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Necessary Lies, which won the Amazon.com/Books in Canada First Novel Award, tackles an intriguingly volatile period of repression, recrimination, and reconciliation in central and eastern Europe (and in Canada's separatist Quebec as well). Stachniak is a lucid lecturer who deftly makes fiction from events that have been fodder for recent travel literature, such as Eva Hoffman's Exit into History: A Journey Through the New Eastern Europe and Irena Karafilly's Ashes and Miracles: A Polish Journey. Stachniak's strength as a writer lies in her skill in invoking place--its sights and smells and energy--and in juxtaposing a city's present with its complex past. Like an archaeologist or archivist, she delves into the layers of history to reveal the collective source of personal tragedy.
But these strengths ultimately prove to be the novel's shortcoming as a work of fiction. Stachniak has a faintly irritating tendency (right from page 1) to engage in irresolvable arguments about whether Poland is part of central or eastern Europe. More significantly, she fails to render psychologically compelling characters, despite the potentially fascinating figures she draws upon. Furthermore, central confrontation scenes with Anna's Polish ex-husband and her second husband's longtime German lover miss the opportunity to sound the depths of betrayal. How unsatisfactory for the reader when the collision of two world views gets reduced to the banality of a co-owned apartment buyout. --Diana Kuprel
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Most helpful customer reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Drama, History, Suspense,
This review is from: Necessary Lies (Paperback)
Necessary Lies Reviewer name: Dianne Flynn E-mail: flynndd@hotmail.com Display e-mail: Yes Rating: 5 Location: Toronto, Ontario Reviewer Title: Suspense, history, drama Review: I was unable to put this book down. Not only did I learn about the history of Poland, esp. during WWII, but I was engaged in a love story, which was full of drama and suspense. A beautiful piece of literature, set in Montreal and displaying a tremendous amout of knowledge of the history of Poland, Germany & Russ
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun reading...,
By avid reader "ladyread" (florida) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Necessary Lies (Paperback)
I really like this writer, that being said -- If you are a reader like me and you like your reading material to be both interesting and fun then this book is right up your alley!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Worthy Read That Just Received An Award For Excellence!,
By Victoria Taylor Murray "Book Maven" (Kentucky, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Necessary Lies (Paperback)
Necessary Lies by talented Canadian writer Eva Stachniak is a worthy read that just received an award for excellence in its category. A bitter sweet story of a Polish emigre` who returns to Europe after the fall of communism. A engaging story you won't want to miss!
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