“The Little Liar” by Mitch Albom is a novel set in Salonika, Greece during WWII. It is really well-written and the characters in this historical fiction story face unbelievable heartbreak during the Holocaust, yet their resilience is amazing. Hope and forgiveness are major themes in the book too. I think this novel is one of Albom’s best – I could not put this book down!
There are 4 main characters in “The Little Liar” . . . Nico is a young Greek boy who is known as a beautiful child in both looks and personality. His story is intertwined with the stories of Sebastian, his older brother; Fannie, a neighborhood girl; and Udo Graf, an evil German Nazi officer. The war’s events affect all four characters in major ways, but for Nico, he changes from a child who always tells the truth into a pathological liar. The plot continues for several decades after the war, showing how Nico, Sebastian, Fannie and Udo Graf have survived their experiences. The novel is narrated by ‘Truth’ – allowing Truth to comment on the situations and characters as the story unfolds. (It reminded me of “The Book Thief” by Marcus Zusak in that respect.)
I will carry the story of “The Little Liar” in my heart for a long time. It was a quick read, but the characters really touched me. I hope you give this novel a try!
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