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Les guerres intérieures
Comédien de seconde zone, Pax Monnier a renoncé à ses rêves de gloire, quand son agent l’appelle : un grand réalisateur américain souhaite le rencontrer sans délai. Passé chez lui pour enfiler une veste, des bruits de lutte venus de l’étage supérieur attirent son attention – mais il se persuade que ce n’est rien d’important. À son retour, il apprend qu’un étudiant, Alexis Winckler, a été sauvagement agressé.
Un an plus tard, le comédien fait la connaissance de l’énigmatique Emi Shimizu, et en tombe aussitôt amoureux – ignorant qu’elle est la mère d’Alexis. Bientôt le piège se referme sur Pax, pris dans les tourments de sa culpabilité.
Un an plus tard, le comédien fait la connaissance de l’énigmatique Emi Shimizu, et en tombe aussitôt amoureux – ignorant qu’elle est la mère d’Alexis. Bientôt le piège se referme sur Pax, pris dans les tourments de sa culpabilité.
240 pages, Paperback
First published August 21, 2019
41 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Valérie Tong Cuong
16 books29 followersValérie Tong Cuong est née en banlieue parisienne. Après une adolescence chaotique, elle étudie la littérature et les sciences politiques. Elle travaille huit ans dans la communication puis lâche tout pour se consacrer à l’écriture (romans, nouvelles, scénarios) et à la musique.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
October 21, 2020
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of
This book via netgalley!
This book keeps you on the edge of each page as you navigate through the impact a decision can make in the lives of
Multiple people. You navigate between anger, sadness and empathy. At the end of the day, as humans we all make mistakes but as we see firsthand the snowball effect This can have on loved ones, are we willing to sacrifice everything to finally reveal the truth and do the right thing for
Them? Are we that selfless? This book explores this aspect of humans in a great way.
This book via netgalley!
This book keeps you on the edge of each page as you navigate through the impact a decision can make in the lives of
Multiple people. You navigate between anger, sadness and empathy. At the end of the day, as humans we all make mistakes but as we see firsthand the snowball effect This can have on loved ones, are we willing to sacrifice everything to finally reveal the truth and do the right thing for
Them? Are we that selfless? This book explores this aspect of humans in a great way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2020
I just couldn’t read all of this book. I managed a third and it just didn’t hold any interest for me.
The cover hints at it being twisty and a real page turner but really, from what I read was just a lot of inner dialogue and no motion. In the third of the book that I read there was hardly any verbal interaction between characters. There was so much description and detail offered for individuals past and their families relationships that the author seems to have forgotten to provide a story to move forward with.
I’m not sure why this was listed under crime/mystery. Yes, there is a crime committed at the beginning, but really it felt more aligned with troubled romance.
Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review and apologies that I did not finish. Life’s too short to read books you don’t enjoy.
The cover hints at it being twisty and a real page turner but really, from what I read was just a lot of inner dialogue and no motion. In the third of the book that I read there was hardly any verbal interaction between characters. There was so much description and detail offered for individuals past and their families relationships that the author seems to have forgotten to provide a story to move forward with.
I’m not sure why this was listed under crime/mystery. Yes, there is a crime committed at the beginning, but really it felt more aligned with troubled romance.
Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review and apologies that I did not finish. Life’s too short to read books you don’t enjoy.
June 27, 2020
When Pax, a middle-aged second-rate actor, scores an audition for a blockbuster, he is convinced fate has taken pity on him and he will finally get to spend some time in the limelight. He leaves his flat in a hurry, ignoring the alarming sounds coming from the apartment above.
He is beside himself when he learns what devastating consequences his decision had: not only was his neighbour Alex assaulted and left for dead, he is also his girlfriend Emi's son.
Pax is faced with an impossible choice: should he continue to deceive Emi, the one person who always believed in him, or tell the truth and destroy their relationship?
This was a quick read for me and an enjoyable one too!
The narration of this plot wasn't that good but it was a very thought provoking book. Sometimes we take selfish decisions in our life without realising the consequences it might create and how it might come back to haunt us later in life.
I wish the ending would have been a little better and more elaborate but this book is definitely worth a read !!
Thank You to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC!!
He is beside himself when he learns what devastating consequences his decision had: not only was his neighbour Alex assaulted and left for dead, he is also his girlfriend Emi's son.
Pax is faced with an impossible choice: should he continue to deceive Emi, the one person who always believed in him, or tell the truth and destroy their relationship?
This was a quick read for me and an enjoyable one too!
The narration of this plot wasn't that good but it was a very thought provoking book. Sometimes we take selfish decisions in our life without realising the consequences it might create and how it might come back to haunt us later in life.
I wish the ending would have been a little better and more elaborate but this book is definitely worth a read !!
Thank You to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC!!
August 23, 2020
A second-rate actor leaves his flat in hot pursuit of a part in promising blockbuster film, but on leaving, hears noises from the flat above which don't sound good. He makes the decision to go to the audition anyway, then later discovers that his actions resulted in dreadful consequences. His neighbour Alex, who is also his girlfriend, Emi Shimizu's son, was attacked and left for dead. Now, Pax Monnier is faced with the awful choice of continuing to keep quiet about the assault, thus deceiving forty-four year old Emi who has always believed in him, or telling the truth thereby destroying their great relationship.
In The Lies I Never Told You themes of guilt and human weakness are explored. In a moving narrative between past and present day, the reader is treated to an intense slow-burn thriller. Amongst the veritable cocktail of emotions, including trauma, fear and self-esteem lurks affable, tormented Pax, and beautiful, efficient, and capable Emi. Valérie Tong Cuong's in depth descriptions of each characters' psyches are intimate and brilliantly explored. A captivating, powerful and very highly recommended, if short, compelling contemporary tale.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley, and this review is my unbiased opinion.
In The Lies I Never Told You themes of guilt and human weakness are explored. In a moving narrative between past and present day, the reader is treated to an intense slow-burn thriller. Amongst the veritable cocktail of emotions, including trauma, fear and self-esteem lurks affable, tormented Pax, and beautiful, efficient, and capable Emi. Valérie Tong Cuong's in depth descriptions of each characters' psyches are intimate and brilliantly explored. A captivating, powerful and very highly recommended, if short, compelling contemporary tale.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley, and this review is my unbiased opinion.
June 30, 2020
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Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing me an ARC of this book!
I’ll be honest. When I started reading this book, I thought it very bumpy, mainly due to the narration. As it is a French translation, I was unsure if I would like it or not. However, since the book is relatively short, I continued reading. I am SO glad I did because I loved the story!
The story starts off bumpy but picked up once Pax meets Emi, and later when Alex enters the story. The author portrayed their emotions beautifully. Each character goes through a harrowing experience, because of which they suffer with inferiority, guilt, trauma or fear. They all fight their own inner demons, but don’t realize that they are overcoming their burdens when they are with each other.
Pax is amazing and the highlight of the story. I loved how involved he becomes with Emi and Alex’s lives. You can see him slowly start to change, and try to overcome being a coward to do what is right. Alex is also a wonderful character who you immediately love and root for. The author has written his emotions accurately, and I can only imagine survivors in real life being brave to live each day fighting their battles.
The story is short and simple, but yet so compelling. After reading this book, I feel like watching the movie “Dallas Buyers Club” since the author mentions it multiple times. Overall, The Lies I Never Told You is a beautiful contemporary tale of fighting your battles.
September 16, 2019
Attention coup de coeur de la rentrée 💖
Pax Monnier est un acteur de seconde zone mais tout peut changer car il vient de recevoir le coup de fil qu'il n'attendait plus. Un grand réalisateur, Peter Sveberg veut le voir pour lui proposer un rôle dans une heure top chrono !
Juste le temps de rentrer chez lui se changer pour arriver à l'heure au rendez-vous qui pourrait changer sa vie.
Rentré chez lui, il entend un cri, des bruits de lutte dans l'appartement du dessus , il hésite à aller voir ce qui se passe, concentré, conditionné par son important rendez-vous. Il s'en va à 16h36 croisant un homme dans l'escalier.
De retour de son audition, il apprend qu'un jeune homme, Alexis Winckler, son voisin, a été violemment tabassé, grièvement blessé, dans le coma.
Une culpabilité le ronge, témoigner ou pas ? Il sera interrogé pourtant et dira qu'il n'a rien entendu de particulier, qu'il n'était pas présent à cette heure-là. Qu'est-ce que cela aurait changé, il n'a rien vu.
Il décide de déménager.
Emi Shimizu est ce qu'on appelle une "half" , elle a les traits asiatiques et est de culture française. elle se sent étrangère où qu'elle vive. Elle travaille aux ressources humaines d'une société de déménagement. Elle est sous pression depuis les deux décès par accident survenus dans son entreprise. Emi souhaiterait organiser une formation aux risques psychosociaux.
C'est dans ce cadre qu'elle rencontre Pax Monnier. L'alchimie se fera et une relation commencera, très vite elle lui parlera de son fils Alexis - il apprendra que celui-ci a perdu la vue de son oeil droit suite à une agression à domicile, mettant fin à son rêve de devenir pilote. Si on était intervenu plus vite, sa vie aurait été tout autre...
Douche froide pour Monnier qui déjà était hanté par cette histoire, sa culpabilité est décuplée, il va devoir vivre avec.
Alexis est terrorisé, il ne veut plus voir personne, ne se souvenant pas de son agresseur. Il le voit partout. Ses rêves se sont écroulés. Pax va essayer de l'aider mais est enfermé dans ce sentiment de culpabilité..
Au départ de cette situation, Valérie Tong Cuong nous décrit à merveille la psychologie de chacun des personnages. Elle nous parle des lâchetés ordinaires. De ces petites choses qui nous concernent tous, qui de nous n'en a jamais été acteur ? Nous sommes tous concernés mais le sentiment de culpabilité ne nous ronge que lorsque nous nous rendons compte des conséquences que peuvent avoir ou non nos actes ou notre inertie.
La plume est fluide, captive, sensible, elle nous conduit au plus profond de nous mêmes face à la prise de conscience de nos actes. Elle nous fait ressentir les culpabilités et émotions de chacun. Le récit est remarquable, on est suspendu et surpris jusqu'au terme.
C'est humain, magnifique, un véritable coup de coeur de cette rentrée.
Ma note : ♥♥♥♥♥
Merci à NetGalley et JC Lattès pour cette belle découverte.
Les jolies phrases
Vivre est un risque.
Ce qui me fascine c'est la précarité de l'intermittence qui vont de pair.
Il est apparu dans des productions complaisantes et s'est gâché, oubliant que c'est le rôle qui révèle le talent et non le talent qui fait la force du rôle. Il a négligé l'importance du désir, qui requiert une combinaison fragile de rareté, de qualité et d'exigence.
Il est la source de son énergie tout comme elle est la sienne.
Certaines traces ne disparaissent jamais tout à fait.
Le collier est serré et la laisse courte, mais le chien est méchant, et pas si bête, il mordra les maîtres avant de crever.
Elle sait construire les forteresses, les barrages, les digues, mais ignore comment libérer les trop-pleins.
Elle possédait une énergie singulière et surprenante pour un être aux racines flottantes, se laissait entamer mais jamais abattre, progressant avec l'horizon en point de mire, ralentissant parfois face aux vent ou aux murs, ajustant son trajet et ses objectifs aux aléas de l'existence. C'est ce fonctionnement unique qui l'a sauvée de l'abîme, hier comme aujourd'hui.
Une héroïne est courageuse, or elle s'estime guidée selon le cas par la peur, la nécessité, le devoir ou l'amour, mais par le courage, ça non.
Tout bien pesé, il n'était pas pire qu'un autre. Tout était question d'occasion, cette occasion équilibrerait le monstre sommeillant en chacun de nous. La lâcheté était peut-être le caractère le mieux partagé dans ce monde : chacun l'expérimentait tôt ou tard, d'une manière ou d'une autre, et s'empressait aussitôt de la dissimuler.
Il est une route traversée d'un ravin sans fond ni pont pour relier les deux rives : celle de la vie d'autrefois et celle de la vie à venir.
De surcroît, cela pourrait consolider un édifice bâti sur un trompe-l'oeil. Ainsi en va-t-il des rumeurs, plus on additionne les voix qui les chuchotent, plus le faux devient le vrai.
Or la solitude, ce sont des pensées importantes, pleines de sens, c'est la contemplation, le calme, la sagesse.
L'impossibilité de connaître la vérité. C'est ce qui les tue : savoir que cette vérité existe, mais qu'ils n'y ont pas accès.
Il y a seulement deux poids dans la balance, d'un côté la vérité brute, l'honneur et la chute, de l'autre le confort, la honte et la trahison.
https://nathavh49.blogspot.com/2019/0...
Pax Monnier est un acteur de seconde zone mais tout peut changer car il vient de recevoir le coup de fil qu'il n'attendait plus. Un grand réalisateur, Peter Sveberg veut le voir pour lui proposer un rôle dans une heure top chrono !
Juste le temps de rentrer chez lui se changer pour arriver à l'heure au rendez-vous qui pourrait changer sa vie.
Rentré chez lui, il entend un cri, des bruits de lutte dans l'appartement du dessus , il hésite à aller voir ce qui se passe, concentré, conditionné par son important rendez-vous. Il s'en va à 16h36 croisant un homme dans l'escalier.
De retour de son audition, il apprend qu'un jeune homme, Alexis Winckler, son voisin, a été violemment tabassé, grièvement blessé, dans le coma.
Une culpabilité le ronge, témoigner ou pas ? Il sera interrogé pourtant et dira qu'il n'a rien entendu de particulier, qu'il n'était pas présent à cette heure-là. Qu'est-ce que cela aurait changé, il n'a rien vu.
Il décide de déménager.
Emi Shimizu est ce qu'on appelle une "half" , elle a les traits asiatiques et est de culture française. elle se sent étrangère où qu'elle vive. Elle travaille aux ressources humaines d'une société de déménagement. Elle est sous pression depuis les deux décès par accident survenus dans son entreprise. Emi souhaiterait organiser une formation aux risques psychosociaux.
C'est dans ce cadre qu'elle rencontre Pax Monnier. L'alchimie se fera et une relation commencera, très vite elle lui parlera de son fils Alexis - il apprendra que celui-ci a perdu la vue de son oeil droit suite à une agression à domicile, mettant fin à son rêve de devenir pilote. Si on était intervenu plus vite, sa vie aurait été tout autre...
Douche froide pour Monnier qui déjà était hanté par cette histoire, sa culpabilité est décuplée, il va devoir vivre avec.
Alexis est terrorisé, il ne veut plus voir personne, ne se souvenant pas de son agresseur. Il le voit partout. Ses rêves se sont écroulés. Pax va essayer de l'aider mais est enfermé dans ce sentiment de culpabilité..
Au départ de cette situation, Valérie Tong Cuong nous décrit à merveille la psychologie de chacun des personnages. Elle nous parle des lâchetés ordinaires. De ces petites choses qui nous concernent tous, qui de nous n'en a jamais été acteur ? Nous sommes tous concernés mais le sentiment de culpabilité ne nous ronge que lorsque nous nous rendons compte des conséquences que peuvent avoir ou non nos actes ou notre inertie.
La plume est fluide, captive, sensible, elle nous conduit au plus profond de nous mêmes face à la prise de conscience de nos actes. Elle nous fait ressentir les culpabilités et émotions de chacun. Le récit est remarquable, on est suspendu et surpris jusqu'au terme.
C'est humain, magnifique, un véritable coup de coeur de cette rentrée.
Ma note : ♥♥♥♥♥
Merci à NetGalley et JC Lattès pour cette belle découverte.
Les jolies phrases
Vivre est un risque.
Ce qui me fascine c'est la précarité de l'intermittence qui vont de pair.
Il est apparu dans des productions complaisantes et s'est gâché, oubliant que c'est le rôle qui révèle le talent et non le talent qui fait la force du rôle. Il a négligé l'importance du désir, qui requiert une combinaison fragile de rareté, de qualité et d'exigence.
Il est la source de son énergie tout comme elle est la sienne.
Certaines traces ne disparaissent jamais tout à fait.
Le collier est serré et la laisse courte, mais le chien est méchant, et pas si bête, il mordra les maîtres avant de crever.
Elle sait construire les forteresses, les barrages, les digues, mais ignore comment libérer les trop-pleins.
Elle possédait une énergie singulière et surprenante pour un être aux racines flottantes, se laissait entamer mais jamais abattre, progressant avec l'horizon en point de mire, ralentissant parfois face aux vent ou aux murs, ajustant son trajet et ses objectifs aux aléas de l'existence. C'est ce fonctionnement unique qui l'a sauvée de l'abîme, hier comme aujourd'hui.
Une héroïne est courageuse, or elle s'estime guidée selon le cas par la peur, la nécessité, le devoir ou l'amour, mais par le courage, ça non.
Tout bien pesé, il n'était pas pire qu'un autre. Tout était question d'occasion, cette occasion équilibrerait le monstre sommeillant en chacun de nous. La lâcheté était peut-être le caractère le mieux partagé dans ce monde : chacun l'expérimentait tôt ou tard, d'une manière ou d'une autre, et s'empressait aussitôt de la dissimuler.
Il est une route traversée d'un ravin sans fond ni pont pour relier les deux rives : celle de la vie d'autrefois et celle de la vie à venir.
De surcroît, cela pourrait consolider un édifice bâti sur un trompe-l'oeil. Ainsi en va-t-il des rumeurs, plus on additionne les voix qui les chuchotent, plus le faux devient le vrai.
Or la solitude, ce sont des pensées importantes, pleines de sens, c'est la contemplation, le calme, la sagesse.
L'impossibilité de connaître la vérité. C'est ce qui les tue : savoir que cette vérité existe, mais qu'ils n'y ont pas accès.
Il y a seulement deux poids dans la balance, d'un côté la vérité brute, l'honneur et la chute, de l'autre le confort, la honte et la trahison.
https://nathavh49.blogspot.com/2019/0...
May 19, 2025
Roman bouleversant qui nous fait entrer dans la tête et le cœur de chacun des personnages.
Il nous invite à nous mettre à la place de chacun et à nous questionner sur la façon dont on aurait réagi face aux situations auxquelles ils font face.
C’est une belle petite de leçon de vie!
Je recommande!
Il nous invite à nous mettre à la place de chacun et à nous questionner sur la façon dont on aurait réagi face aux situations auxquelles ils font face.
C’est une belle petite de leçon de vie!
Je recommande!
July 30, 2020
As a suspenseful thriller -- which is how this book is being advertised -- it's a letdown. There was no suspense, no mystery, and it was slow. However, if it had been marketed as fiction or literary fiction, I probably would have liked it more.
Pax, a wannabe actor, is rushing to a meeting for what he believes will be his big break in the industry after so many years, when he hears a scream and some noise from the apartment above him. He chooses to ignore it in favor of his audition, only later to discover that a young university student was beaten and left for dead. By a twist of fate, Pax ends up in love with the boy's mother, and has to come to terms with how his actions affected all of them.
This is said to be a bestseller in France, so perhaps the slow, plodding nature of the story has something to do with the translation. But, for such a short book, it took me way too long to get through it.
Some of it was compelling -- a middle age man coming to terms with being a failure in his industry and as a human, a young man trying to come to terms with his new normal after being the victim of a random crime, the mother of that child blaming herself for everything and trying to dig herself out of the hole of depression. And there is an underlying commentary on living in a society -- especially a large, busy city like Paris -- where one must balance the desire for an anonymous and solitary life against what one owes to the other members of society.
While interesting as literary fiction, I was really in the mood for a true thriller when I picked up this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this book. It has not influenced my opinion.
Pax, a wannabe actor, is rushing to a meeting for what he believes will be his big break in the industry after so many years, when he hears a scream and some noise from the apartment above him. He chooses to ignore it in favor of his audition, only later to discover that a young university student was beaten and left for dead. By a twist of fate, Pax ends up in love with the boy's mother, and has to come to terms with how his actions affected all of them.
This is said to be a bestseller in France, so perhaps the slow, plodding nature of the story has something to do with the translation. But, for such a short book, it took me way too long to get through it.
Some of it was compelling -- a middle age man coming to terms with being a failure in his industry and as a human, a young man trying to come to terms with his new normal after being the victim of a random crime, the mother of that child blaming herself for everything and trying to dig herself out of the hole of depression. And there is an underlying commentary on living in a society -- especially a large, busy city like Paris -- where one must balance the desire for an anonymous and solitary life against what one owes to the other members of society.
While interesting as literary fiction, I was really in the mood for a true thriller when I picked up this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this book. It has not influenced my opinion.
July 15, 2020
This book is not a thriller nor is it a twisty page turner.
All we got was a whole lot of telling and no showing whatsoever. We were told about events that took place but never got to read it as the reader. This made the book so darn boring.
The writing is stilted. I'm not sure if it's because it's been translated but it was not good. The change of perspectives within paragraphs made it really confusing to follow. Also so many random characters were mentioned at a drop of a hat expecting the reader to know who you're talking about. If you're going to do that then please show us what the characters are feeling, doing, thinking and saying. Don't tell us what they did, felt and thought.
And what the heck was the point of this story anyway?!?! This was quite abysmal.
All we got was a whole lot of telling and no showing whatsoever. We were told about events that took place but never got to read it as the reader. This made the book so darn boring.
The writing is stilted. I'm not sure if it's because it's been translated but it was not good. The change of perspectives within paragraphs made it really confusing to follow. Also so many random characters were mentioned at a drop of a hat expecting the reader to know who you're talking about. If you're going to do that then please show us what the characters are feeling, doing, thinking and saying. Don't tell us what they did, felt and thought.
And what the heck was the point of this story anyway?!?! This was quite abysmal.
July 16, 2020
I had high hopes for this book, having read the blurb, describing “unputdownable” “a rare pearl” “intense and powerful novel”
Unfortunately, I didn’t feel any of those things. I finished it feeling disappointed.
It’s the story of an actor who, rushing for an audition, ignores some suspicious noises from the flat above...so far so good. Unfortunately, the story then takes a predictable turn into a strange relationship novel when the actor, Pax, falls for the victims mother, Emi.
There are good elements of the story, but, not enough.
I’m afraid I just couldn’t get into it at all.
1* did not like, although I’m very grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.
Unfortunately, I didn’t feel any of those things. I finished it feeling disappointed.
It’s the story of an actor who, rushing for an audition, ignores some suspicious noises from the flat above...so far so good. Unfortunately, the story then takes a predictable turn into a strange relationship novel when the actor, Pax, falls for the victims mother, Emi.
There are good elements of the story, but, not enough.
I’m afraid I just couldn’t get into it at all.
1* did not like, although I’m very grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.
August 30, 2019
Ma note 4/5 !
J'ai beaucoup aimé cette histoire profonde sur la culpabilité, l'absence, les relations, la famille mais aussi sur tout un aspect psychologique bien travaillé de l'auteur !
Une plume très littéraire et de qualité qui m'a permis de m'attacher aux personnages.
Le premier roman de Valérie Tong Cuong que je lis et sûrement pas le dernier :)
J'ai beaucoup aimé cette histoire profonde sur la culpabilité, l'absence, les relations, la famille mais aussi sur tout un aspect psychologique bien travaillé de l'auteur !
Une plume très littéraire et de qualité qui m'a permis de m'attacher aux personnages.
Le premier roman de Valérie Tong Cuong que je lis et sûrement pas le dernier :)
July 5, 2020
Not for me I'm afraid.
When I see a blurb / description that uses words like, "Twisty" and "page turner" I kinda expect something that IS those things, not a book that gives me 12 pages (2% of the entire book ) of introspection in the middle of an already dull dialogue.
I gave up at 40%.
When I see a blurb / description that uses words like, "Twisty" and "page turner" I kinda expect something that IS those things, not a book that gives me 12 pages (2% of the entire book ) of introspection in the middle of an already dull dialogue.
I gave up at 40%.
April 30, 2024
Valérie Tong Cuong a l'art de sonder les âmes et de nous plonger dans ”Les guerres intérieures" de chacun. Après plusieurs lectures un peu décevantes, j'ai pris plaisir à retrouver son écriture fine et sobre en découvrant le quotidien ordinaire de ce trio de personnages.
Pax est un acteur dont la carrière n'a encore jamais vraiment décollé, il a été témoin éloigné d'un acte de violence. Pourtant, pris dans ses rêves de gloire, il passe sous silence ses observations. Amené à rencontrer la séduisante et énigmatique Emi Shimizu dans le cadre du travail, il tombe sous son charme mais decouvre aussi le drame que son fils a subi, drame qui le renvoie à sa propre négligence. Cette rencontre conduira chacun à affronter les démons de son silence, de ses petites lâchetés et à faire face à un devoir moral qui s'impose pour le bien d'autrui...et surtout de ceux qu'on aime. Une lecture agréable et réconfortante.
Pax est un acteur dont la carrière n'a encore jamais vraiment décollé, il a été témoin éloigné d'un acte de violence. Pourtant, pris dans ses rêves de gloire, il passe sous silence ses observations. Amené à rencontrer la séduisante et énigmatique Emi Shimizu dans le cadre du travail, il tombe sous son charme mais decouvre aussi le drame que son fils a subi, drame qui le renvoie à sa propre négligence. Cette rencontre conduira chacun à affronter les démons de son silence, de ses petites lâchetés et à faire face à un devoir moral qui s'impose pour le bien d'autrui...et surtout de ceux qu'on aime. Une lecture agréable et réconfortante.
November 7, 2020
I'm sure i'm not the only one when i say that i pick up a book just because the description was so tempting and was hopeful for a great time altogether, but i was so lost while reading this book.
There are characters that i liked and the writing is very good, but i couldn't get into the story at all.
I was confused because of the then and now timeframe and so many things that i wanted to add up, to make more sense so i can put the pieces of the puzzle together , but it was just hard to do so.
And i hate when i have to put a book down and pick it up at a later time just because maybe that time i will see everything with other eyes , but that's not the case at all.
Maybe other people will enjoy it more, unfortunately it wasn't for me.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley.
2.5 stars
There are characters that i liked and the writing is very good, but i couldn't get into the story at all.
I was confused because of the then and now timeframe and so many things that i wanted to add up, to make more sense so i can put the pieces of the puzzle together , but it was just hard to do so.
And i hate when i have to put a book down and pick it up at a later time just because maybe that time i will see everything with other eyes , but that's not the case at all.
Maybe other people will enjoy it more, unfortunately it wasn't for me.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley.
2.5 stars
February 3, 2021
Il a suffi de ces quelques 230 pages pour bousculer et faire réfléchir sur la nature humaine. Ça nous parle de remords, de la culpabilité, de l'égoïsme et de la lâcheté ordinaire. Je n'étais pas convaincue au tout début et finalement j'ai été très vite conquise. C'est un roman délicat, subtil et sensible.
May 31, 2025
J’ai été saisie par ce roman, même si l’histoire relève d’une séries de circonstances qui peuvent paraître improbables. On y trouve les contradictions entre les envies, les besoins, les ressentis et les situations qui nous contraignent ou qu’on laisse nous contraindre; l’envie de faire mieux et d’être mieux, pour soi, pour les autres, pour se regarder en face, pour sauver une relation, un amour, … Je les ai trouvés servis magnifiquement et sans concession.
April 22, 2023
Happée des premières pages à la dernière ligne.
July 12, 2020
This book is described on Amazon as "A twisty, suspenseful page-turner " which sadly it was not. It is the story of Pax, a middle aged and second rate actor who when in a hurry to get to the audition that he thinks might revive his career, ignores the strange noises coming from the flat above his. He later meets in the course of his work the mother of the boy who was brutally beaten up that day. He and Emi fall for each other and she gradually reveals to him her terrible secret - the horrible event that has ruined her son's life. Pax tries to make amends for not intervening by taking the boy out on motorbike trips but eventually he has to own up to non intervention that day.
The beginning of this book is slow. Very slow and as for twists, well, there weren't any as far as I could tell. I appeared to be a straight forward narrative. As far as I was concerned I wasn't involved in the action until maybe the last third of the story and then it ended rather abruptly for my liking.
Sadly far too much introspection and not enough action for a 'twisty, suspenseful page-turner'.
The beginning of this book is slow. Very slow and as for twists, well, there weren't any as far as I could tell. I appeared to be a straight forward narrative. As far as I was concerned I wasn't involved in the action until maybe the last third of the story and then it ended rather abruptly for my liking.
Sadly far too much introspection and not enough action for a 'twisty, suspenseful page-turner'.
June 21, 2024
J ai passé un excellent moment de lecture, un de mes coups de cœur 2023 !
La psychologie des 3 personnages principaux est très bien décrite : un mélange de culpabilité, doutes et amour.
Je conseille vivement ce roman émouvant.
La psychologie des 3 personnages principaux est très bien décrite : un mélange de culpabilité, doutes et amour.
Je conseille vivement ce roman émouvant.
December 10, 2020
Un sujet très original, trois personnages au destins brisés, hantés par les démons du passé.
Une écriture précise et percutante, sans faux semblants sans tomber dans le pathos.
J’ai beaucoup aimé.
Une écriture précise et percutante, sans faux semblants sans tomber dans le pathos.
J’ai beaucoup aimé.
June 24, 2020
The Lies I Never Told You is a short read, one I flew through in less than 24 hours. I found it to be thought-provoking and relatable.
Set in Paris, Pax is a divorced B-list actor approaching middle age. On his way out to an audition he believes will be his big break, he overhears what he thinks is a vicious attack on his upstairs neighbour. Convincing himself it’s nothing but a rearrangement of the furniture, he leaves his apartment and heads to his audition, lying to the police when questioned about the time he left home so as to avoid further hassle. Little does he know that this decision will haunt him for years to come.
I found the characters in this book likeable and relatable, and felt that the author did well to capture how we as humans feel guilt and the ways we deal with this, articulating the internal dialogue we have with ourselves when we perceive we have played a part in something bad or wrong. She also demonstrated the causality or ripple effect that our choices and actions create; the way one seemingly minor decision can set in motion a whole parallel set of events.
Unfortunately, for me, this book was just lacking something. There were times when I felt the author was over-explaining things, and yet despite this I also frequently found that I was having to work hard to put two and two together and make sure I ended up with four as other things were dropped into the storyline without any explanation at all. For example, there were times when the story switched to a different time frame, and yet this was not articulated at all, resulting in confusion and having to re-read sections to get to grips with it all.
Interestingly, this book is described as a mystery/thriller, but I wouldn’t say it matches either of those genres. There’s no big reveal or clues hinting at the truth behind a mystery, nor is there any kind of build-up of tension or suspense surrounding a catastrophic event that may or may not happen at the end. What stood out for me was the way the book highlighted the way we as humans deal with perceived guilt; our inner turmoil when we believe we’ve done something wrong, and the actions we then take in response to this. Personally, if we’re going to try to categorise this novel, I’d say it fits more snugly into Literary Fiction.
Despite my three-star rating, I did really enjoy this book and found that it definitely got me thinking. Being a short book, it’s a good one for people to pick up as an in-between and I would recommend giving it a try, but it’s not up there in my list of top-rated.
Thank you to @hodderbooks for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of the opinions expressed here are my own and are genuine. The Lies I Never Told You will be released on August 6th.
Set in Paris, Pax is a divorced B-list actor approaching middle age. On his way out to an audition he believes will be his big break, he overhears what he thinks is a vicious attack on his upstairs neighbour. Convincing himself it’s nothing but a rearrangement of the furniture, he leaves his apartment and heads to his audition, lying to the police when questioned about the time he left home so as to avoid further hassle. Little does he know that this decision will haunt him for years to come.
I found the characters in this book likeable and relatable, and felt that the author did well to capture how we as humans feel guilt and the ways we deal with this, articulating the internal dialogue we have with ourselves when we perceive we have played a part in something bad or wrong. She also demonstrated the causality or ripple effect that our choices and actions create; the way one seemingly minor decision can set in motion a whole parallel set of events.
Unfortunately, for me, this book was just lacking something. There were times when I felt the author was over-explaining things, and yet despite this I also frequently found that I was having to work hard to put two and two together and make sure I ended up with four as other things were dropped into the storyline without any explanation at all. For example, there were times when the story switched to a different time frame, and yet this was not articulated at all, resulting in confusion and having to re-read sections to get to grips with it all.
Interestingly, this book is described as a mystery/thriller, but I wouldn’t say it matches either of those genres. There’s no big reveal or clues hinting at the truth behind a mystery, nor is there any kind of build-up of tension or suspense surrounding a catastrophic event that may or may not happen at the end. What stood out for me was the way the book highlighted the way we as humans deal with perceived guilt; our inner turmoil when we believe we’ve done something wrong, and the actions we then take in response to this. Personally, if we’re going to try to categorise this novel, I’d say it fits more snugly into Literary Fiction.
Despite my three-star rating, I did really enjoy this book and found that it definitely got me thinking. Being a short book, it’s a good one for people to pick up as an in-between and I would recommend giving it a try, but it’s not up there in my list of top-rated.
Thank you to @hodderbooks for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of the opinions expressed here are my own and are genuine. The Lies I Never Told You will be released on August 6th.
July 11, 2020
A huge thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my e-ARC.
Valerie Tong Cuong writes prose as though it is poetry and ends up crafting a hauntingly beautiful story, one that makes you sigh at the end and stare into the distance in the company of your thoughts.
Right from page one, I was completely taken in by the gripping narrative and the plot of this book. The author wastes no time in setting the tone and introducing the key characters to the story. Pax has an opportunity of a lifetime presented to him, and in the flow of the moment, he chooses to ignore the very alarming noises coming from the apartment upstairs. This decision will haunt him for months to come and will have devastating consequences on his life and of those that he loves so dearly.
It is easy to see that the author has spent much time working out the character profiles of each of the protagonists; Emi, Pax and Alex are all very real and flawed characters with multiple layers. They exist in the middle spectrum of black and white, with their secrets and redeeming qualities, which make them very relatable.
They will stay with me for a very long time, as I revisit them and analyse their nature, their motives and their intertwining destinies.
I think it is hard to classify this book into a particular box like 'crime' or ' thriller' solely because of the way the author has, so seamlessly interwoven suspense, thrill and crime with themes of family and romance. The only thing that was slightly off-putting: being a translation from French to English, I found the flow to be slightly disjointed, and I will put this down solely to that which is lost in translation.
Give this book a read, and read carefully, to the last page and the very last word. Chances are, like me, you'll probably want to read the book again.
Valerie Tong Cuong writes prose as though it is poetry and ends up crafting a hauntingly beautiful story, one that makes you sigh at the end and stare into the distance in the company of your thoughts.
Right from page one, I was completely taken in by the gripping narrative and the plot of this book. The author wastes no time in setting the tone and introducing the key characters to the story. Pax has an opportunity of a lifetime presented to him, and in the flow of the moment, he chooses to ignore the very alarming noises coming from the apartment upstairs. This decision will haunt him for months to come and will have devastating consequences on his life and of those that he loves so dearly.
It is easy to see that the author has spent much time working out the character profiles of each of the protagonists; Emi, Pax and Alex are all very real and flawed characters with multiple layers. They exist in the middle spectrum of black and white, with their secrets and redeeming qualities, which make them very relatable.
They will stay with me for a very long time, as I revisit them and analyse their nature, their motives and their intertwining destinies.
I think it is hard to classify this book into a particular box like 'crime' or ' thriller' solely because of the way the author has, so seamlessly interwoven suspense, thrill and crime with themes of family and romance. The only thing that was slightly off-putting: being a translation from French to English, I found the flow to be slightly disjointed, and I will put this down solely to that which is lost in translation.
Give this book a read, and read carefully, to the last page and the very last word. Chances are, like me, you'll probably want to read the book again.
June 29, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, for the arc of The Lies I Never Told you by Valerie Tong Cuong.
This follows when Pax, whom is a middle-aged second-rate actor so B-List actor whom ends up, scoring an audition for a big blockbuster move..., he is seriously convinced in thst fate has taken pity and empathy on him and that is why he will finally get to spend some time in the limelight. He ends up leaving his own flat while ignoring the alarming sounds coming from the apartment above his... He is really beside himself when he finds out and learns what devastating consequences his decision actually had and not only was his neighbour Alex whom has been assaulted and left for dead... It is his girlfriend's Emi's son. He is then faced with an impossible decision in which should he continue to deceive and lie to Emi in which she is the one person who always believed and supported him, or tell her truth and will it destroy their relationship....
This was a short book of a mere 160 pages but it was 160 pages full of suspense and mystery and twists this made me wanting more!
4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐
This follows when Pax, whom is a middle-aged second-rate actor so B-List actor whom ends up, scoring an audition for a big blockbuster move..., he is seriously convinced in thst fate has taken pity and empathy on him and that is why he will finally get to spend some time in the limelight. He ends up leaving his own flat while ignoring the alarming sounds coming from the apartment above his... He is really beside himself when he finds out and learns what devastating consequences his decision actually had and not only was his neighbour Alex whom has been assaulted and left for dead... It is his girlfriend's Emi's son. He is then faced with an impossible decision in which should he continue to deceive and lie to Emi in which she is the one person who always believed and supported him, or tell her truth and will it destroy their relationship....
This was a short book of a mere 160 pages but it was 160 pages full of suspense and mystery and twists this made me wanting more!
4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 10, 2020
Un roman sur la lâcheté ordinaire, la culpabilité et le remords qui étreint l’un des personnages qui n’est pas intervenu pour mettre fin à une violente agression et sur l’immense difficulté à se reconstruire après une telle violence (physique et psychologique) pour le jeune homme agressė et sa mère.
Thèmes intéressants, replacés par le psychiatre qui suit la mère dans un contexte de « rupture du pacte social », de « repli, méfiance croissante à l’égard de l’autre ». La mère s’interroge elle aussi sur sa culpabilité face à l’accident qui a coûté la vie à un chauffeur de camion de l’entreprise où elle est responsable QHSE ( Qualité, Hygiène, Sécurité, Environnement), un homme qui « s’était élevé, avait trouvé dans son travail un sens à sa vie et soudain, on lui montrait la porte en se foutant de sa gueule, on lui enlevait tout ce qu’il avait construit ».
Un roman ancré, donc, dans une réalité sociale d’aujourd’hui, mais qui n’en reste pas moins un récit « romanesque », avec sa part d’invraisemblance (quelle est la probabilité pour que Pax rencontre Emi ?!) et ses personnages qu’on aurait aimés plus fouillés. Reste que le livre est bien écrit et plutôt agréable à lire.
Thèmes intéressants, replacés par le psychiatre qui suit la mère dans un contexte de « rupture du pacte social », de « repli, méfiance croissante à l’égard de l’autre ». La mère s’interroge elle aussi sur sa culpabilité face à l’accident qui a coûté la vie à un chauffeur de camion de l’entreprise où elle est responsable QHSE ( Qualité, Hygiène, Sécurité, Environnement), un homme qui « s’était élevé, avait trouvé dans son travail un sens à sa vie et soudain, on lui montrait la porte en se foutant de sa gueule, on lui enlevait tout ce qu’il avait construit ».
Un roman ancré, donc, dans une réalité sociale d’aujourd’hui, mais qui n’en reste pas moins un récit « romanesque », avec sa part d’invraisemblance (quelle est la probabilité pour que Pax rencontre Emi ?!) et ses personnages qu’on aurait aimés plus fouillés. Reste que le livre est bien écrit et plutôt agréable à lire.
November 12, 2020
The story here is simple. Emile Moreau, stage name Pax Monnier, has an audition for a blockbuster movie. He is late and just as he leaves is apartment, he hears the sounds of a terrible fight in the apartment above him and glimpses the fleeing assailant. He thinks about calling the police but decides against it, has a successful auction and gets the part. Weeks later, he meets Emi Shimizu and slowly builds a relationship with her. Then he learns the the man who was attacked the day of his audition is her son Alex. What does he do? Should he tell her? And if he does, what will happen?
This short novella is filled with emotion. Sadness, regret, anger and pain slide through the pages. The four main characters with their imperfect lives could be characters in a play. The translation form the French, while impressive, could have been smoother. And the English title, The Lies I Never Told You, is surprisingly clunky. A better translation of the French title Les Guerres Intérieures would be Interior Wars or The Wars Inside. It’s still a 5 star read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Valérie Tong Cuong for this ARC.
This short novella is filled with emotion. Sadness, regret, anger and pain slide through the pages. The four main characters with their imperfect lives could be characters in a play. The translation form the French, while impressive, could have been smoother. And the English title, The Lies I Never Told You, is surprisingly clunky. A better translation of the French title Les Guerres Intérieures would be Interior Wars or The Wars Inside. It’s still a 5 star read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Valérie Tong Cuong for this ARC.
June 23, 2020
I read the blurb for this book after seeing the striking front cover, and im so glad I opted to request it from NetGalley.
While only a short story with 160 pages it gets straight into the action, I really enjoyed it from the first page to the last. The way the book is written fits really well with the fast paced story and the characters and their feelings are really well portrayed. The story makes you question yourself and your priorities and weather you would do the same in the situation Pax was put in. The book isn't a light read as it is full of choices, decisions, turmoil and regret. It covers an assault that makes you think about your own surroundings and safety, but it does enlighten with hope and love. The ending is rather sudden and I expected more from it, but I'm hopeful for a second to clear up all my 'But what happens next?' issues.
Very cleverly written, brilliant short story and definitely worth a read.
Thanks again to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton
While only a short story with 160 pages it gets straight into the action, I really enjoyed it from the first page to the last. The way the book is written fits really well with the fast paced story and the characters and their feelings are really well portrayed. The story makes you question yourself and your priorities and weather you would do the same in the situation Pax was put in. The book isn't a light read as it is full of choices, decisions, turmoil and regret. It covers an assault that makes you think about your own surroundings and safety, but it does enlighten with hope and love. The ending is rather sudden and I expected more from it, but I'm hopeful for a second to clear up all my 'But what happens next?' issues.
Very cleverly written, brilliant short story and definitely worth a read.
Thanks again to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton
August 26, 2020
This book had me torn right down the middle. On the one hand, the writing is quite flat and at times fairly rambling, but on the other hand, there were times when I actually started to enjoy it.
This is a fairly short book however I don't think the story could've been dragged out any longer. Even now writing this review I'm still torn over whether or not I truly enjoyed this book. It is a very easy read, with an interesting plot but I wouldn't say it was suspense-filled or full of twists as the blurb describes it! I did like the ending however... the character growth was definitely a good point.
A middle of the line book for me which I'd still recommend due to it being an easy enough read that won't take up too much of your time. I'm glad I read it as I haven't read anything by Valerie Tong Cuong before.
Thank you to NetGalley, Valerie Tong Cuong and Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fairly short book however I don't think the story could've been dragged out any longer. Even now writing this review I'm still torn over whether or not I truly enjoyed this book. It is a very easy read, with an interesting plot but I wouldn't say it was suspense-filled or full of twists as the blurb describes it! I did like the ending however... the character growth was definitely a good point.
A middle of the line book for me which I'd still recommend due to it being an easy enough read that won't take up too much of your time. I'm glad I read it as I haven't read anything by Valerie Tong Cuong before.
Thank you to NetGalley, Valerie Tong Cuong and Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2020
The book follows the aftermath of Pax’s decision to ignore the sounds coming from the apartment above in favour of rushing to his audition with a big director, a decision which affects him later on.
The book jumps from past to present, from character to character which made me a bit confused at the start, the fast pace of the book evens out in the middle of the book. I did not like the writing style of the book, I could not connect to any of the characters so I did not care for the story, the book lacked any built up of tension or suspense and although the book is short the first half is boring.
I did prefer the second half of the book, there was more focus on how the characters felt rather than their history especially with Alex however I did not like the ending I felt like the book ended very quickly.
1/5
The book jumps from past to present, from character to character which made me a bit confused at the start, the fast pace of the book evens out in the middle of the book. I did not like the writing style of the book, I could not connect to any of the characters so I did not care for the story, the book lacked any built up of tension or suspense and although the book is short the first half is boring.
I did prefer the second half of the book, there was more focus on how the characters felt rather than their history especially with Alex however I did not like the ending I felt like the book ended very quickly.
1/5
June 24, 2020
The Lies I Never Told You (Les Querres Intérieures) tells the story of Pax, a middle-aged actor who leaves his flat in a hurry to get to an audition for a blockbuster, ignoring the alarming sounds coming from another apartment. He has just heard the murder of his girlfriend's son but he doesn't know it yet.
This was an absolutely gripping, short novel that I could not put down. It is more than just a mystery thriller as it includes philosophical elements as well as commentary on social issues.
A wonderful read.
Disclosure: I'd like to thank the publisher for my advanced reader's copy. This is my honest review.
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This was an absolutely gripping, short novel that I could not put down. It is more than just a mystery thriller as it includes philosophical elements as well as commentary on social issues.
A wonderful read.
Disclosure: I'd like to thank the publisher for my advanced reader's copy. This is my honest review.
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https://www.instagram.com/jemimareads...
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