay with, because she knows its her penance. And yet even within that frame of disturbing reclamation of her homeland, she finds revolution and rebellion in found books that may or may not have been banned years ago.
Sometimes, we must make do with what we have, and we must make do while keeping ourselves safe. It's a hard lesson to learn, especially when I feel that we as a society are now so used to the trend of strong female protags who take down an evil regime with the help of her friends.
Overall, this book is well worth the read. It's intriguing, it makes you think, it offers a scary look at what could have been--and what may be today in the United States.
Review cross-listed here!
March 12, 2023
Esta se trata de la segunda lectura de mi clase de máster sobre historia alternativa y ucronías, y debo de decir que me ha gustado bastante 😊
En esta novela se plantea cómo sería Reino Unido si Alemania hubiera conquistado prácticamente toda Europa (las islas británicas también) y aun a día de hoy siguiera existiendo el Tercer Reich. La protagonista, Jessika, es una adolescente lesbiana que cree en el estado nazi... hasta que ve muy de cerca cómo crean sus mentiras para fundamentar sus mensajes de odio y así aislar a su población del resto del mundo.
Me ha enganchado bastante desde el principio, su trama clara y sus transiciones ligeras. La forma en la que la narradora va mostrando cómo es la vida de una mujer dentro del nazismo (donde se espera que sea madre, que siempre se vea bonita y que no trabaje fuera de casa o del ámbito doméstico, etc.), así como las "técnicas de conversión" para personas homosexuales o las purgas de gente que tenga enfermedades o síndromes mentales, me ha parecido tanto brutal como muy realista. No podemos olvidar lo que el nazismo defendía, así como no podemos olvidar lo que hoy en día sus descendientes en ideología intentan instaurar en nuestras sociedades. Todas las libertades que tenemos hoy, que tanto han costado conseguir, se pueden esfumar fácilmente si lo permitimos. Y qué rabia da que para lo que nosotros es una ucronia, para otros sea una horrible realidad.
Sin duda, recomiendo esta novela, para todos los públicos.
En esta novela se plantea cómo sería Reino Unido si Alemania hubiera conquistado prácticamente toda Europa (las islas británicas también) y aun a día de hoy siguiera existiendo el Tercer Reich. La protagonista, Jessika, es una adolescente lesbiana que cree en el estado nazi... hasta que ve muy de cerca cómo crean sus mentiras para fundamentar sus mensajes de odio y así aislar a su población del resto del mundo.
Me ha enganchado bastante desde el principio, su trama clara y sus transiciones ligeras. La forma en la que la narradora va mostrando cómo es la vida de una mujer dentro del nazismo (donde se espera que sea madre, que siempre se vea bonita y que no trabaje fuera de casa o del ámbito doméstico, etc.), así como las "técnicas de conversión" para personas homosexuales o las purgas de gente que tenga enfermedades o síndromes mentales, me ha parecido tanto brutal como muy realista. No podemos olvidar lo que el nazismo defendía, así como no podemos olvidar lo que hoy en día sus descendientes en ideología intentan instaurar en nuestras sociedades. Todas las libertades que tenemos hoy, que tanto han costado conseguir, se pueden esfumar fácilmente si lo permitimos. Y qué rabia da que para lo que nosotros es una ucronia, para otros sea una horrible realidad.
Sin duda, recomiendo esta novela, para todos los públicos.
Read
April 17, 2018There's no lie involved when I write that this teen novel is one of the best that I've read in a long time. In this clever, alternative history tale, we are introduced to present day England under the rule of the Third Reich. Teen-aged Jessika loves to figure skate and hopes to follow that sport as her career. She also struggles mightily to be a good girl, following the exacting standards that society and her father in particular have set before her. But, what can she do when she finds that her neighbor (and first love), Clementine, has a rebellious nature and a family that doesn't want to conform? A thought-provoking novel, indeed! -Louisa A.
December 27, 2015
Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.
I cannot even begin to tell you how incredible The Big Lie by Julie Mayhew is. An alt-history novel about what the world would be like today if the Nazis won World War II, this book is extremely thought-provoking, and unbelievably scary.
If you really think about, WWII wasn't that long ago. It ended only 70 years ago, no matter how far in the past it might seem to some of us. The Big Lie shows us the possible present world we could be living in had the Nazis won, and the world we're shown is terrifying - not just because of how awful it is, but because this could be our lives. It's not a dystopian novel set in very distant future, it's set now. Present day with a different past.
I don't want to talk too much about the plot, because this is very much a story whose horrors you shouldn't be prepared for, but I will talk about the important aspects of the book. The book is split into two parts. The first part - the only part I feel comfortable discussing without spoiling the story - shows us the history of Jess and Clem's friendship, and just exactly who these two girls are. Jess does her best to be the very best daughter of Germany she can be. She's passionate about doing what's right, and has such a huge love of Germany. Even though they live in Britain, it is now a German country, which is governed by the Fuhrer, who is worshipped like a god-like figure. The amount of brainwashing that has gone on through the years since the war is astounding. Britain is not a country "suffering" under the rule of the Fuhrer, but a country that was saved from it's corrupt government before Hitler freed it. The devotion Jess feels to her country and her role in society - as a young woman who will eventually be wife and mother, and who will keep her home and raise her children while her family works.
Clem, on the other hand is from an outspoken family who haven't been so brainwashed by all they've been fed. They have strange ideas that step outside the rules. Clem's family want change, and have brought up their daughter to think for herself and to question what she's told. So whereas Jess is blindly led by her authority figures - her parents and the leaders of her Bund Deutscher Mädel (the Nazi female youth organisation) - Clem can see what's not being said. And when she becomes victim to the rules of Nazi run Britain - having been given her date for the removal of her womb, as there's a chance she might produce "defective" children because her mother gave birth to an "imperfect" son who was taken away and killed (we're never really told exactly what problems their son had) - the whole family, and Clem in particular will not be silent.
The Big Lie has huge themes running throughout, and covers feminist issues, morality, deep female friendship, and questions about loyalty - to country, to your beliefs, to your friends. One wonderful aspect covered is Jess' questions about her sexual identity. I think I might be safe in saying Jess is a lesbian, but a label is never given, and Jess doesn't think about "homosexuality" in any real words. It's just her feelings and who she's attracted to, and who she falls in love with. Without spoiling the story, there is the possibility that Jess is bisexual; as I said, no labels are given, and there are moments with male characters, but I read those moments as Jess trying to be "normal", fit in, and stop feeling ashamed. There may be others who may have read it differently, though. Either way, the look at sexuality, discovering what and who you like, on it's own and in the world Jess lives in, was dealt with brilliantly.
What I also found really difficult to deal with was the Historical Notes on The Big Lie that comes at the end of the book. Mayhew talks about the various elements of the book that are true; the beliefs and actions of the Nazis being as they were back in WWII, but also the elements of the book that comes from present day world events. These appalling and disturbing events aren't from a period of history, they're happening today. We might think we live in a different world now, but we do not. Yes, we might be more accepting than we were, we might be, in some ways, better, but there a lot of things that simply have not changed, and there are injustices people are having to live with everyday. I implore you to read The Big Lie, and also to read Historical Notes on the Big Lie afterwards, and have your eyes opened to what is happening in the world, if you didn't already know, and think about this world we live in. I said at the beginning that this book is terrifying because this could have been our lives, but the truth of the matter is, in some parts of the world, for some people, this is their lives, this is their present.
An incredible and harrowing novel, The Big Lie is not a book to pass up, and not one, once read, you'll be able to ignore.
Thank you to Hot Key Books via NetGalley for the eProof.
I cannot even begin to tell you how incredible The Big Lie by Julie Mayhew is. An alt-history novel about what the world would be like today if the Nazis won World War II, this book is extremely thought-provoking, and unbelievably scary.
If you really think about, WWII wasn't that long ago. It ended only 70 years ago, no matter how far in the past it might seem to some of us. The Big Lie shows us the possible present world we could be living in had the Nazis won, and the world we're shown is terrifying - not just because of how awful it is, but because this could be our lives. It's not a dystopian novel set in very distant future, it's set now. Present day with a different past.
I don't want to talk too much about the plot, because this is very much a story whose horrors you shouldn't be prepared for, but I will talk about the important aspects of the book. The book is split into two parts. The first part - the only part I feel comfortable discussing without spoiling the story - shows us the history of Jess and Clem's friendship, and just exactly who these two girls are. Jess does her best to be the very best daughter of Germany she can be. She's passionate about doing what's right, and has such a huge love of Germany. Even though they live in Britain, it is now a German country, which is governed by the Fuhrer, who is worshipped like a god-like figure. The amount of brainwashing that has gone on through the years since the war is astounding. Britain is not a country "suffering" under the rule of the Fuhrer, but a country that was saved from it's corrupt government before Hitler freed it. The devotion Jess feels to her country and her role in society - as a young woman who will eventually be wife and mother, and who will keep her home and raise her children while her family works.
Clem, on the other hand is from an outspoken family who haven't been so brainwashed by all they've been fed. They have strange ideas that step outside the rules. Clem's family want change, and have brought up their daughter to think for herself and to question what she's told. So whereas Jess is blindly led by her authority figures - her parents and the leaders of her Bund Deutscher Mädel (the Nazi female youth organisation) - Clem can see what's not being said. And when she becomes victim to the rules of Nazi run Britain - having been given her date for the removal of her womb, as there's a chance she might produce "defective" children because her mother gave birth to an "imperfect" son who was taken away and killed (we're never really told exactly what problems their son had) - the whole family, and Clem in particular will not be silent.
The Big Lie has huge themes running throughout, and covers feminist issues, morality, deep female friendship, and questions about loyalty - to country, to your beliefs, to your friends. One wonderful aspect covered is Jess' questions about her sexual identity. I think I might be safe in saying Jess is a lesbian, but a label is never given, and Jess doesn't think about "homosexuality" in any real words. It's just her feelings and who she's attracted to, and who she falls in love with. Without spoiling the story, there is the possibility that Jess is bisexual; as I said, no labels are given, and there are moments with male characters, but I read those moments as Jess trying to be "normal", fit in, and stop feeling ashamed. There may be others who may have read it differently, though. Either way, the look at sexuality, discovering what and who you like, on it's own and in the world Jess lives in, was dealt with brilliantly.
What I also found really difficult to deal with was the Historical Notes on The Big Lie that comes at the end of the book. Mayhew talks about the various elements of the book that are true; the beliefs and actions of the Nazis being as they were back in WWII, but also the elements of the book that comes from present day world events. These appalling and disturbing events aren't from a period of history, they're happening today. We might think we live in a different world now, but we do not. Yes, we might be more accepting than we were, we might be, in some ways, better, but there a lot of things that simply have not changed, and there are injustices people are having to live with everyday. I implore you to read The Big Lie, and also to read Historical Notes on the Big Lie afterwards, and have your eyes opened to what is happening in the world, if you didn't already know, and think about this world we live in. I said at the beginning that this book is terrifying because this could have been our lives, but the truth of the matter is, in some parts of the world, for some people, this is their lives, this is their present.
An incredible and harrowing novel, The Big Lie is not a book to pass up, and not one, once read, you'll be able to ignore.
Thank you to Hot Key Books via NetGalley for the eProof.
July 3, 2020
My Rating 3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
"You question EVERYTHING. Just because you can. Because it's right there in the laws of your land. But is there nothing you'd greet with a simple Yeah, Okay, fine? What if the love of your friends depended upon it? The love of your family? Would you tell a lie? People who are good don't lie, but a good person might, quite reasonably, leave out something that they didn't realize was really very crucial to everyone else. That isn't a lie. But it can be as bad as telling a lie, I have come to understand."
This book I went into it knowing as little as possible because it would be modern time in Nazi Europe. Having said that this book won't be for everyone. If you don't like reading alternate history or what could have happened if the Nazi's would have won don't read it.
Also, this book is very white and is true to what the Nazi's were going for during WWII. This book is very bleak most of the time. The best I can compare it to is kind of like what North Korea currently is thought to be, or what we kind of know Soviet Russia being before it fell. The Big Lie world is one that is very controlled and everyone must do their part for the Reich just like how it was during WWII for the Nazi's.
Now there is no fighting and instead, they are all living 'normal' lives. Neighbors still report neighbors and kids go to special schools and have meetings they attend after. It seemed like very little had changed since the war. Jessika is a character that was seen as the good girl and did what she was told, but she had a secret of her own, one that could get her killed. She is on the LGBT spectrum and that isn't allowed. So instead she hides it as best as she can and she goes about 'normal' life. She is one of the best ice skaters and is set to represent her country. But she's also friends with someone who isn't who they say they are and after a while, things start going terribly wrong. For both of the girls because of this.
The Big Lie is told in memories that 2014 Jess is reliving. We see her go from a teenager and living her life, to being held in a camp because of what she does. We see her start a new life after she proves she is good again. But most importantly throughout all of this Jess manages to still keep who she is and she learns a lot about how her country works to control EVERYTHING and why.
Overall I have mixed feelings about this book. I always find alternate history books fascinating and terrifying all at the same time. I really liked seeing LGBT in this book and how it was handled while not the way we want it to be handled was true to what the Nazis believed. LGBT isn't something we've seen very often in Historical Fiction books and seeing it talked about is good and I hope it continues. As for the rest of the book, it was terrifying to think of something like this having happened to Europe. So many more lives would have been destroyed and the aftermath of it is one that I don't want to think of. I do want to say Mayhew made it seem very real and the way she had it all explained while a little confusing worked. I did get a little confused with the timeline though at times, but I just think that's because I had an ARC so some things weren't always marked.
"I am good Jessika and Bad. All of it is in me. But I am whole. And I am here."
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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
"You question EVERYTHING. Just because you can. Because it's right there in the laws of your land. But is there nothing you'd greet with a simple Yeah, Okay, fine? What if the love of your friends depended upon it? The love of your family? Would you tell a lie? People who are good don't lie, but a good person might, quite reasonably, leave out something that they didn't realize was really very crucial to everyone else. That isn't a lie. But it can be as bad as telling a lie, I have come to understand."
This book I went into it knowing as little as possible because it would be modern time in Nazi Europe. Having said that this book won't be for everyone. If you don't like reading alternate history or what could have happened if the Nazi's would have won don't read it.
Also, this book is very white and is true to what the Nazi's were going for during WWII. This book is very bleak most of the time. The best I can compare it to is kind of like what North Korea currently is thought to be, or what we kind of know Soviet Russia being before it fell. The Big Lie world is one that is very controlled and everyone must do their part for the Reich just like how it was during WWII for the Nazi's.
Now there is no fighting and instead, they are all living 'normal' lives. Neighbors still report neighbors and kids go to special schools and have meetings they attend after. It seemed like very little had changed since the war. Jessika is a character that was seen as the good girl and did what she was told, but she had a secret of her own, one that could get her killed. She is on the LGBT spectrum and that isn't allowed. So instead she hides it as best as she can and she goes about 'normal' life. She is one of the best ice skaters and is set to represent her country. But she's also friends with someone who isn't who they say they are and after a while, things start going terribly wrong. For both of the girls because of this.
The Big Lie is told in memories that 2014 Jess is reliving. We see her go from a teenager and living her life, to being held in a camp because of what she does. We see her start a new life after she proves she is good again. But most importantly throughout all of this Jess manages to still keep who she is and she learns a lot about how her country works to control EVERYTHING and why.
Overall I have mixed feelings about this book. I always find alternate history books fascinating and terrifying all at the same time. I really liked seeing LGBT in this book and how it was handled while not the way we want it to be handled was true to what the Nazis believed. LGBT isn't something we've seen very often in Historical Fiction books and seeing it talked about is good and I hope it continues. As for the rest of the book, it was terrifying to think of something like this having happened to Europe. So many more lives would have been destroyed and the aftermath of it is one that I don't want to think of. I do want to say Mayhew made it seem very real and the way she had it all explained while a little confusing worked. I did get a little confused with the timeline though at times, but I just think that's because I had an ARC so some things weren't always marked.
"I am good Jessika and Bad. All of it is in me. But I am whole. And I am here."
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March 14, 2017
I thought that the book, The big lie, was a very interesting novel. It a mix between word war and romance. I do recommend this book as it is also education rich.
the novel does also include german which i thought was helpful, as a mother tongue
german
There was even German conjugation, meaning, the German was adapted to the grammatical cases.
the novel does also include german which i thought was helpful, as a mother tongue
german
There was even German conjugation, meaning, the German was adapted to the grammatical cases.
July 26, 2015
I loved The Big Lie to a point that I don't think I'm going to do it justice in this review. Just hearing the concept of the book was enough to make me excited, and I think often it's a case where the premise sounds better than the actual story. Fortunately, The Big Lie was an exception to that.
Jessika was a really interesting protagonist, she came with many layers, though I don't think she was always aware of that. She spends the entire novel walking the fine line between what she has been told is right, and what she knows morally is right. She's seen as a good girl, but in Nazi England, that doesn't always equate to doing good things. She has a great contrast to her best friend Clementine, who does things that are more ethically correct, but are perceived by Nazi England as evil or disruptive. The scenes between the two worked well because Jessika would always convince herself that they meant only the surface value of their words, where Clementine would always try to encourage her to look deeper, to face reality.
I love how this book drew on some of Hitler's ideals and incorporated them into our time, adapting some regimes to allow for concepts like the internet, supercomputers and iPads. How the concert highlighted the key differences between what we know as normal and what would be different should Hitler have won the war - the relationship with America for instance, or how history would recall Churchill. How Dunkirk would have been recorded differently, the propaganda covering the treatment of Jews, the disabled and anyone homosexual. The merging of our languages so that the English would become bilingual, even as Germany removed the British identity.
As Jessika's story goes on, right up to the conclusion, you see her lose the innocence that she's grasping on to, unwilling to see the truth of her life and her situation, and you can see that with that loss of innocence there's a lack of trust in others, because you never know who would sell you out to the Gestapo/British equivalent.
I thought Jessika's family life was interesting too, because at the beginning we're led to believe she lives in a normal family, but as the story goes on and reality becomes clearer, it's obvious that the happy family she's tried to paint is as much a lie as everything else in her world.
I'm actually quite sad I finished it already. It's definitely a book you can read over and over again.
Jessika was a really interesting protagonist, she came with many layers, though I don't think she was always aware of that. She spends the entire novel walking the fine line between what she has been told is right, and what she knows morally is right. She's seen as a good girl, but in Nazi England, that doesn't always equate to doing good things. She has a great contrast to her best friend Clementine, who does things that are more ethically correct, but are perceived by Nazi England as evil or disruptive. The scenes between the two worked well because Jessika would always convince herself that they meant only the surface value of their words, where Clementine would always try to encourage her to look deeper, to face reality.
I love how this book drew on some of Hitler's ideals and incorporated them into our time, adapting some regimes to allow for concepts like the internet, supercomputers and iPads. How the concert highlighted the key differences between what we know as normal and what would be different should Hitler have won the war - the relationship with America for instance, or how history would recall Churchill. How Dunkirk would have been recorded differently, the propaganda covering the treatment of Jews, the disabled and anyone homosexual. The merging of our languages so that the English would become bilingual, even as Germany removed the British identity.
As Jessika's story goes on, right up to the conclusion, you see her lose the innocence that she's grasping on to, unwilling to see the truth of her life and her situation, and you can see that with that loss of innocence there's a lack of trust in others, because you never know who would sell you out to the Gestapo/British equivalent.
I thought Jessika's family life was interesting too, because at the beginning we're led to believe she lives in a normal family, but as the story goes on and reality becomes clearer, it's obvious that the happy family she's tried to paint is as much a lie as everything else in her world.
I'm actually quite sad I finished it already. It's definitely a book you can read over and over again.
August 7, 2015
The Big Lie is an interesting and thought provoking coming of age story about teenage Jessica. An alternative Britain is defeated in WW2 and the Germans now run it as part of their current day extended state. Living in England she is trying to follow the rules while pleasing her parents and Herr Fisher at the Bund Deutscher Mädel meetings. She’s also training to be a champion ice skater but struggling with her feelings and emotions finding she is attracted to some of her girlfriends. This she knows this will not be tolerated under Nazi laws and it leaves her confused, resisting and fearful.
The main object of her attraction is her best friend the girl next-door. Her neighbour Clementine is a bit of a rebel. Clementine doesn’t accept the regimes worldview or agree to tow the party line. She is outspoken and is willing to make a stand accepting the consequences. Jessica is left torn between her loyalty to the Fuhrer and her adoration of Clementine who insists the regime is corrupt and it’s all a big lie…
Seeds of doubt are sown in Jessica’s mind and she begins to question what she’s been taught and told. She knows the state won’t allow dissention, that it will be quickly spotted and dealt with swiftly. This book is a fascinating exploration of Jessica’s emotions, fears and thoughts on her developing sexuality, her beliefs and loyalties under a different world order to the one we all know. It’s an imaginative, dark and well written story that contains strong likeable characters and I found it an enjoyable read. I can recommend it for its challenging premise and interesting narrative, it will certainly provide you with plenty to think about. A story that’s well worth a read. (Received ARC)
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