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Big Little Lies

Have you watched the series? It was magnificent. Anyway I feel like I am gonna do away doing reviews in this blog because I feel like I have to ramble long and it is a bother to find image and synopsis. I am lazy. However maybe some exceptional books I will make an exception.

And since I feel like I wanna talk about Big Little Lies both the series and book, so there it is.


Also now Emmy nominated series.

The synopsis of the book which almost the same can be described of the series:

Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads (taken from Goodreads below):

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?) 
Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay. 
New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

I will say of the series because I watched it first before deciding to read the book, the series was incredibly scripted and nuanced.

Madeline played by Reese Witherspoon is a fiery little thing and whose embodiment of Madeline is maddeningly incredible and feisty and funny. Celeste is played by perfection by Nicole Kidman. Nicole Kidman can always play frail but strong minded woman hiding a secret. There can be no other actress can do Celeste justice. She can play layers beautifully. And Shailene Woodley whom I was not a fan of, certainly hold her own against the 2 leading lady.

Every actor and actress even the children are cast perfectly. And the visual is mesmerizing. Who doesn't want to live there. The music of the series , I played constantly on my Spotify. You should look it up. It is a gem.

The series pacing is well thought of. It builds the suspense and momentum and up the tension week by week. The only complain people have of it, is it is a story of "white people problem".

But when we takes away the privilege and the settings, a story of domestic abuse and sexual assault is never simple. It is everywhere. And that one scene between Celeste and her therapist was ... groundbreaking. It breaks my wall of thinking on why does women find it so hard to point finger to a domestic abuser.

As for the book, I can see why Reese Witherspoon picked it up to be made as a series. It was well written, well thought out of. However I have to say the series far surpassed the book, in term of nuances and direction of the story.

In the book it is more direct, more enlightening but if you compared it to the series, you will find the series have the creative edge more and of course a play on visual and music can set the mood. The director Jean Marc-Vallee takes on how he played out the character and the settings is incredible. Almost genius. You can see a lot of thought are being put in each scen. But the book does provide a wee bit explanation. Madeline story is given more to do in the series than in the books, but neither story is better than the other. The book is a bit forgettable I have to say, rather than the louder voice of Jane can be heard in the book. And also the detective and reporter makes more sense in the book.

Other than that, it was great. Both in the series and the book the gossip account given by the people living the area is abit unnecessary. It does not bring out anything. Maybe it does set it apart from other story, but if it is taken out altogether, will not be missed.

My summary. Watch the series, you can forget the book. However the book does provide a quicker insight into the character and it is quite enjoyable.


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