Our Lying Kin by Claudia Hagedas Long is a thought-provoking and insightful novel that explores the complexities of family dynamics and the way that secrets and lies can tear even the closest of relationships apart. The story follows the lives of the Sutton family, a wealthy family living in a privileged suburb of Washington D.C., as their carefully constructed facade begins to crumble in the face of long-held secrets finally being revealed.
The novel is divided into three parts, each one focusing on a different character’s perspective. The first part is narrated by Bonnie, the matriarch of the family, who is approaching her eightieth birthday and grappling with her own mortality as well as her complicated relationships with her children and grandchildren. Bonnie is a complex character, and Long does an excellent job of exploring her motivations and inner conflicts. She is a woman who has always put her family first, often at great personal cost, and who is struggling to come to terms with the fact that her carefully constructed image of herself may not be entirely accurate.
The second part of the novel is narrated by Mary, Bonnie’s eldest daughter. Mary has always been the black sheep of the family, and she has spent most of her life trying to distance herself from the Suttons and their privileged lifestyle. However, when her own marriage falls apart and she finds herself struggling to provide for her children, she is forced to turn to her family for help. Mary’s narration is particularly insightful, as she provides a critical outsider’s perspective on the Suttons and their way of life.
The final part of the novel is narrated by Tyler, the only grandson of Bonnie and the heir to the family fortune. Tyler is a law student who is struggling to come to terms with his own sexuality in the face of his conservative family’s expectations. He is also dealing with a family crisis that threatens to tear the Suttons apart once and for all. Long does an excellent job of portraying Tyler’s internal struggles, showing how the pressures of his family and society at large can weigh heavily on a young man trying to find his own way in the world.
One of the strengths of Our Lying Kin is Long’s skill at creating complex, three-dimensional characters. Each member of the Sutton family is flawed and imperfect, but also deeply human and sympathetic. Long shows how even the most privileged and seemingly perfect families can harbor dark secrets and hidden resentments, and how these can come to light in unexpected and painful ways. She also does an excellent job of exploring the different ways that family members can both love and hurt one another, and how the bonds between parents and children can be both incredibly strong and incredibly fragile.
Another strength of the novel is Long’s sharp, insightful writing style. She has a talent for cutting through the surface niceties of family life to expose the raw emotions and hidden resentments that often lie beneath. Her dialogue is particularly effective, capturing the subtle power dynamics and passive-aggressive interactions that can occur between family members.
The novel’s themes of family, identity, and authenticity are particularly compelling. Long explores how our families can both shape and constrain our sense of self, and how difficult it can be to break free from the expectations and assumptions of those closest to us. She also shows how secrets and lies can be a kind of prison, keeping people trapped in destructive patterns of behavior and preventing them from living fully authentic lives.
Overall, Our Lying Kin is a powerful, insightful novel that explores the complex dynamics of family life with great sensitivity and insight. Long’s characters are richly drawn and her writing is both incisive and evocative. The novel is a testament to the enduring power of family, but also a warning of the dangers that can lurk beneath the surface of even the most seemingly perfect of families. This is a book that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to reconcile their own desires and expectations with those of their families, and it is a welcome addition to the canon of contemporary fiction about family life.
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Writing and reading historical novels: time travel at its best, in the comfort of our own favorite chair. How else can we visit the far away lands of Mexico, or my current home city of San Francisco, in 1690? or 1920? Thanks for joining me on our journey together!
I loved writing Josefina’s Sin because it gave me a chance to explore my favorite time period of Mexican history. The story takes place in the 1690s, when Mexico was still a Spanish colony overseen by a Viceroy, with Marquis and Counts. It was a very, very different time from today. Women’s lives were run by rules that we would find outrageous, but their friendships and loves were much like ours!
My second book, The Harlot’s Pen, came out February 1, 2014 from Devine Destinies. It takes us to San Francisco in the roaring 20s. Brothels and prohibition, rights for women and the red scare… all in one book!
The Duel for Consuelo was first published in 2014, and has been re-published by Five Directions Press. It picks up 21 years after Josefina’s Sin. The son Josefina bore at the end of the book is now 21 years old. Consuelo, the beautiful healer with secrets to conceal, captures his love. But he has a few secrets of his own, and the Inquisition, in a final grasp for power, blocks his way to Consuelo’s heart.
As for me, I spend my time in California, practicing law and writing books. I’ve raised my children and have time to explore the incredible impact that art, poetry, law and of course, the heart, had on women of a long-ago time. I hope you will enjoy reading Josefina’s Sin, The Harlot’s Pen, and The Duel for Consuelo!
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