On my quest to read my own damn books (a.k.a. the books I own and keep ignoring for any other book coming my way) I decided to give The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge a listen through the audiobook, narrated by Emilia Fox. It was a great decision, if I do say so myself. The book has been variously categorized as both adult and young adult fiction but honestly this reads middle-grade to me; possibly because of the youthful nature to its protagonist, Faith; and I’m here for it. The Lie Tree follows a family escaping scandal from gloomy England to an isolated island, where tragedy soon strikes and investigations are set off by the young daughter of an infamous Reverend and nature scientist. The atmosphere on the island and the attitude of its inhabitants is hostile and unwelcoming to Faith and her family, as the scandal they tried to leave behind catches up to them and spreads through the small community they find themselves in. Faith’s father becomes entangled in his past. She tries to find answers to his fate, what they left behind them, and a mysterious specimen that lies at the heart of it all.
If you’re a fan of the Victorian era, you’ll likely find many of the ingredients to The Lie Tree a joy – as I did. Mourning photography and memento moris peak through these pages, fossil hunting and women’s place in the natural sciences is explored, the clashes between science and religion of the time becomes a central strand of the plot. Perhaps most vibrantly is the theme of women’s lack of freedom in consequence of gender norms and expectations. At the same time the book shows several examples of women fighting against and stepping over the lines they have been expected to stay within. If you know anything about the time period’s scientific debate, much of what is touched on in the book rings true. Hardinge never really goes into depth either on the science-religion conflict, the nature sciences themselves and the development of evolutionary theory, or women’s rights for that matter, but the way she weaves in these historical threads into a gothic mystery with a young amateur sleuth of sorts makes for an entertaining romp all the same.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: The Lie Tree
Author: Frances Hardinge
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Audio
Publishing Year: 2016 (2015)
Genre: historical fiction, mystery
curious readerr 