Customer Reviews

Liar's Game (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

5 star:		(120)
4 star:		(61)
3 star:		(49)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Eric Jerome Dickey is a gifted writer who is able to capture the reader through both his snappy dialogue and his vivid, memorable characters. His niche is exploring relations between African-American men and women, and it's something that started with "Sister, Sister" and has built up to "Liar's Game." In the acknowledgements of "Liar's Game" the author claims in that he has tried to create an entirely new set of characters. However readers of his previous books will recognize Dana as a thinly disguised version of Chante from "Cheaters", who herself was a thinly disguised version of Shelby from "Friends and Lovers." All three women are self-centered, extremely unlikable women whose behavior at best is bizarre, and at worst is psychotic. Seeing this type of character in one book was fine, two books was irritating, but now three books is outrageous. The only purpose this character seems to serve is to shore up the theory that a good black man can't catch a break no matter how hard he tries. Unfortunately, Vince, the male character in "Liar's Game" only comes across as weak and indecisive. His and Dana's relationship is full of drama, and even given an author's flair for exaggeration, their decision to stay together is not at all convincing, as they say and do some terrible things to each other.

However, this book is a fast read and is entertaining in parts. The reader does come to care about the outcome and is eager to see how things turn out. However, for his next book, the author might want to serious think about getting out of the good-black-man-witchy-black-woman rut he's created for himself.

Eric Jerome Dickey's latest novel is set in Los Angeles and centers around Vince Brown and Dana Smith. The two meet in a bar and decide to keep parts of their pasts hidden. He hides the fact that he has an ex-wife and a child; she hides the fact that she left New York because of her ex who left her tapped out financially not to mention emotionally.

Vince and Dana embark on a relationship that seems destined for the altar. They are chugging along nicely until the truth derails their love train. The big question then becomes will love conquer all? Vince's struggle to see his daughter and Dana's struggle to be rid of her ex leads to a roller coaster ride of emotions.

The book's other characters, along with Mr. Dickey's wit and style produced a book that is a quick read, funny, and will certainly tug at the heart of any reader that has been in a relationship.

I was glued to this book and read in over the course of two days, but I think it was because I was waiting for it to get better. I wasn't satified with the Malaika/Kwanzaa storyline and didn't really understand the significance of the Juanita/ Naoimi characters. Don't get me wrong, I am a big EJD fan and have read each one of his books. However, this one pales in comparison to his other books. I like that EJD creates male characters that we sympathize with and end up caring about, but can we get a female lead that's not crazy for once? Overall, it was okay at best. Satifying read, but left me wanting for a whole lot more.

As a loyal "Friends and Lovers" fan, Liar's Game was a big disappointment. None of the character possessed the charm or complexity I have become accustomed to in previous EJD novels. Dana was a poor example of a woman, a true "bag lady" with emotional issues, financial debt and open scars from a previous relationship. She overreacted, and overanalyzed everything Vince said or did to her, but didn't seemed alarmed by her best friend's dangerous night job or poor taste in men. Vince was meek and vulnerable, and allowed Dana to trample all over his heart and then attempt to give him advice on how to repair his relationship with his daughter- with disastrous results. Harmonica was the only decent character, and for all his efforts to share his wisdom it feel on deaf ears.

I have always appreciated the interweaving plots in Dickey's books, but this particular story line had too much drama, and not enough depth for a real connection with the reader.

After reading all of Eric Jerome Dickey's books, this one disappointed me the most. Not only was it hard for me to concentrate on the book itself, but I could not feel any of the characters (especially not the lead female). The thing that really disappoints me is that when I try to recall specific parts in the book, I go blank. Nothing really stood out, except Miss Thang forwarding his calls to her pager, or the fact that she had to go to the bathroom to much. Even though this book was a disappointment to me, I will continue to buy others because I simply love his writing style and characters.

I was't not impressed with Liar's game at all. It lacked identity. I could not distinguish this book from Cheaters, Milk in My Coffee or Friends and Lovers. The characters were damn near identical. The same basic story line, boy meets girl, they date, have explicit sex, go through unrealistic drama, break up then go through some lame self exploration and some how work things out. The one positive thing that I want to say is there was no "Jerry Springer" drama in this one. I think Mr. Dickey tried to go for substance this time around. I for one am pleased about that. Of course I like to read about folks clowning and acting a fool, just not all the time, I want susbtance. I want to take something away from the novel. Which brings me to my final point. What was this story about? What was I susposed to get from reading this? I couldn't find the moral or the point of view of this story. Mr. Dickey I think that you are a talented author but this one left something to be desired. Waiting for your next one.

I have loved all of Eric's books, Milk in My Coffee being my favorite. I couldn't wait for this book to come out and the second it did, I dropped coin for it. And was disappointed. Not completely, but enough. It's a HARD book to get into, mainly because the characters are so damn unlikeable! That may be the intent, to create very flawed people but these people had REAL problems. I can't remember the last time I had to close a book and walk away from it because of the characters. Dana, annoyed me to no end with her whining, peeing and basic ghetto-flaky attitude and Vince had no spine, to the point where I wondered how he could walk upright. With her trippin and him letting her, I gave up on this book a couple of time. Now the secondary characters were alright and kept me entertained but most folks don't buy books for the side act. For those who want to say they have all EJD's books, then you should buy it. For those looking for a good read, they might want to pass on this one. It's just too irritating to be good.

This was not my favorite book and I could not finish it. In the beginning of the book, the character Vince sounded just like Tyrel of Friends & Lovers, Jordan in Milk in My Coffee, Stephan & Darnell in Cheaters. I can't distinguish one book from another. Eric Dickey may be a talented writer, however all of his books are "just alike" only characters with different names, but same quick-wit, fast talking, ghetto-fabulous personalities. His writing is Commerical Fiction at its best and that's why he's on the New Times Best Sellers list and I understand why. I'm not hateing on a brother, but I would like to read some stories from him that deal with characters who are more developed and have depth to their lives. I will keeping reading his works, hopefully I will be able to get through the next book without hearing the same voices and stories again.

I am an avid reader of Eric Jerome Dickey's books and this is not his best work. When I first heard about this book I bought it on the release date and expected it to be a book full of serious drama based upon the title. Was I ever so "wrong". This book didn't live up to it's title at all. The lies that were told were very petty which lacked drama like someone getting caught cheating and having to deal with the reprecussions. I was not a good read at all, quite dull. The only good part in the book was the end.

I am a huge fan of Mr. Dickey's works. This one was not his best. I wanted to slap the mess out of Dana so many times it was not even funny. All of his other books had twist and turns that make you want to keep reading to see what happens next...This one made me want to keep reading so that I could get it over with. If you have never been a fan of his works or never read his works than this is not a good book to start with. Read his other one's first.