The First Lie is a short story by the American author Diane Chamberlain, written as a prequel to her novel "Necessary Lies", although the author states that they may be read independently. Both works were published in 2013.This short story is set in 1958, two years before the novel. The reader follows the events in Ivy Hart's life, when she is 13 years old. Ivy lives with her grandmother and sister on a tobacco farm in rural North Carolina. They are very poor and live extremely restricted lives. The short story is told from Ivy's point of view, conveying her experiences with her family, her burgeoning adolescence, and thoughts about her best friend Henry. Her sister Mary Ellen is 2 years older than her, and pregnant. She is very beautiful but apparently slow-witted, and eventually gives birth without telling anyone who the father is. However the reader understands, from Ivy's thoughts, who the father is likely to be. The story follows the birth and continues for a short time afterwards. It is clear from all the females' reactions after the birth, what has happened to Mary Ellen since, although the younger Ivy does not quite understand it. The way is paved for the novel proper, and we have been given clues that there are family secrets here, both lies and suppressed knowledge.As a short story this does not quite work. It does not have an ending as such, and you can see the mechanics of the story rather too easily. A scene in a church, for instance, with the two teenagers using a planchette, seems to have no purpose other than to convey some information to the reader, so that they can anticipate events in the forthcoming novel.Diane Chamberlain is an enormously experienced and popular author, with 24 novels published since her first in 1989. She describes herself on her author page as writing "fiction and historical fiction", and elsewhere she is described as writing mysteries and thrillers. She is often compared with Jodie Picoult. However, I cannot say that I enjoyed this piece. There was little description to lift the piece, or much sense of place. And as an English reader I had difficulties with the Southern States vernacular. But these are side issues. It is clear that Diane Chamberlain deals with serious issues in her works, that she intends them to be social novels and perhaps primarily issue-lead. However, the writing itself - the "treatment" - feels like women's fiction. By far the strongest characters are female, and the reader gets no impression of any male viewpoint, or a fully rounded feel for any male characters. In this short story there are just 2 males. One, the boy, Henry, is completely neutral and flat. I can remember nothing whatsoever about him. The other, the suspected father, is described in terms of his handsome physical appearance, his race - and very little else. One gains the impression that the males are present in the novel as mere adjuncts or sometimes triggers to move the action along, the interest lying solely with the females.Women's fiction seems to be concerned largely with relationships in all their forms. Relationships between men and women, between parents and children, brothers and sisters, and friends. The better novels investigate the psychological complexity of a family, and give an indication of a developing character. Common themes seems to focus on love, compassion and forgiveness within a family. It is likely that if you enjoy this type of fiction then you will enjoy this author. Diane Chamberlain has a background in psychology which has given her a good understanding and the ability to create realistic characters. Prior to her writing career, she worked in hospitals in San Diego and Washington, D.C. and opened a private psychotherapy practice in Alexandria Virginia for adolescents. Diane Chamberlain additionally includes a combination of drama, mystery, secrets, intrigue, and unexpected twists in her storylines, which is perhaps why a new novel by her is considered such an exciting event.Personally though, if I am reading about serious issues such as racial segregation and eugenics, or any other other shocking social wrongs from a historically authentic point of view, then to have this written within the genre of entertaining woman's fiction would make me uneasy. It seems to smack slightly of sensationalism. The First Expectation - this must be good. People whose opinion I value, and critics, all say it is.Necessary Expectations - if a short example has a female focus, if everything about the covers of the author's books, (pretty coloured pictures showing partial or secretive views of pretty young women) screams "women's-fiction-for-women-who-don't-want-to-appear-to-be-reading-women's-fiction", if scanning down a list of readers reveals that actually every single one is female, and the only males on the list have noted it as "to-read", then despite what the author says, it probably is women's fiction.There's nothing wrong with that. It's just not what I expected ... nor a style I personally enjoy.Note: This ebook also contains an extract from the novel itself.
Review Posted on Reading Lark 6/22/13: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2013/...The First Lie is a brief snippet to set up the forthcoming novel, Necessary Lies. I have never read Diane Chamberlain before, but I was pleasantly surprised. The short story begins when Ivy, a preteen, sneaks into her house in the wee hours of the morning after being out her best friend. The pair had found their church unlocked and had stumbled inside, Ouija board in tow. After scaring themselves silly, the pair rush home before anyone wakes to find them gone, but Ivy walks into more than she bargained for when she finds that her older sister, Mary Ella, is about to deliver her baby. It's too soon and Ivy doesn't know what to do. Her grandmother's harsh voice hollers directions and Ivy races to get help.I'm excited to continue reading Ivy's story when the novel is released in September. In this brief portrait, I was able to learn about Ivy and her family. These characters do not have an easy life. I can't recall reading any other novels about tenant farmers; this will allow me to learn more about that lifestyle.Also, due to the time period and location (North Carolina in 1958), race will play a prominent role. There are glimpses of segregation in this story. Rumors swirl about the paternity of Mary Ella's baby. Folks say it belongs to Eli, a young African American man, that lives on the same property. Mary Ella refuses to tell the identity of the father, but the whole town is gossiping about her. At only fifteen, Mary Ella will have a difficult road ahead of her, but things will only be worse if her child is multiracial.One Last Gripe: I understood the grandmother's reasonings for what she does to Mary Ella, but it upset me a lot.My Favorite Thing About This Book: This is a side of the South I don't much about beyond what I've read in history books. It will be interesting to experience this lifestyle through the eyes of a fictional character. First Sentence: I leaned my bike against our lopsided porch and tiptoed up the steps, still real shaky from the last few hours.Favorite Character: IvyLeast Favorite Character: This was too short for me to dislike anyone.
Do You like book The First Lie (2013)?
The First Lie – a teaser, a tantilizer, the short prequel to Diane Chamberlain’s newest novel coming out now Necessary Lies……Loved 'The First Lie' from the first page as we are introduced to Ivy and her family which I am assuming sets the scene for us ready for the new novel. Compelling, loved the characters and made me hungry for more. Luckily, Necessary Lies is now out and I could start reading it immediately. I am a huge Diane Chamberlain fan and was super excited by the novella and now Necessary Lies………off to do some reading!
—Kathy
This is the short (39 pages) prequel to the authors novel Necessary Lies. It introduces us to a few of the characters from the upcoming novel. It's 1958 in rural North Carolina where thirteen-year-old Ivy Hart lives with her grandmother and sister on a small tobacco farm. We learn more about Ivy and her sister, Mary Ella and their lives on the farm. We find out more about the Hart family, their past and how they relate to each other. We are given an indication of the secrets that will be revealed in Necessary Lies. I found it was a very interesting and quick read. It did get me excited for the upcoming novel.I wouldn't say that you MUST read it before Necessary Lies....but if you love Diane Chamberlain's novels as much as I do then you will not regret reading it.
—Deanna
The First Lie is a short story prequel to Diane Chamberlain’s upcoming novel Necessary Lies. In The First Lie we are briefly introduced to thirteen-year-old Ivy Hart’s world. Even though the short story is just that, short, the world that Chamberlain is able to create is vivid, round and extremely compelling. In just a few pages the reader learns a great deal about the Hart family dynamic through allusions to the many secrets that could potentially be revealed in Necessary Lies, as well as through the way that the Hart’s speak to and about each other. The voice of Ivy in this character-driven short story is so clear and so identifiable, instantly. Before instances of racism and class dynamics are even introduced – major themes from the synopsis of Necessary Lies as well as in this short story - the language and the way that Ivy’s character is presented gives the reader a very clear idea what kind of character we are investing in, as well as the atmosphere the character has to deal with in their time and their place. The First Lie is filled with a surprising amount of suspense in its few pages, centering on Ivy’s fifteen-year-old sister Mary Ella’s labor. As a reader you know that there is a lot not being said about the conception and the dangerous labor Mary Ella faces than even Ivy is aware of. ‘The first lie’ is never explicitly stated, but most readers should be able to pick up what part of Ivy’s understanding of the events in The First Lie, isn’t the reality of the situation. If Necessary Lies is as character-driven and thoughtfully crafted as The First Lie, than readers are definitely going to be in for a treat. I can’t wait to see how the unraveling of the first lie affects Ivy and the other characters from this short story in Necessary Lies.
—Laura P
