A Beautiful Lie
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Review
`Another memorable debut novel . . . Beautifully told this debut is set in 1940's India at the time of the Partition, with themes of tolerance that still resonate today'
--The Bookseller
`A challenging but extremely rewarding book dealing with big themes of truth, prejudice, and friendship, but also the simple love of a boy for his father. The Indian setting conjures up a society on the brink of change, rich in period detail and geographical beauty, and the characters are attractive and vividly drawn. A fascinating introduction to a vital moment in history. Though beware - the ending will make you cry' --Daily Mail
`This is a refreshing first novel, simply and expertly told. A great debut'
--Ink Pellet
`Irfan Master has created a richly detailed portrait of India in 1947 and peopled it with a collection of well realised characters, each of them almost strong enough to merit a novel in their own right' --Guardian
`Bilal's love and care for his father is touchingly told in a rich and accessible narrative... He is a writer with much to offer' --Books for Keeps Books for Keeps Books for Keeps
`It has a strong plot and manages to combine serious themes with moments of humour' --Welovethisbook.com
`Powerful and thought-provoking . . . This is a stunning debut novel by a new author who deserves all the praise that should now come his way'
--The School Librarian
--The Bookseller
`A challenging but extremely rewarding book dealing with big themes of truth, prejudice, and friendship, but also the simple love of a boy for his father. The Indian setting conjures up a society on the brink of change, rich in period detail and geographical beauty, and the characters are attractive and vividly drawn. A fascinating introduction to a vital moment in history. Though beware - the ending will make you cry' --Daily Mail
`This is a refreshing first novel, simply and expertly told. A great debut'
--Ink Pellet
`Irfan Master has created a richly detailed portrait of India in 1947 and peopled it with a collection of well realised characters, each of them almost strong enough to merit a novel in their own right' --Guardian
`Bilal's love and care for his father is touchingly told in a rich and accessible narrative... He is a writer with much to offer' --Books for Keeps Books for Keeps Books for Keeps
`It has a strong plot and manages to combine serious themes with moments of humour' --Welovethisbook.com
`Powerful and thought-provoking . . . This is a stunning debut novel by a new author who deserves all the praise that should now come his way'
--The School Librarian
Product Description
An extraordinarily rich debut novel, set in India in 1947 at the time of Partition. Although the backdrop is this key event in Indian history, the novel is even more far-reaching, touching on the importance of tolerance, love and family. The main character is Bilal, a boy determined to protect his dying father from the news of Partition - news that he knows will break his father's heart. With great spirit and determination, and with the help of his good friends, Bilal persuades others to collude with him in this deception, even printing false pages of the local newspaper to hide the ravages of unrest from his father. All that Bilal wants is for his father to die in peace. But that means Bilal has a very complicated relationship with the truth...
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A Beautiful Lie is the first debut novel I've read this year and what a way to start 2011! A Beautiful Lie is absolutely stunning, Master's writing is superb and I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next.
In true Writing from the Tub tradition I shed more than a couple of tears while reading A Beautiful Lie - especially at the climax of the novel. Absolutely heart breaking. If you've read this one I'm sure you'll agree.
Bilal and his friends are so true to life that I couldn't help but be drawn into their world and feel as though I was going through everything they were. The boys go to great lengths to try and hide news of Partition from Bilal's dying father and it's clear that Master undertook so much research while writing the book - including travelling to India, and this really shines through in A Beautiful Lie.
I have to admit that Partition isn't something I had much knowledge of before reading A Beautiful Lie but I've read a lot more about the topic since so I'm really pleased Master is helping to bring this topic to YA fiction, as I haven't come across it in a YA novel before.
A Beautiful Lie is a gorgeous debut and I'd really recommend it. It will break your heart, it will make you cry but as the close the final pages I promise you'll do so with a smile on your face.
In true Writing from the Tub tradition I shed more than a couple of tears while reading A Beautiful Lie - especially at the climax of the novel. Absolutely heart breaking. If you've read this one I'm sure you'll agree.
Bilal and his friends are so true to life that I couldn't help but be drawn into their world and feel as though I was going through everything they were. The boys go to great lengths to try and hide news of Partition from Bilal's dying father and it's clear that Master undertook so much research while writing the book - including travelling to India, and this really shines through in A Beautiful Lie.
I have to admit that Partition isn't something I had much knowledge of before reading A Beautiful Lie but I've read a lot more about the topic since so I'm really pleased Master is helping to bring this topic to YA fiction, as I haven't come across it in a YA novel before.
A Beautiful Lie is a gorgeous debut and I'd really recommend it. It will break your heart, it will make you cry but as the close the final pages I promise you'll do so with a smile on your face.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This debut novel is a book wonderful in both its writing and its scope. Bilal is a likeable character whose motivations you can understand and wholly sympathise with, despite the fact they're based on a lie- no matter how beautiful.It is hugely evocative, full of atmospheric descriptions that really help you gain a sense of the time and place during which it's set. There are some heart-warming scenes that make you smile accompanied by gorgeous imagery. However, be warned, there are also heart-breaking moments and an underlying tension and sense of pathos running throughout. Despite the strength of the friendship between Bilal and his friends, despite the good intentions behind the decisions Bilal makes, there is no getting away from the inevitable tragedy of the ending. Ultimately, with the benefit of retrospect, we all know the fate of the India in 'A Beautiful Lie'. Although there is hope for the future, we know there can be no happy ending.
All in all a wonderful, wonderful read that kept me engaged throughout and I found at the end that some of the characters, particularly Bilal and Chota, had taken up residence in my heart. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
A Beautiful Lie
All in all a wonderful, wonderful read that kept me engaged throughout and I found at the end that some of the characters, particularly Bilal and Chota, had taken up residence in my heart. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
A Beautiful Lie
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I received this book to review and was initially a little unsure about whether or not I was going to enjoy it. Although I am a fan of historical fiction, I tend to read books set against an English or American backdrop, so a story set in India is not normally the sort of thing that I'd choose. However, it was a really interesting read and taught me a lot about a key event in India's history.
The story is based around the partition that took place in India in 1947, when India won freedom from British Colonial rule and Pakistan was created. This led to a split along religious lines. The story is narrated from the point of view of a small Indian boy called Bilal, who wishes to keep the news of the partition from his dying father. He believes that the partition would break his father's heart so he recruits his friends to help him with his lie. I loved the way that Bilal's friends all banded together to support him with his decision. Although religious differences eventually come between some of them, they're best of friends and will do anything at all for Bilal.
I knew nothing at all about the history of India before reading 'A Beautiful Lie' and it was both fascinating and educational learning more about the partition and understanding the repercussions that it's had and the long-term effect it's caused on the people of India. The book was fast-paced and interesting and I was swept along with Bilal's story.
The story is based around the partition that took place in India in 1947, when India won freedom from British Colonial rule and Pakistan was created. This led to a split along religious lines. The story is narrated from the point of view of a small Indian boy called Bilal, who wishes to keep the news of the partition from his dying father. He believes that the partition would break his father's heart so he recruits his friends to help him with his lie. I loved the way that Bilal's friends all banded together to support him with his decision. Although religious differences eventually come between some of them, they're best of friends and will do anything at all for Bilal.
I knew nothing at all about the history of India before reading 'A Beautiful Lie' and it was both fascinating and educational learning more about the partition and understanding the repercussions that it's had and the long-term effect it's caused on the people of India. The book was fast-paced and interesting and I was swept along with Bilal's story.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Amazing debut book
I went to school in India so received a pretty biased view of the Partition. I had a good knowledge about the technicalitites (who decided what, when treaties were signed) but this... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Swirlypepper
A Beautiful Lie
I was recommended this book by a friend and bought a copy. I found the book very interesting and the author has written it short but in great detail. Read more
Published 15 months ago by zahira Belkheir
fab book
This was a lovely book and delightful read.
I am a fan of books set in the back drop of a major historical event but not that the historical event as such. Read more
I am a fan of books set in the back drop of a major historical event but not that the historical event as such. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Kirsty at the Overflowing Library
Thought Provoking
A Beautiful Lie is Irfan Master's debut novel; it is set in 1947 during the partition of India. Bilal is a young boy whose father is dying; he knows that he does not have long... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Dot
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