The Kindest Lie : Book review


Book review

 

Title: The Kindest Lie

Author: Nancy Johnson

Genre: Fiction

 

The Kindest Lie is a poignant portrayal of how lies and secrets impact lives.  It’s the story of a woman who carries a secret from the past that she must confront before starting a family with the man she loves. 

 

The story is set around the time of the election of the nation’s first black President, Barack Obama. We have our protogonist  Ruth a Yale graduate Black woman engineer and her husband Xavier. When Xavier is eager to start a family, Ruth is forced to confront her past memories –a baby boy she was forced to give up when she was a teenager. She is curious to know the whereabouts of her son and goes back to her home town to discover the truth. During her quest, she befriends a white boy named Midnight. She stumbles upon secrets and witnesses traumatic instances that are a manifestation of the racial tensions in the community. 

 

 The story is set in Chicago and Indiana and alternates between the point of view of Ruth and Midnight. The author explores the several complex layers of race and class. The intersection between the Black and White community is showcased with great care. Especially in the relationship between Ruth and Midnight which is one of the strong and tender points in the book. Both these characters are similar in their mission-each haunted by their painful past and are searching for the truth. The book also raises a pertinent question of a sense of belonging. Besides, race and class, motherhood is another theme explored here. 


The Kindest Lie is emotional and a realistic depiction of resentment between races and communities.  While its' set around 2008-2009, it has a lot of contemporary relevance which makes it an effective read. 

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