Carregando
Stories with unreliable narrators
This literary device requires the reader to question everything.
Publicado em 02 de Maio de 2023
You: A Novel
Caroline Kepnes“Gone Girl” meets “Gossip Girl” in this unnerving novel about how easy it is in our hyper-connected digital age to become prey to stalking (or, to become a stalker yourself). Narrator Joe Goldberg will do whatever it takes to win — or worm — his way into Guinevere Beck’s heart. What’s even creepier, he truly believes he’s doing it all for love.
The White Tiger: A Novel
Aravind AdigaThis Man Booker Prize-winning novel captures the duality of India: A beautiful and plentiful country with seemingly insurmountable income inequality and corruption. The main character and narrator, Balram Halwai, is a hard-working and charming man trying to build a better life for himself. He’s also a murderer.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things: A Novel
Iain ReidThis critically acclaimed Canadian thriller is a psychological saga for the ages. Jake’s girlfriend (the narrator) is thinking of leaving him (as the title suggests), but she agrees to go to an awkward dinner with his parents on their eerie farm. Readers and the narrator alike are left out of the loop as the evening gets progressively more tense and terrifying.
In a Dark, Dark Wood
Ruth WareNora, the novel’s narrator, wakes in the hospital worse for wear and filled with dread. All she remembers is attending her estranged friend’s bachelorette party in the woods. She slowly recalls the events of the weekend, her unease growing with every flashback. True to form, Ware successfully builds tension and intrigue chapter after chapter in this suspenseful story with a surprise ending.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Michelle HodkinMara Dyer narrates the aftermath of a terrible accident that killed her friends and boyfriend, as she has little memory of what occurred that dark day. She tries to move on, but the dead won’t stay buried, and Mara’s new boyfriend seems a little too invested in her reemerging memories. Discerning what’s real and what’s not is no simple task in this first installment in the “Mara Dyer Series.”
Fight Club
Chuck PalahniukAnarchy and increasing levels of madness draw you into Palahniuk’s debut novel. The unnamed narrator and his new friend Tyler Durden form “Fight Club,” a secret underground organization of men who break free from life’s tedium by beating the crap out of each other and heading to work the next day as if nothing happened.
Shutter Island
Dennis LehaneAshecliffe Hospital on Shutter Island houses only the most dangerous, criminally insane patients. When one of them disappears, U.S. Marshal (and narrator) Teddy Daniels arrives to search for her, but Ashecliffe and its inhabitants aren’t quite right. Follow this mind-bending thriller through layers of mystery that will have you doubting the motives — and sanity — of everyone involved.
The Night Guest: A Novel
Fiona McFarlaneRuth is our 75-year-old narrator who lives alone and hears strange things in the night. When Frida arrives claiming to be a government-issued caretaker, Ruth is glad for the company, though she doesn’t recall requesting any assistance. Ruth’s experiences only get weirder from there. McFarlane’s debut is a slow descent into self-doubt, and its brilliance lies in its themes of aging and dependence.
The Other Mother: A Novel
Carol GoodmanA new mother narrates her struggles with a postpartum mood disorder. She relies more and more on a friend and fellow mother for support, but the closer the women get, the more intertwined their identities become. Repressed memories, an austere mansion in the woods, manipulative husbands, and an insane asylum pepper this twisting psychological thriller. Readers will have a hard time putting down “The Other Mother” as the pieces fall steadily into place.
The Silent Patient
Alex MichaelidesIn Michaelides’ debut, painter Alicia is convicted of murdering her husband, but she refuses to talk after his death. Psychotherapist Dr. Faber is particularly determined to hear her side of the story. The story is told from Dr. Faber’s point of view, though we get another perspective via journal entries by Alicia. “The Silent Patient” has been a perpetual favorite since its 2019 release.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Mark HaddonWhen Christopher, a 15-year-old math genius with autism, discovers his neighbor’s dog has been killed, he starts investigating the murder. Christopher’s narration is inventive and subtly funny, and it opens readers’ eyes to his rich inner-world. The title of this highly-acclaimed gem comes from a Sherlock Holmes quote.
Life of Pi: A Novel
Yann MartelMartel’s international blockbuster tells the story of Piscine (Pi) Patel, set adrift with a tiger after the ship carrying his family’s zoo to Canada sinks. When Pi washes up in Mexico weeks later and tells his fantastical story, the reader must decide what’s true and what’s allegory.
Notes on a Scandal: What Was She Thinking?: A Novel
Zoe HellerHeller’s novel explores obsession, power, and resentment. Sheba Hart, an alluring art teacher, is arrested for having an affair with a student. Her homely colleague Barbara Covett defends Sheba, but is it out of loyalty or something darker? The title refers to Barbara’s written notes about Sheba’s arrest and actions, which is how the story is told.
Allegedly
Tiffany D. JacksonAt only nine-years-old, Mary Addison, a Black girl, is convicted of murdering a white infant. Years later, Mary is a teenager living in a group home. When she becomes pregnant, Mary finally speaks out: She didn’t kill the baby, and she wants her freedom. Jackson’s novel includes old police interviews and media articles along with Mary’s narration, all of which help the reader piece together the truth. It’s as much a mystery/thriller as it is a condemnation of the criminal justice system.
All My Friends
Marie NDiayeThis disconcerting short story collection explores the dark secrets we all carry. Each self-sabotaging narrator is disconnected with others and struggling with hidden desires, and throughout “All My Friends” we see sides of human nature that most people attempt to hide from friends and family. NDiaye’s prose is engrossing as it successfully builds unease in readers.
Report on Probability A
Brian W. AldissSamuel Beckett meets speculative fiction in one of Aldiss’ most acclaimed works. The Marys are being watched — their every move compiled and reported to another dimension. Those spying on the couple are also being watched, and so on and so on in a never ending loop of surveillance. The walls may feel like they’re closing in as you read this novella, which largely unfolds as the titular report, but you still won’t want to put it down.
A Head Full of Ghosts
Paul TremblayTry to discern the truth as “A Head Full of Ghosts” moves quickly between past and present. Narrator Merry Barrett is interviewed by a writer, sharing the events that destroyed her family 15 years ago. Back then, Merry’s older sister Marjorie exhibited signs of schizophrenia, so her parents turned to exorcism and allowed a film crew to watch. But their televised account differs wildly from Merry’s disturbing memories.
Lying in Wait: A Novel
Liz NugentNugent (“Unraveling Oliver”) doesn’t wrap up her thrillers in a tidy bow — and that’s what makes them so wonderfully creepy. Lydia has a dark secret (actually, she has a few). When her son begins to put two and two together, she’ll stop at nothing to keep her family intact. “Lying in Wait” is a mystery within a mystery, offering snippets from the past until the eerie end with narrations by Lydia as well as her son.
13 Minutes: A Novel
Sarah PinboroughAn icy plunge left Natasha dead for 13 minutes before she was revived. Now, she enlists the help of a former friend (long forgotten when Tasha became popular) to uncover the truth of that night. Take nothing at face value in this fast-paced and engrossing page-turner told from multiple perspectives, one of which is untrustworthy.