We Were Liars by Karen Marie Nystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al Made with an open mind en-us 2022-01-24 10:01:18 UTC 2023-02-07 12:24:05 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f305.png karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2008437654 2022-01-24 10:07:06 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2008437654 karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2008441343 2022-01-24 10:09:25 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2008441343 karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2008581878 Harris Sinclair, Cadence's granddad bought the island for his family: his wife, Tipper, and his three daughters, Penny, Carrie, and Bess. There was built a house on the island for each of them, and now all three generations of Sinclairs. They all. spend each summer there.]]> 2022-01-24 11:48:41 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2008581878 karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2013315112 By Emily Jenkins
Published: 13.05.2014
Genre: Young Adult Fiction]]> 2022-01-26 11:38:37 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2013315112 karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2021057070 2022-01-31 11:32:16 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2021057070 karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058925676 2022-02-21 15:02:49 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058925676 karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058927231 2022-02-21 15:03:48 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058927231 karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058932783 2022-02-21 15:07:25 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058932783 Gatwick "Gat" Patil karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058964145 2022-02-21 15:27:14 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058964145 Who are the Liars? karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058965040 Cadence, Gat, Johnny, and Mirren are best friends.
Lives on Beechwood Island during the summer as a part of the perfect Sinclair family. When Johnny, Mirren, and Gat are introduced in the book, Cadence says, "The family calls us four the Liars, and probably we deserve it […] Most years on the island, we've been trouble" (p. 7). It is hard to find out why they are named "The Liars", but during summer seventeen, small lies begin to pop up. ]]> 2022-02-21 15:27:29 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058965040 Johnny karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058966878 2022-02-21 15:28:28 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058966878 Mirren karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058967043 2022-02-21 15:28:33 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058967043 Who is Gat? karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058968094 Gat is from New York and the nephew of Ed, which doesn't make him into a Sinclair. Ed is in a relationship with Carrie, one of the Sinclair sisters. Even though Gat is not bound by blood he has been spending the summers at the island since he was eleven. Gat is described as an intelligent, smart, and curious person. It also seems like he is a thinker and enjoys discussing different topics. For example, when Gat was discussing the ownership over the private island. He thought that "Maybe land shouldn't belong to people at all. [...]". As Gat has joined the family, he got close with Cadence, Mirren, and Johnny, they are called the Liars. Over the summers Cady and Gat fall in love, and during the fifteenth summer, they had their first kiss. Even though Gat has a girlfriend back in New York it seems like he is returning Cadence's affection. 

Gat is the most described character in the novel, which might be because of the narrative point of view, Cadence's point of view. His appearance is described as broad shoulders, black hair, a sweet mouth, and deep brown, smooth skin. ]]> 2022-02-21 15:29:16 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058968094 Who is Johnny? karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058968415 Johnny is the second-oldest Sinclair grandchild and the oldest one of Carrie's children. He lives in New York with his mother, brother, and his mother's boyfriend Ed. Johnny is described as a carefree person and quite a contrast from Gat, as he is not as serious and often jokes around. Cadence describes Johnny as "bounce, effort, and snark".

Mother: Carrie Sinclair
Stepdad:  Ed
Brother: Will]]> 2022-02-21 15:29:30 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058968415 karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058970638 2022-02-21 15:31:03 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058970638 Who is Mirren? karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058973837 Mirren is one of the oldest Sinclair grandchildren and Bess's oldest child. Her siblings are Taft and the twins Bonnie and Liberty. It seems like Cady and Mirren are good friends and Cadence describes her as "sugar, curiosity, and rain". 

Mother: Bess Sinclair
Brother: Taft Sinclair, 10 years old in summer seventeen. 
Sisters: Twins - Bonnie and Liberty, 14 years old in summer seventeen.

]]> 2022-02-21 15:33:10 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058973837 Who is Cadence "Cady"? karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058974248 Cadence is the oldest grandchild of the Sinclair Family and the narrator of the novel. As she suffers from a brain injury, she is an unreliable narrator. She is from Burlington, Vermont, where she lives with her mother Penny, and their three dogs. Cady is "nearly eighteen", has black-dyed hair, and suffers migraines. Her father left the family the year she turned 15. The whole situation with her father leaving her seems to have put a significant impact on her as she describes him leaving as "He pulled out a handgun and shot me in the chest. [...]" (page 5). 

Cadence and the family, her aunts, cousins, and grandparents spend their summers on the private Beechwood Island. 

The novel follows Cadence as she suffers a mysterious accident that leaves her with a head injury and no memory of the events leading up to it.
]]> 2022-02-21 15:33:26 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2058974248 karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2059019185 2022-02-21 16:03:31 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2059019185 Penny Sinclair karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2059246112 Penny Sinclair is the oldest of the Sinclair children and the mother of Cadence. She creates an impression of trying to be as perfect as possible on the outside but really is broken on the inside. ]]> 2022-02-21 18:55:39 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2059246112 Father karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2059247358 Cadence's father was married into the Sinclair family but did not like it there anymore. Therefore, he left his family for another woman. ]]> 2022-02-21 18:56:55 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2059247358 Narrative point of view karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061385893 The narrator of this novel is Cadence with a first-person point of view. As a reader, we only get to know and experience Cadense's thoughts, feelings, and what she wants to share with us. Therefore, we do not get to know what the other characters think or experience, the point of view is subjective. Often Cady puts the other characters in a negative light, but as a reader, we can't really know if that is the way the characters really are or if it is just how Cady sees them. The point is: as we get the story served from Cady, we get to see the world from a limited view. Cady is an unreliable narrator; this puts the reader in a position of questioning a lot of things. Reading this novel, you especially question things, conversations, and events to be real or just something Cadence is imaging. In other words, this narrative point of view makes you as a reader second-guessing a lot of things throughout the book. The point of view also affects the story with a mysterious and ominous impression as it raises questions. ]]> 2022-02-22 20:53:31 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061385893 karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061388239 1. What are ‘themes’ in a novel?
A literary theme is the main idea or underlying meaning a writer explores in the novel. The theme of a story is often connected with for example the characters and the setting. A theme links a big idea about our world with the action of a text. It can be a statement, lesson, or message.

2. How can we work out what they are?
To work out what the themes are in a text it helps to think: what is this about? And what can the message behind the text be?

The themes explored in this novel are wealth and greed, imagine vs. reality, and death and loss.
]]> 2022-02-22 20:55:24 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061388239 karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061390259 The main setting in the novel takes place at Beechwood Island. Harris Sinclair owns the private island where he and his family spend their summers. The private island is described as a fantastic and lovely place, and the island creates a sense of silence and wealthiness. At Beechwood Island there are four houses for each family: Windemere, Cuddledown, Red Gate, and Clairmont, which later becomes New Clairmont after the fire. ]]> 2022-02-22 20:57:05 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061390259 karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061391699 1.How important is cultural or historical context to the production and reception of a text?
The importance of historical and cultural context in the production and reception of a text is important, but it also is dependent on the type of the book. The context of a book creates a bigger understanding to people. Details and valuable information for example about characters would not have as bigger meaning without the historical and cultural context. 

2.To what extent do texts offer insight into a real-world culture?
By reading a book we can get a first-person point of view, like in We Were Liars. This makes us readers create connections with the characters in the book, and in that. way we can connect the person, its thoughts, and feelings into a real-world culture. The insight into a real-world culture depends on the book you are reading. Some books give us insight of for example how life is for certain social groups and base the book on a life in a real-world culture. And other books might not explore or draw as many lines into the real-world as others.

3.How do we approach texts from different times and cultures to our own?
The way we approach texts from different times and cultures varies. We all have different interests and things we like, and this affects us in how we approach the texts. If there is a topic about something, you fint interesting you will approach the text with curiosity and motivation. But you might not be as interested or curios if there is something you find boring. The way we approach the texts are dependent on how we as individuals feels around each topic. 
]]> 2022-02-22 20:58:17 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061391699 karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061408398 We Were Liars is a storm full of mysteries and suspense, the novel is intense and emotional.]]> 2022-02-22 21:12:39 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061408398 Harris Sinclair karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061530725 Harris Sinclair owns Beechwood Island, he bought the private island with his late wife, He is the Liars grandfather and Tipper. Penny, Carrie, and Bess are his and Tipper's children. He seems to be a kind of conflict maker as he often puts his grandchildren up against each other and he also uses his money and wealth to control his daughters. ]]> 2022-02-22 23:16:35 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061530725 Tipper Sinclair karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061534659 Tipper passed away before summer fifteen on Beechwood of heart failure. She left an impression of loving her children and family. Cadence describes her as. "a stunning woman, even when she was old. White hair, pink cheeks: tall and angular".]]> 2022-02-22 23:20:50 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061534659 Ominous and mystery karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061564746 The first page of the novel makes you as a reader question if something bad is going to happen. Already on the first page, Cady says: 

"It doesn't matter if there's a cluster of pill bottles on the bedside table. It doesn't matter if one of us is desperately, desperately in love.
So much
in love
that equally desperate measures
must be taken". (p. 3)

When the author, Lockhart, opens the book with a "foreshadowing" like this, you get the feeling as there is something bad going to happen, you just don't know what. This makes us as readers explore and read in a different kind of way, we search after the thing that is going to happen It becomes a mystery to us and we can picture glimpse of a tragedy.
]]> 2022-02-22 23:57:16 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061564746 Gloomy and fake perfection karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061574319 The Sinclairs want to be perfect, and the book starts by telling us how perfect the family is. 
"No one is a criminal.
 No one is an addict.
 No one is a failure.
 The Sinclairs are athletic, tall, and handsome. We are old-money Democrats. Our smiles are wide our chins square, and our tennis serves aggressive". 

Seems like a perfect wealthy family in the beginning, but soon the novel shows great contrasts from the beginning. The family is wealthy yet so broken. On the same page as the Sinclairs are shown perfect, Cadence mention: divorce, pill bottles, unpaid bills, and trust-fund money running out. These small things draw a bigger picture of a broken family, and as we later get to know: the Sinclairs are not the ideal family. The ideal family is often pictured with a mother, father, and two children, but in this family, all the daughters are divorced or in new relationships. 

The point here is: the tone is gloomy and with fake perfections, as the Sinclairs are pictured as great and wealthy but in the reality, they are just a broken family.]]> 2022-02-23 00:08:32 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061574319 karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061574753
4.What social issues from the real-world are dealt with by your novel? Do some research on one issue that you think is addressed in your novel and write a little about it (be sure to include some facts and statistics

Racism is a social issue that the novel is raising. Gat is experiencing racism as he is the only non-white privilege person on the island. Racism is a big social issue today, where someone is experiencing discrimination because of the color of their skin. The reason racism is raised in the novel might be because of its part in American society. Following BBC slavery is a bigger issue in the USA than the rest of the world since there is less improvement and action again the racism. Also, facts are that the once was allowed with slavery and the county had their own laws for slavery. All this relates to the history and racism in the USA is a big problem today. Lockhart adresses the issue since it is such an important message to spread and make people aware.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44158098

5.Add some key quotes from the book connected to that contextual issue, and write down what comment you think the novel is making on this thing
"You know what I am to your grandfather? What I've always been?"

Gat is uncomfortable with how Harris Sinclair's attitude and behavior is around him, and he knows it is because he is an Indian American.
]]> 2022-02-23 00:09:00 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061574753 Wealth and greed karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061594912 Early in the book Lockhart shows that the Sinclairs are a part of the upper-class family, are wealthy and privileged. We can address the wealth through looking at a lot of things in this novel. For example, even though the sisters of Sinclair are educated none of them has a real job. Their father, Harris is their provider, and they are all living of his trust-funds. These sisters are able to not work but still be materialistic and loves the rich life. When people can distance from work and any income at all we can clearly say that they are wealthy and privileged. The private island and the setting itself can symbolize this wealth as well. To be able to own an island, a land is well privileged and a sign to be wealthy.
With wealth comes the jealous and greed, the Sinclair sisters have a tense relationship as they argue about money and heritage after their mother Tipper dies. The sisters stand to inherit a lot of money from Harris, but the greed gets them and seems to control their lives. Their summers is mostly spent to argue with each other about money and possessions. ]]> 2022-02-23 00:27:53 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061594912 Family karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061595280 The novel puts a lot of focus on the theme "family". They are all family and live isolated on the island during the summers. The family and its fortune are particularly important, the island is built on fortune and is also the reason the family is together. Do we believe they would spend time together if there was no island? No, not when their relationship is not as great. The novel puts light on the theme of family and shows us the "non-ideal family". The Sinclairs are not the ideal family. The ideal family is often pictured with a mother, father, and two children, but in this family, all the daughters are divorced or in new relationships. ]]> 2022-02-23 00:28:10 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061595280 Death, loss, and memories karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061595468 The Sinclair family seems to not want to deal with the grief and loss in their family, this has a connection with their "perfect image" of the family. 

There is a lot of loss and grief in the family, Tipper dies from heart disease, Mirren, Johnny, and Gat die in a fire. But the family avoids the pain and grief. A great example is how Harris Sinclair built the new Clairmont "on the top of the ashes of his dead grandchildren". Again, they put a cover on the reality and do not want to show what is bad and sad. ]]> 2022-02-23 00:28:21 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061595468 Beechwood Island karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061596689 The island is a symbol of the Sinclair family's wealth.
Gat wonders how it is possible that one person can own an island. To the rest of the family, it is normal to them and none of them is questioning it. ]]> 2022-02-23 00:29:24 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061596689 The fairytales karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061596977 The Sinclair's wealth and greatness are shown in the novel by fairytales. Cadenced often compares and sees her life as a fairytale, often in a royal and privileged way. Cadence's use of fairytales makes the story more dramatic but also relatable. As a reader, you get a fuller understanding of the picture Cadence is trying to draw by recognizing and relating to it.
Again, each fairytale can symbolize something individual. An example is the "Dragon Fairytale". In the fairytale, a king sends his three daughters, one by one, to a dragon, who ends up eating them all. One can think that this is a symbol of how Harris is spoiling the daughters and being their provider, which leads to the daughters being helpless and strongly dependent. ]]> 2022-02-23 00:29:36 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061596977 Golden Retrievers karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061597599 In the Sinclair Family, there is five Golden Retrievers: Bosh, Poppy, and Grendel belonging to Penny and Cadence, while Fatima and Prince Philip belong to Harris and Tipper. As Golden Retrievers the dogs are beautiful, but useless compared to for example hunting dogs. In other words, the goldens do not have a job rather than looking pretty and exist. The appearance of the dogs is blonde and pretty, and the dogs are dependent on care, attention, and a provider.  Here we can draw similarities with the Sinclair daughters, they also do not have jobs, are blond, and seems to be dependent on a provider who takes care of them.]]> 2022-02-23 00:30:05 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2061597599 karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2062102569 - What did the characters learn?
Throughout the novel, Cadence got to know the real side of her family with all the imperfections. She also learned and remembered what happened to her during the summer.

- How did they grow and change?
Cadence as the main character in the book developed a lot during the story. The novel starts with her not being able to. tell what had happened the summer fifteenth, but as the story goes on, she starts to remember things. In the end, she recovers her memory, and it is a big difference from how she started out as. Cadence as a character develops and changes a lot through the book. For example, through the book, we get to see her as someone greedy who wants it all, like her aunts. But the novel also shows us a great contrast from this because we are also. get to see Cadenced as someone who wants to give back to the community and help out.

- Why did characters act the way they acted?
- she had limited memory, made her search and she felt. alone?
- the ghosts trying to be there for cadence so she wouldn't blame herself when she finds out

- What's different at the end of the story?
The biggest difference from the start till the end is Cadence's memory. And what feels real and not.

- What stays with you after the story is over?
After reading the story I'm left with a lot of emotions and questions. I was shocked by all the conversations and events that I thought were real, but really was just something Cadence made up or the ghosts of the dead ones. This is a book I want to re-read because I feel like I missed a lot of hints and clues. But also, I believe this is a book you want to read without knowing anything because if you get any spoilers, it could ruin the whole experience with the reading.

]]> 2022-02-23 07:41:47 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2062102569 karenmarienystuen https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2062981943 My Gat

Wanted true love for us
did you really want the same?
such great time
such great connection

so many questions 
questions that never will be answered 
now our pulse is no more
your pulse is no more]]> 2022-02-23 16:53:34 UTC https://padlet.com/karenmarienystuen/387p7tudtaauu3al/wish/2062981943