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The Body Lies
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
25 posts | 27 read | 27 to read
A dark, thrilling new novel from the bestselling author of LONGBOURN: a work of riveting suspense that grapples with how to live as a woman in the world - or in the pages of a book - when the stakes are dangerously high. What if you realised the subject your student is studying is you? When a young writer accepts a job at a university in the remote countryside, its meant to be a fresh start, away from the big city and the scene of a violent assault shes desperate to forget. But despite the distractions of a new life and single motherhood, her nerves continue to jangle. To make matters worse, a vicious debate about violence against women inflames the tensions and mounting rivalries in her creative writing group. When a troubled student starts sending in chapters from his novel that blur the lines between fiction and reality, the professor recognises herself as a main character in his book - and he has written her a horrible fate. Will she be able to stop life imitating art before it's too late? At once a breathless cat-and-mouse game and a layered exploration of violence against women in art, The Body Lies is an essential book for our times.
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IndianBookworm
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Bailedbailed

#unpopularopinion
Have been hearing so much about this Litsy find. Too slow for my taste, didn't sit well with me. DNFing it for some other beauty.💞

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TheLudicReader
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Pickpick

A young woman is attacked on her way home and in an effort to put it behind her, she takes a job as a Creative Writing lecturer at a university outside of London. That proves problematic for her marriage; her creative life and her relationships with her grad students, particularly Nicholas, only makes things more difficult. The creative process and the blurred lines between fiction and reality make this book a winner.

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DebinHawaii
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Pickpick

Finished this week, I got the audiobook on a 2/1 credit based on liking the author‘s Longbourn. This one‘s set in modern day & more a literary thriller than the psychological suspense it‘s tagged, but the atmospheric audiobook & assorted narrators drew me in & kept me listening as the tension steadily ratcheted up. I didn‘t warm to the (nameless) main character, but I ended up empathizing with her & maybe that was the author‘s intention. Solid 👍

CatMS Put this on my TRB for audio books. Thanks for recommending 11mo
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KathyWheeler
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Pickpick

I really liked The Body Lies. Is it a fun book? No, but this story of a woman who was assaulted once, moved from London, and takes a job teaching writing in the country is beautifully told. Once there, our unnamed protagonist meets a student who becomes fascinated with her. Is the writing he‘s turning in to her actually about her? Is he dangerous? My new #audiowalk book is Bomb Shelter.

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BookLineNSinker
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Thank you for this template for this year's challenge, I've added my January favorite and I'm ready to look for my second my February favorite! Let the games begin!

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KathyWheeler
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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I cannot say I‘m enjoying the book — the issues it deals with are too difficult for that — but I am liking it. I have about 3 hours left and am interested to see where it goes. #audiowalk

Reggie That‘s a beautiful tree. 14mo
KathyWheeler @Reggie We really do have some pretty trees. There‘s one in the park closest to me that if you look at it from the right angle it looks like a woman. It‘s makes you understand where the idea of dryads comes from. 14mo
21 likes2 comments
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BookLineNSinker
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Pickpick

I loved this although it was not a happy story with a happily ever after. I loved it for the truth. The pain that women are exposed to everyday that we hide from the world so we don't make others uncomfortable. This was beautifully and tragically written. I loved it because it was so real and honest and raw. One of my new all time favorites although I won't read it often because it evokes a lot of emotions in me that are a little too real.

BookLineNSinker Trigger warning: violence, domestic abuse, assault, and bound to make any woman that has experienced anything similar to ponder on their pasts 1y
60 likes1 stack add1 comment
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KathyWheeler
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Someone on Litsy mentioned this book, and it sounded intriguing to me. I‘ve never read anything by Jo Baker before, so I made this my new walking book. It‘s quite a change from Wild. #audiowalk

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BookLineNSinker
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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So far, I'm entranced by this novel. It is written beautifully and while I am usually all about the suspense and the twists this book has captured my attention because of the authenticity of its characters. I just happened to pick it up on Audible as a two for one credit special and I'm so glad I did. It is in the genre of a suspense novel, so we'll see what happens but I'm not expecting a big bang and I'm okay with that because the story is good!

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ImperfectCJ
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Pickpick

Okay, I am going to have to read more by this author. This is an excellent thriller, full of emotion and nuance and skilled character development in addition to plot. I'm not a huge fan of novels about novelists, but this one works. And really makes me want to move to a country with nationalized health care. A bit of a Secret History feel for the first half.

merelybookish I love this author but her other books aren't like this one. But I would recommend 2y
ImperfectCJ @merelybookish I appreciate this caveat and recommendation. Thank you! 2y
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erzascarletbookgasm
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Pickpick

The story of The Body Lies goes beyond a regular psychological suspense. It‘s not fast-paced, not plot-driven, not even a thriller. It‘s a cleverly layered story about sexual violence, the consequences, and takes a close look at how women are very often regarded and treated in society. I was not wowed by the book but I think the writing is great and appreciate it being very current.

JennyM Great review! I felt much the same. 4y
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MidnightBookGirl
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Pickpick

This one is a bit of a slow burner, but I ended up really getting into it, even as I cringed at some of the actions done (or, rather, not done) by the unnamed main character. 3 years after a random attack in the city, the mc is ready to take a teaching position at a college in the country. She takes her toddler, but her husband stays behind to continue his job. The new job is stressful, and one of her students starts writing about her. #TBR

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BekaReid
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Pickpick

I appreciated Jo Baker's writing and approach of assault in this literary thriller. Definitely a pick for me, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

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Cathythoughts
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Pickpick

I flew through this one ... such good writing & a thriller. Not sure I‘d like Longbourn as much ... 🤔 maybe try a sample 👍🏻

Wife Longbourne was good, but this sounds like it would attract a completely different audience. 🤔 4y
JennyM This was very good! It made me think about a lot of things. Glad you enjoyed it 4y
LeahBergen Well, this sounds good! 4y
See All 8 Comments
Cathythoughts @Wife yes! Maybe I‘ll try a sample of Longbourn 👍🏻❤️ 4y
Cathythoughts @JennyM yes, thanks! Lots to think about alright ❤️👍🏻 4y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen yes! A good one. ❤️👍🏻... hi 👋 to himself 🐶, hope he‘s behaving 😁 4y
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts He‘s a little rotter. 😆😆 4y
TrishB #99ponkindlevtoday! Just brought 😁 4y
56 likes8 comments
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Cathythoughts
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Reading this Litsy find. And what a find 👍🏻❤️... the writing is clear & insightful & brilliant ...( & it‘s a thriller !!! , although my sense is , I‘d read anything by this writer) I love reading her

TrishB That looks interesting 👍🏻 4y
Cathythoughts @TrishB yes! It‘s very good 4y
49 likes2 comments
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Pearrr
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Day One 📚

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cjk
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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I read this one fairly quickly, but I‘m still trying to untangle the many emotions this story evoked. I haven‘t decided if I liked it or not.

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jhod
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Pickpick

I thought this was excellent. As much a book about #everydaysexism as it is a thriller

I did so much packing yesterday (turns out I own over 350 books), today is my day for reading in the ☀

Cathythoughts Good luck with your move 👍🏻. This book sounds good... stacking 5y
jhod @Cathythoughts thank you, i am trying to read as many library books as i can before i have to take them back! 5y
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JenniferP
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Pickpick

I loved this literary thriller that takes the time to explore the ways women suffer abuse from men in small and large ways. It‘s not preachy or anti-male; it‘s subtlety done inside a fun thriller.

Liz_M Great review, that does sound quite tempting! 5y
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scowler1
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Mehso-so

Interesting style of storytelling, great writing, but ultimately a little predictable. I was waiting for the twists but there really weren't any.

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JenniferP
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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I started this book today by the author of Longbourn, a P&P retelling through the servants‘ point of view. I‘m intrigued that she‘s written something so different - a literary thriller this time - and excited to see how they compare.

merelybookish I read this because I love her writing and really liked both Longbourn and A Country Road, A Tree. I didn't like this as much although thriller is not my jam. The writing was still top-notch, tho. But will be interested to see what you think. 5y
17 likes1 comment
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JennyM
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Pickpick

An unsettling and thought-provoking book about the objectification and treatment of women. While packaged as a thriller, it was quite experimental in form, and reminded me why, as women, we are constantly vigilant about safety as we move through the world.

*TW - sexual assault

erzascarletbookgasm Nice review! 👍 I look forward to read this. 5y
JennyM @erzascarletbookgasm it‘s though provoking! Hope things are good with you, Jessie 😘 (edited) 5y
Tanisha_A Sounds like a tough but illuminating read. Love the cover! Super review! 5y
See All 9 Comments
JennyM @Tanisha_A trigger warnings throughout but it was good. Happy Monday my lovely friend 😘 5y
kspenmoll Great review! 5y
JennyM @kspenmoll thank you- it was a good read 😊 5y
CarolynM Great review, but I don't think this is for me. Thanks for the trigger warning. 5y
JennyM @CarolynM it‘s quite unsettling and there are triggers throughout. Hope you are good and have a lovely weekend planned x 5y
CarolynM Thank you! We have friends coming to stay for the weekend and we're having mid-winter Christmas tomorrow night. Hope all is good with you too😘 5y
63 likes9 comments
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Twocougs
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Pickpick

I certainly did not see where this story went-holy cow. Terrifying and sobering yet the ending was perfect for this novel. Read it in a day. Jo Baker can certainly write!

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merelybookish
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Next up on audio! Psychological thriller is not my favourite genre but I love Jo Baker's writing enough to give this a go. Still, quite a switch from Longbourn and A Country Road, A Tree.

readordierachel You've reminded me to read Longbourn! 5y
merelybookish @readordierachel I really liked that one! (And she writes with a quintessential British crispness that the colonial in me can't help but adore.) 5y
64 likes2 comments
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Lel2403
The Body Lies | Jo Baker
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Pickpick

an insidious tension that will resonate with many women….that constant wariness when being out alone, even being overburdened at work as we don‘t want to say No, of a friendly smile being seen as something more

It‘s not a light read due to the subject matter at times and I wonder if a man would read this the same way…..I found this to be a very powerful and thought provoking read and it‘s going to keep popping into my thoughts for a long time.

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