Review: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty.

How does a battle between kindergarten mums over a playground squabble turn into a murder investigation?

When my father hands me a book I am always skeptical. The man has terrible taste in movies so one can only assume his taste in books could leave a little to be desired. I cannot even properly convey how shocked I am that my father bought me a book I had never heard of, that would turn into one of my most favourite novels of all time as well as one of the most successful shows of 2017 winning countless awards.

If you're currently watching the T.V series please stop, record and read the novel first. While Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shaileene Woodley, Laura Dern and Zoë Kratiz are all doing a fantastic job of the portrayal of these beloved characters, the television show does seem to rush through certain aspects of the novel and the changes while minor have left me feeling somewhat outraged. 

 

The novel first follows the story of Jane, a young single mother with an adorable sweet boy named Ziggy. On the first day of kindergarten a shy little girl by the name of Amabella (that is not a typo, that is how this child’s name is spelled) accuses Ziggy of hurting her. Amabella has a clear mark on her arm caused by someone grabbing her forcefully. This accusation is done in front of the entire class and the parents at the end of the school day. Amabella’s mother Renata, a successful businesswoman, confronts Jane. From here the battle lines are drawn as mothers take their sides and non-stop drama unfolds that keeps you captivated till the very end where a murder has occurred at a school fundraiser. I know this is sounding like a grown up version of Mean Girls but this novel is dark and thought provoking. Stephen King described it as ‘A hell of a good book. Funny and scary.’ Most nights I kept thinking ‘Just one more chapter, once I find out the conclusion of the current twist I’ll put this book down and go to sleep.’ but that was never the case, the second one twist was resolved another more alarming twist would present itself and I would have to keep reading.

I remember thinking when I first started reading this, 'Why am I so fascinated by petty drama caused by a bunch of kindergarten mums?' What is petty drama though? Why are we so fast to dismiss women as being irrational, emotional or dramatic? As much as I like to think I would know what I would do if I was in the same position as some of these women, I'm not a mother and I have no idea how I would react if I was experiencing the same events. I mean the closest thing I have been to a mother is the mother to my cat and even I admit I probably would stand by him if he were accused of pouncing on another kitten in the playground. How as mothers do we have open discussion with our sons and daughters that ensure issues of violence stops at the beginning? This novel brought to my attention certain experiences I have never been through and tore open my heart watching these women navigate these events. What tore my heart open even more is watching women going through events I have been through and seeing how accurately the author demonstrated the pain within.

While being a mother is a large part of this novel it also has issues that relate to all women and it is vital that all men stop to consider how these experiences have shaped our society. I had a friend ask me if their partner would enjoy the television series given it is female lead. Of course I didn’t hesitate to say that this show and novel are both just as vital for men to consume as women. It is time that men start listening to our experiences and understand the impact certain actions have. The novel does a beautiful job showing flawed characters going through extremely difficult events and challenging society's perception of these issues. As our society has changed this past year with the Me Too movement we have to ask ourselves how do we support our friends as they start feeling empowered enough to share their experiences. The women in this novel of course have fathers, husbands and sons and some of these men handle the events better than others. I mean personally I am a very big fan of Madeline’s husband and it tore me apart the television show changed certain events that took away some of that magic. At the end of the day if every man read this novel or at least watched the television series then eyes will finally be open and the world will be full with far more empathy.

I always think of my favourite characters as friends of mine and my lord do I love all the women in this novel. I have woken up in the middle of the night in tears just from dreaming of what these women have been through. I tear up every time I see the television show winning another award. I know that this novel will stay with me for the rest of my life and I will probably read it again one day when my own child starts kindergarten. I just hope that the strength this book has given me will mean I can handle anything life throws at me.