or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
More Buying Choices
93 used & new from $0.74

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Real Life & Liars
 
 

Real Life & Liars (Paperback)

~ (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

List Price: $13.99
Price: $10.07 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $3.92 (28%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Only 3 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want it delivered Tuesday, November 17? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
47 new from $1.10 46 used from $0.74

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
  Kindle Edition, June 16, 2009 $9.99 -- --
  Paperback, May 31, 2009 $10.07 $1.10 $0.74

Frequently Bought Together

Real Life & Liars + Velva Jean Learns to Drive: A Novel + The Help
Price For All Three: $27.46

Show availability and shipping details

  • This item: Real Life & Liars by Kristina Riggle

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Velva Jean Learns to Drive: A Novel by Jennifer Niven

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • The Help by Kathryn Stockett

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Beach House

Beach House

by Georgia Bockoven
4.7 out of 5 stars (18)  $10.07
Home Repair

Home Repair

by Liz Rosenberg
4.7 out of 5 stars (26)  $10.07
Baggage Claim

Baggage Claim

by Tanya Michna
5.0 out of 5 stars (2)  $10.20
The Late, Lamented Molly Marx: A Novel

The Late, Lamented Molly Marx: A Novel

by Sally Koslow
4.1 out of 5 stars (91)  $16.50
The Weight of Silence

The Weight of Silence

by Heather Gudenkauf
4.1 out of 5 stars (85)  $10.04
Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Zielinskis, the dysfunctional family of Riggle's delightful debut, have some problems, even if things at Mirabelle and Max's 35th anniversary party—thrown by their three adult children—at first seem peachy. Soon, though, the cracks appear: daughter Katya's stuck in a loveless marriage and saddled with three bratty kids. Son Ivan's a struggling songwriter who falls for all the wrong girls, and the youngest daughter, Irina, is a free-spirited 21-year-old, knocked up by a man twice her age. There's just no more room in their lives for another problem, but Mirabelle has a secret—she's dying of breast cancer. With ease and grace, Riggle walks the fine line between sentimentality and comedy, and she has a sure hand in creating fun, quirky characters. Humorous and humane storytelling makes this much better than the standard cancer tear-jerker. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From Booklist

Mirabelle and Max Zielinski’s children have returned home for their parents’ thirtieth anniversary. Mirabelle must tell them that she was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer, but they’re preoccupied with their own crises. Katya, the eldest, hides behind a perfectly controlled front, but her marriage and affluent lifestyle are in jeopardy. Ivan, the moody middle child, keeps pursuing the wrong women and can’t get his songwriting career off the ground. The youngest, Irina, shows up with a surprise husband and pregnancy. Faced with her mortality, Mirabelle is stricken by how her children have diverged from her hippie upbringing and wonders if they still need her. Riggle crafts a moving and accomplished first novel about a family coming to terms with change. The characters are familiar but not stereotypical, and the quaint setting of Charlevoix, Michigan, a beachfront town, adds to the nostalgic feel. --Aleksandra Walker

Product Details

  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Avon A; 1 edition (June 16, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0061706280
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061706288
  • Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #153,719 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category: (What's this?)

    #66 in  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Cancer > Breast Cancer

More About the Author

Kristina Riggle
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Visit Amazon's Kristina Riggle Page

Inside This Book (learn more)
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Real Life & Liars
76% buy the item featured on this page:
Real Life & Liars 4.7 out of 5 stars (9)
$10.07
The Help
9% buy
The Help 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,123)
$12.00
Velva Jean Learns to Drive: A Novel
7% buy
Velva Jean Learns to Drive: A Novel 4.6 out of 5 stars (27)
$5.39
Home Repair
5% buy
Home Repair 4.7 out of 5 stars (26)
$10.07

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

 

Customer Reviews

9 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Debut Novel, July 12, 2009
I am very happy to say that REAL LIFE AND LIARS was a fantastic book. I always seem to enjoy books that are heavy on character development and deal with intense family dynamics, so it wasn't a big surprise to me how much I appreciated this novel. I became absorbed in the story and the characters from the start and had a hard time putting this book down. I was also extremely touched by this story because it pointed out to me how difficult it can be for families to just get along with each other -- an all too real situation for many families. The parts of the book that dealt with resentment and sibling rivalry were very honest looks at dysfunctional families as well as terrific material for a story about family dynamics. I think many readers will relate in some way to this story.

I absolutely love how Ms. Riggle chose to tell this story. The book consisted of many brief chapters from Mira and her children's points-of-view. For some reason, this format really kept me reading because it seemed like each short chapter left me wanting for more. I thought it was so creative how even though the chapters told each person's part of the story, only Mira's chapters were written in first person narrative. I thought this was crucial to my enjoyment of the novel because I didn't always relate to Mira. Being able to get into Mira's head and "hear" all her thoughts really helped me to not only understand Mira, but also to better understand the entire family.

I also enjoyed all of the characters in this story, and I thought Ms. Riggle developed them so well. That's not to say that I would want to be friends with all of them, but I thought each character was very real and made the book very interesting. When I was first introduced to the characters, I wasn't quite sure that I was going to "like" any of them. Every character in the family had their fair share of issues; and I often times found myself wanting to knock some sense into them. It seemed to me that each member of the Zielinkski family was extremely self-absorbed and unappreciative. However, as I read their stories and learned more about them, I realized why they were like this and I was hopeful that they could change. I was saddened that it took a family crisis to make these characters aware of what's important in life; but if that's what it took to wake them up, then I guess something good came out of the bad.

It's almost hard to believe that REAL LIFE AND LIARS is Ms. Riggles' debut novel because it is just so good. I loved her writing style and how she told this story; and I think she did a marvelous job of developing the characters. If you'd like to learn more about Ms. Riggle and her book, you can listen to the BlogTalk Radio show that was taped a few months ago. In addition, there is a great section in the back of the book called A+ Author Insights, Extra, & More which includes discussion questions and an author Q&A. I was so excited to read that Ms. Riggle is already busy at work with another book that deals with complex family relationships -- I can't wait to read it.

REAL LIFE AND LIARS would make a marvelous book club discussion book! I would find it hard to believe that anyone would not enjoy this novel, and I can only imagine how much fun it would be to discuss this family and all their mixed-up dynamics. As I mentioned earlier, there are
discussion questions located in the back of the book (if you feel like you need them.) Of course since I'm a sucker for books that deal with complicated family relationships, I appreciate the questions that focus on Mira and her dealing with her children. I also like the question that delves into what effect (if any) does birth order have on each of the three kids. Having said that, all of the questions are really very thought-provoking and sure to create a great deal of conversation.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific page-turner, July 7, 2009
I adored this first novel by [...] fiction coeditor, Kristina Riggle. The novel takes place over the course of a weekend, when Mira Zielinski's three grown children come home to celebrate their parents' wedding anniversary. I loved all the characters, from the knowing but flawed Mira, her distracted novelist husband Max, and then their three kids: Katya, a suburban mother of three who, as Mira puts it, "drags [her younger siblings] along under the wheels of her train"; Ivan, a struggling songwriter who can't see the love that's right in front of him; and Irina, who is accidentally (reluctantly) pregnant and married to a man who isn't going to let her screw it up. They are vivid and engaging, and the writing is terrific; I kept stopping to reread sentences, letting the images sink in, and to wonder, with pleasure and admiration, "How did she think of that!?"
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
5.0 out of 5 stars Not to be missed!, September 24, 2009
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
I just finished REAL LIFE & LIARS and now I want more of this fantastic book. It surprised me in so many ways, from the way it was told, to the characters and ethereal, but warm, family setting, to the weaving of one family's turmoils into a quilt of joy and revelation. The author did an excellent job of creating each character's story and then leading me through the maze of conflicts and resolutions. I loved the writing. Loved each character for different reasons, and laughed many times. Do yourself a favor and read this novel. I think I may just reread it again!
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!
Real Life & Liars (Avon Books) is Kristina Riggle's debut novel and it is, in one word, amazing! It is the kind of book you want to curl into on a rainy Sunday and finish in one... Read more
Published 1 month ago by BookFinds

5.0 out of 5 stars Family dynamics
I enjoy reading books about family dynamics. Each family member has his/her own role that allows the family to function. In Real Life and Liars, Ms. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Shon

5.0 out of 5 stars A new writer to notice
Every reader will see some of themselves and their own family dysfunction in the Zielinski's, a troupe of troubled Michiganders who come together to celebrate Max and Mira's 35th... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Tara Staley

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Fiction by New Author
I read this book in two evenings - which is not unusual for me. What is unusual is that I am so not done. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Sherry Mandel

3.0 out of 5 stars Is any family functional?
Meet the Zielinski family as Mirabelle and Max welcome home their kids, in-laws, and grandkids to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Sacramento Book Review

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning Debut
LOVED it. Funny, suspenseful, affecting and just downright wonderful. It's amazing this is a debut book. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Karin Gillespie

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   



So You'd Like to...


Create a guide

Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.