Customer Reviews

The Lie: A Novel

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I've been reading a lot of fratire books lately and this one is definitely one of my favorites. I liked Kutgen's other book "the Average American Male" and I think this one is even better. It has the same sort of crude man humor, but it also has a much more interesting plot. Also, the story is told from the perspective of three main characters which gives you a cool look into how they see the same things differently. The Brett character is hilarious. The inhumane (this is an understatement) things he does to women is so outrageously funny that the author should consider writing another book just about Brett. I know it's only fiction, but it is darn funny to read about. Reading things from the character Heather's perspective reminds me of why I dumped my last girlfriend. She and Heather are both snobby, materialistic, sorority girls without a clue. Great job Kultgen and bring on the next one.

The way this story is told between three different perspectives is fun to read and I'm surprised this writing style is not used more often. I think the story itself is entertaining, but selectively accurate at best.

The character Brett is not believable. His attitude about women, Yes, but the prolific ability he has to bed down new women and get them to defile themselves for his own personal entertainment is a gross exaggeration of the power that guys like Brett really have over women. Yes, women do look at a guy's (or his family's) bank account, but we look at a lot of other things too. And even if a girl is after a guy for his money, there are personal limits she will not cross to pursue him. Another issue I have with the character Brett is that the whole money thing is not that big of a deal among college students because most girls know they are probably not going to marry any of the guys they date at school. And many girls are no different than guys in wanting to sleep around and party. They are looking for fun, not money.

The character Heather seems to display this "I just want to have fun" mentality at certain points in the book and I give the author credit for capturing the dialogue, demeanor, and nonchalant sexual attitude of college girls.

The character Kyle is probably the most authentic of the three main characters and I suspect this is because he is the closest of the three to match the author's own personality and experiences. You get a real feeling for this guy's attitude on life, his fears, and his regrets.

I really didn't like the author's constant barrage of negative commentary directed towards the Christian roommate. This is a straw man attack of Christians and comes across as a personal vendetta. I'm not a born again Christian or anything, but most Christians do not shove their Christianity down your throat and do not pray for you because they think your non-belief is a one-way ticket to hell.

The bottom line. I enjoyed The Lie and will probably read the author's other book. Another good college book is Goat by Brad? or Brian Land.

I read and rated Kultgen's first novel "The Average American Male" a 5 star. It was a shock ridden parady of young male (and female) characters led around by their hormones and genitals.
But reading more of the same in The Lie shows Kultgen needs another story. This is simply The Average American Male redux with a slightly different cast of characters and even more casual sex. What was interesting and provactive once, comes off as just a little boy on the playground who shocked teachers and parents with a dirty word now repeating it ad nauseum.

This is my first Chad Kultgen read. The storyline is inconceivable and repulsive yet comical.

Brett, the son of a wealthy businessman has little admiration for women. This borderline psychopath isn't interested in holy matrimony, parenthood or operating his father's empire. Brett merely craves evoking as much agony and degradation as possible. His companionship with fellow student, Kyle, is Brett's only semi-rational relationship with another human being.

An intellectual bookworm, Kyle aspires to attend medical school. Unfortunately, he meets and falls in love with a dim-witted, self-seeking and untrustworthy freshman named, Heather.

Heather attends college with the hope of acquiring a successful husband. She sets her sights on Brett but settles for Kyle instead. Like SERIOUSLY, why didn't Heather simply utilize her brain for once in her pathetic life?

I do consider most of the context distasteful. Frankly, I'm a bit mystified that my best friend recommended it. On the flip side, the author's tale is both appalling and brilliant.

Rating: 8

Plot: 8

Characters: 8 (although jaded at times)

Ending: 8

Enjoyment: 8

Cover: 8

I live near Dallas and I've got friends from SMU who would have been close to the same class as these characters, super entertaining, many "OMG did I just read that" moments. I'll be reading more Kultgen books in the future.

Awesome read. It's true what this books says about bitches. There are girls like heather and then there are girls like erin; Sadly, more girls like heather. Brett's character was great. It was easy to relate to him as a guy.His lie is something we all tell ourselves. Kyle was alright - like a normal pussy whipped guy. You can tell it's a good book when the sad ending bothers you. This is Chad Kultgen's second book that i have read and i have enjoyed both of them. Onto the third one.

In his second novel Chad used the same gimmick as in his first: shockingly detailed descriptions of people's thoughts on sex. This time around, though, we have more of a story to fall back on. We actually get to know three different characters who all go about their business in a believable way. And a heavy dose of foreshadowing makes for a mysterious undertone to the novel that will keep us going. The ultimate conclusion is an unexpected one, but perhaps not as strong a conclusion as all the foreshadowing implied.

Good try, third one should be the charm.

This was a great quick read. The story was really entertaining. It's not very intellectual or anything and not exactly expertly written, but very entertaining. I recommend it to any young person who recently went to college.

I loved this book, from its faced paced chapter layout, to the way the story is told by three people in the first person, there is a lot to be had in Chad Kultgen's "The Lie." If you enjoyed his first book, you will like this book (and being almost double the length, you get more for your money). The only gripe I have is that the ending was absolutely horrible, but i guess it is a life lesson that we all need to accept. Anyway, great book, excellent writing, will read again.

This book is hilarious and extremely entertaining. I could not put it down and read it very quickly. From someone who doesn't read much at all that's a pretty big compliment.