NPR's Book of the Day In 'Liars,' Sarah Manguso explores a marriage falling apart
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Jul 30, 2024 
Sarah Manguso, an insightful author, channels her personal experiences of divorce into her novel 'Liars.' She discusses the raw emotions and societal pressures surrounding infidelity. Manguso explores how her protagonist’s journey reflects the complexities of relationships and gender dynamics, shedding light on the roles men play in marriage. She also highlights the therapeutic aspects of fiction in processing anger and despair, inviting readers to reflect on their own lives through her characters.
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Writing Fueled by Divorce Rage
- Sarah Manguso wrote her novel Liars fueled by rage during her high conflict divorce while parenting during COVID.
- She used writing as catharsis to process her feelings and make her protagonist angrier and freer than she felt.
Novel’s Style Evokes Relationship Ambiguity
- Manguso designed the novel to make readers vacillate between viewing characters as ordinary and cartoonish.
- This creates a blurred reality prompting readers to question if their relationship is abusive or not.
Both Partners Lie, Including Self-Deception
- The book reveals that both spouses, John and Jane, lie, with Jane deceiving herself about the marriage's reality.
- Jane clings to the idea her marriage is average, enabling abuse through denial and vague societal myths about marriage work.