(no subject)

[coraa]

I have a reason for this inquiry, which will be explained in the fullness of time!

I'm looking for suggestions of books with unreliable narrators where the narrator is female (besides Larbalestier's Liar, which I've already got in mind). I'd prefer speculative or historical fiction, but if you have a great example from another genre, by all means share it.

Secondarily, I'd love suggestions of books prominently featuring female liars (or con artists) regardless of whether they're unreliable narrators. Again, speculative or historical fiction preferred, but great examples from other genres would be useful too.

The books don't necessarily have to be good, for what it's worth.

(rachelmanija and sartorias and I tried to think of examples in the car, but with limited success.)

Comments

[zeborah]

Unreliable narrator: Villette by Charlotte Bronte.

Featuring female liars: Dangerous Liaisons (original "Les Liaisons Dangereuses") by Choderlos de Laclos, and Lady Susan by Jane Austen.

I'll keep pondering for actual specfic examples.

[legionseagle]

What's unreliable about Lucy Snowe?

[oursin]

She conceals her knowledge that Dr John is the erstwhile Graham(?) Bretton, as I recall.

[zeborah]

She casually doesn't tell us all sorts of things that it would have been much more natural to tell us, until she's forced to because the narrative would make no sense if she didn't. Mostly re Dr John, I think: that it was he who helped her (with her luggage when she first arrived? my memory's vague), and of course his identity, and that she's madly in love with him. But I have a feeling there were other minor things too. Oh no, I'll have to reread it!

The ending was intended to be ambiguous - that was the author rather than the character, acting on external constraints, but otoh it does fit Lucy Snowe's personality very well too.

[vito_excalibur]

Yes, I came here to say Villette. :)

Does Ariane Emory from Cyteen count?