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The Kindest Lie: a Novel
The Kindest Lie: a Novel | Nancy Johnson
7 posts | 9 read | 12 to read
Named Most Anticipated of 2021 by Elle * Marie Claire * Good Housekeeping * Chicago Tribune * Woman's Day, * Refinery 29 * Bustle * The Millions * New York Post * Parade * Hello! Magazine * PopSugar * Black Business Guide * and more! "The Kindest Lie is a deep dive into how we define family, what it means to be a mother, what secrets we owe to those we love, and what it means to grow up Black. This beautifully crafted debut will keep you asking these questions and more." --JODI PICOULT A masterful, eye-opening novel about the profound racial injustices and class inequalities roiling American society, for fans of Tayari Jones and Jacqueline Woodson. A promise could betray you. It's 2008, and the inauguration of President Barack Obama ushers in a new kind of hope. In Chicago, Ruth Tuttle, an Ivy-League educated Black engineer, is married to a kind and successful man. He's eager to start a family, but Ruth is uncertain. She has never gotten over the baby she gave birth to--and was forced to leave behind--when she was a teenager. She had promised her family she'd never look back, but Ruth knows that to move forward, she must make peace with the past. Returning home, Ruth discovers the Indiana factory town of her youth is plagued by unemployment, racism, and despair. As she begins digging into the past, she unexpectedly befriends Midnight, a young white boy who is also adrift and looking for connection. Just as Ruth is about to uncover a burning secret her family desperately wants to keep hidden, a traumatic incident strains the town's already searing racial tensions, sending Ruth and Midnight on a collision course that could upend both their lives. Powerful and revealing, The Kindest Lie captures the heartbreaking divide between Black and white communities and offers both an unflinching view of motherhood in contemporary America and the never-ending quest to achieve the American Dream.
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The Kindest Lie: a Novel | Nancy Johnson
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Pickpick

There were a lot of elements that I generally like in a book, but this one wasn‘t for me. I wasn‘t crazy about either narrator and just found it hard to stay fully engaged. Ended up skimming in places, though I did finish because I wanted to see how things got wrapped up.

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Nalbuque
The Kindest Lie: a Novel | Nancy Johnson
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Pickpick

Short novel, the second half rly had me speed listening! Didn‘t love the characters but if you can put up with them, there‘s a lot of interesting themes and food for thought! Hard to listen sometimes, in terms of racism, misogyny and bigotry.

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Kempfme
Kindest Lie | Nancy Johnson
Pickpick

This is one of my BOTM pile. A chemical engineer from Chicago is in search for the son that she put up for adoption 11 years ago. A sweet coming home type of read.

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S3V3N
The Kindest Lie: a Novel | Nancy Johnson
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Pickpick

My book club is still meeting virtually. We discussed The Kindest Lie today. We had a great discussion. I did not like the main character at all. It was a good story. I hate when I don‘t like the main character. LOL

Nute Was not on my radar, but seems to have a lot of buzz. What was the general consensus of your book club? 4y
HOTPock3tt Wish I had an IRL book club too!!! 💖 4y
S3V3N @Nute everyone loved it. It touched on a lot of things and was a good story. We had great discussion around the lie. 4y
S3V3N @HOTPock3tt I love it and can‘t wait to get back to in person meetings. We have food and wine and sit for at least 3 hours discussing a book. We are planning a weekend book club meet for our June/July meeting. #girlstrip 4y
36 likes4 comments
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Wife
The Kindest Lie: a Novel | Nancy Johnson
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Mehso-so

An ok story. A good reader (Shayna Small). But it‘s not going to be memorable for me. 2/5 ⭐️s

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S3V3N
The Kindest Lie: a Novel | Nancy Johnson
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Exercise and a great book! I have been slacking off with my exercise lately. I got back to walking while listening to the tagged book.

Reggie Great job! 4y
S3V3N @Reggie Thank you! 4y
26 likes2 comments
blurb
S3V3N
The Kindest Lie: a Novel | Nancy Johnson
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#FirstLineFriday @ShyBookOwl
“No one talked about what happened in the summer of 1997 in the house where Ruth Tuttle had grown up.”