A Big Enough Lie

Bennett’s debut novel begins with a stunning revelation—the bestselling author of an Iraq war memoir is about to be exposed as a fraud on national television, and he knows it. John Townley is a calculating fake, who admits that he “had ascended to the ranks of a world of imperial bogusness,” creating his own celebrity from the blood of dead American soldiers. The book then goes through flashbacks of John’s childhood, education, girlfriends, and family, revealing a man of weak personality and low self-esteem, always searching for something or someone of value in his life. John assumes the identity of Henry Fleming, an Army lieutenant wounded in combat, with a phony story of heroism and sacrifice, and the media and public love him for it. Then, on a daytime television talk show, he is confronted by a suspicious TV host and a real soldier named Antoine Greep, who knows the truth. The path to John’s final exposure takes him through several identities and tumultuous romances—all lies—enjoying the sympathy of people who love and respect a disabled veteran. Bennett’s antiwar novel kicks off with a bang, and though it loses some steam along the way, it’s still a strong read. [em](June) [/em]