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Mary Karr

The Liars' Club

Mary KarrNonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1995

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Book Brief

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Mary Karr

The Liars' Club

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1995
Book Details
Pages

352

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Leechfield, Texas • 1960s

Theme
Publication Year

1995

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Liars’ Club by Mary Karr is a memoir recounting her turbulent childhood in Leechfield, Texas, marked by her parents' volatile marriage, her father's storytelling sessions, and her mother's impulsive, charismatic, and often frightening behavior. Karr delves into her parents' backgrounds, family secrets, and her own journey to uncovering the truth about her mother's traumatic past. The memoir includes themes of psychosis, domestic violence, and trauma.

Emotional

Contemplative

Dark

Bittersweet

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

4.1

73,470 ratings

71%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Mary Karr's The Liars' Club has been lauded for its raw and vivid portrayal of a tumultuous childhood in East Texas. Critics praise Karr's masterful storytelling and sharp wit, though some find the dark subject matter distressing. The memoir balances humor with hardship, offering a gripping, honest narrative that resonates deeply with readers.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Liars' Club?

Readers who appreciate raw, poignant memoirs like Jeannette Walls’s The Glass Castle or Tobias Wolff’s This Boy’s Life will be captivated by Mary Karr’s The Liars' Club. Those who are drawn to stories of resilience and complex family dynamics will find Karr's narrative deeply compelling and evocative.

4.1

73,470 ratings

71%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

352

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Leechfield, Texas • 1960s

Theme
Publication Year

1995

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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