Review: The Lie by Fredrica Wagman

Ramona Smollens did not have much of a childhood. Her father abused her and her mother did nothing to either encourage or stop him. At age 17, she patterns her sexual identity from her silver screen idol, Rita Hayworth, whose father abused her at a young age.

While sitting on a park bench, Ramona meets Solomon Columbus. She is instantly attracted to him and they sneak back to her mother's attic and spend four days having sex. They are soon married, all of this taking place shortly after the death of her father. The sad life of Ramona is tested further as she suspects her husband of infidelity and is forced to cope with her mother's illness.

The story is told from Ramona's point of view and uses a literary device known as stream of consciousness. Basically, this means that the prose is meant to portray Ramona's actual thoughts. The text jumps and rolls, mimicking her jumbled thoughts and ideas. Do not expect to read standard sentences and paragraphs. The words flow from Ramona's damaged mind. This makes for some wonderfully imaginative reading. It is quite vivid and, in places, very disturbing.

The writing is creative and a pleasure to read, but the subject matter is very dark. Ramona projects her own insecurities and damaged sexual identity on her husband, accusing him of being unfaithful. She turns to her mother for support even though she has never received support of any kind from her mother. She then has to cope with her mother's illness and the feelings that she has and does not have.

I had no idea what was going on for the first 50 pages or so. But then I figured it out and was hooked. I went back and re-read the first part of the book after I finished and enjoyed that even more. Wagman has imagined the workings of Ramona's mind to the most minute detail. Be prepared to cheer for Ramona, but also be prepared to pity her as well.

The book is only 214 pages. It took me considerably longer to read than I had at first thought. The unconventional use of punctuation slows the reading. However, I did not mind. I found the book unlike anything I had previously read. It really makes you stop and think. Are there common elements in my thought process?

About the Author:

Fredrica Wagman was born in 1940 in Philadelphia. She attended the University of Pennsylvania and Bryn Mawr College. She has four grown children and lives with her husband in New York City. Fredrica Wagman is the author of six previous novels including Playing House.