Genre: Historical Fiction

Mitch Albom’s The Little Liar does not disappoint. He expertly weaves together the stories of three Jewish children: Nico, Sebastian, and Fannie from their childhood in Salonika, Greece at the beginning of World War II. Their paths tragically cross with that of Udo Graff, a German Nazi officer. Nico, a child who never lies, is tricked into lying. The tragedy that follows changes the entire trajectory of his personality and so his life. Sebastian who is already jealous and a bit bitter becomes even more so. Fanny who loves them both in her way, completes a painful journey of her own. Udo Graff remains unbearably cruel throughout. Narrated by Truth, this book explores WWII, the horror it brings, and the hope that survives.

Albom is a master storyteller. I will read whatever he writes and was late to this one. In a short work he creates complex characters: representing pure evil, jealousy, survival and self loathing. I quickly became engrossed in their world.Albom weaves together multiple narrative perspectives seamlessly, creating suspense and intrigue. I have read so many accounts of WWII and was not at all familiar with the events as they transpired in Greece. Impeccably researched, Albom makes this horrific world come alive. While I didn’t get exactly the ending I wanted, I got the ending that is most realistic for this period in time.

I currently live in a world where people talk about war quite casually. We see the carnage in real time on TV. Many think that they would welcome war. The cost of war is enormous. The effects go on for far longer than many realize. These ideas are well illustrated in The Little Liar by Mitch Albom. Literature helps us to learn and to remember. We would do well to do both.