The Liar's Dictionary: A winner of the 2021 Betty Trask Awards

There is considerable hype surrounding this novel and puff after puff from distinguished writers and critics. I really wanted to like it and the premise seemed intriguing, literary and entertaining. However, the writing, for me, is painfully clunky and downright dull. The characters are mere caricatures, the plot non-existent and the pacing is all over the place. There are excruciatingly bad scenes where the pursuit of wit and inventiveness proves fruitless.The Frosham party scene is a good example. The writing here is so bad it grates like fingernails on a blackboard. Unfortunately, the wordplay that assumes the starring role of intelligent prose-making in the novel is laboured and obvious and makes for clunky intrusions rather than the intended delightful artistry. Hysterically overhyped in my opinion. Pick up an Iris Murdoch instead. There are loads of them. Witty, intelligent and entertaining.

I quite enjoyed the first thirty pages, which I read in one sitting. After that, I found it very difficult to get back into the contrived, sometimes laboured prose whenever I picked the book up. The writing just isn't good enough to read as a thing on its own. I do wonder if this style particularly suits short stories - and Eley Williams' previous book, Attrib, is a short story collection. The Liar's Dictionary just collapsed under the (necessary) weight of a novel for me. A very unsatisfactory read.

This is a book for word nerds. Fortunately I am one. I must admit I was worried it would be a bit too clever for my normal reading and when it arrived I didn’t know if the dust jacket was on upside down as a mistake by the publishers or it was some kind of convoluted initiative test. That aside, I read it slowly and joyously, rereading favourite phrases and cringing in empathy with the awkwardness of the two protagonists whose social gaffs were only too redolent of my own as an intern and in my early career. Although the plot is more pedestrian than the wickedly precise prose, it is not lacking for interest and several of the characters stayed with me far beyond my finishing of the book. A debut novel too marvellous for words. Williams’ short story collection Attrib. is also worth reading.

Rest assured, these two chapters make a truly satisfying conclusion to what is undauntedly a classic work of literature, fit to stand by the likes of Tristram Shandy and Rameau’s Nephew. And also to stand by any great poetry/prose that makes play of word magic. A romcom, too, the meaninglessness of any job, even with a stake in conspiracies and hidden meanings. Here we also hear of secrets, we all have secrets...My detailed review of this book elsewhere under my name is far too long to post here, but above is part of its conclusion.

I loved the idea - I'm very much into words and their meanings,and to add the plot of a nineteenth century misfit creating boguswords that a twentieth century intern was tasked to track down and removeis brilliant. The characters are well drawn too, and stick in yourmind. What spoilt it for me was the ending, Too neat, too trite.I ended up just thinking 'well, what was the point of all that?'