Sign in with Facebook
Doug's Reviews > Lie With Me
Lie With Me
by
by
Update: 6/30/23 - the book has now received an excellent film adaptation, which I just saw for free through the AARP 'Films for Grownups' program - it should hopefully have a wide release soon. The trailer is here:
. After seeing the film, I decided to reread the book - they have vast differences - the book is more interior and cerebral - they had to 'invent' scenes in the film to capture those, and in some respects the film is actually better. But the book still remains eminently readable - and it only takes about 3 hours since it is so short. I was glad to have occasion to revisit it.
Sincere thanks to Netgalley and Scribner for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest review.
4.5, rounded up.
I am not ashamed to admit this left me teary-eyed with the ineffable sadness of the final pages, but the entire book had an almost galvanizing effect on me, since a lot of it hit very close to home ... as I suspect it will for many gay men of my generation. Although it's a story that will be familiar to many, Besson tells it in a perfunctory manner which proves exactly right for the material, and Ms. Ringwald (yes, THAT Molly Ringwald) does a terrific job in translating his prose into unfussy English.
It remains peculiar that the author insists this is a novel, since it is clearly memoir (the book is even dedicated to the 'real' man it is about, and Besson does not even bother to change his name - or his own) ... and I wish that the book had retained the more literal title 'Stop With Your Lies', although I am sure 'Lie With Me' makes it sound sexier. It also made me want to investigate Besson's back catalog, as he mentions several of his works within the book that sound equally intriguing.
. After seeing the film, I decided to reread the book - they have vast differences - the book is more interior and cerebral - they had to 'invent' scenes in the film to capture those, and in some respects the film is actually better. But the book still remains eminently readable - and it only takes about 3 hours since it is so short. I was glad to have occasion to revisit it.
Sincere thanks to Netgalley and Scribner for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest review.
4.5, rounded up.
I am not ashamed to admit this left me teary-eyed with the ineffable sadness of the final pages, but the entire book had an almost galvanizing effect on me, since a lot of it hit very close to home ... as I suspect it will for many gay men of my generation. Although it's a story that will be familiar to many, Besson tells it in a perfunctory manner which proves exactly right for the material, and Ms. Ringwald (yes, THAT Molly Ringwald) does a terrific job in translating his prose into unfussy English.
It remains peculiar that the author insists this is a novel, since it is clearly memoir (the book is even dedicated to the 'real' man it is about, and Besson does not even bother to change his name - or his own) ... and I wish that the book had retained the more literal title 'Stop With Your Lies', although I am sure 'Lie With Me' makes it sound sexier. It also made me want to investigate Besson's back catalog, as he mentions several of his works within the book that sound equally intriguing.
Sign into Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to see if any of your friends have read
Lie With Me.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
April 5, 2019
– Shelved
April 5, 2019
– Shelved as:
to-read
April 8, 2019
– Shelved as:
kindle
April 8, 2019
– Shelved as:
to-read
May 20, 2019
–
Started Reading
May 20, 2019
–
20.0%
May 21, 2019
–
67.0%
May 21, 2019
–
Finished Reading
June 29, 2023
–
Started Reading
June 30, 2023
–
60.0%
June 30, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-12 of 12 (12 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Sarah
(new)
-
added it
Jun 28, 2023 09:14PM
Wait... THE Molly Ringwald is a literary translator now?! I just need to sit with that a moment. Wow! Thank you for this thoughtful review, Doug. I'm adding it to my TBR.
reply
|
flag
Yep - it's a really good novel, and the translation is terrific - and the new film does it full justice!!
Doug Wonderful and heartfelt review. I read that Molly Ringwald had translated a book and because of your review, I know which one. Sounds like this one truly resonated with you.
Since it's been 6 years since my first read and it's SHORT (under 150 pages), AND I have it on Kindle, I am putting the Taylor on pause and doing a quick reread. :-) PS. Love the new avatar!!
I really need to read this before the film comes out!
Jonathan wrote: "I really need to read this before the film comes out!"I'm rereading it now (will finish today) and actually, the film - although telling the same basic story, deviates quite a bit from the novel - so I don't really think it is absolutely necessary to have read it beforehand. They really are two separate experiences. In some ways, the film is actually better, since much of the novel is more philosophical and takes place within the narrator's head, so there ISN'T a lot of 'plot'.
Doug wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "I really need to read this before the film comes out!"I'm rereading it now (will finish today) and actually, the film - although telling the same basic story, deviates quite a bi..."
Thank you for that info! I guess I will not rush through trying to read the book, then. :)
Jonathan wrote: "Doug wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "I really need to read this before the film comes out!"I'm rereading it now (will finish today) and actually, the film - although telling the same basic story, deviat..."
It'll literally take you less than 3 hours to read - it's very short!! :-)
Doug wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "Doug wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "I really need to read this before the film comes out!"I'm rereading it now (will finish today) and actually, the film - although telling the same ba..."
I actually have it in French and I'm not the most confident with my grasp of the language. I'll probably lose understanding on half of it, unless I do an extremely slow reading and jot down a lot.
Ah, ok, makes sense.... I was just looking at Besson's back catalog and it seems I have now read everything of his that has been translated into English. My French is not that great that I could read it in the original either.
Doug wrote: "Ah, ok, makes sense.... I was just looking at Besson's back catalog and it seems I have now read everything of his that has been translated into English. My French is not that great that I could re..."Wow! That's amazing! What would you say is your opinion on all of his works that you've read? I have this gut feeling that he'll be one that I really love. That's why I'm trying not to read him until I'm absolutely ready.
LOL! There are only 3 that have been translated - I enjoyed all of them, but this was probably my favorite (I gave it 4.5 stars, the other two only 4!)
