Artist Hayley King (Flox). Photo / Supplied
Hayley King/Flox tells Eleanor Black what she's reading
I'm one of those readers who finds it really hard to shut my brain off at the end of the day. I'll often have to re-read the same passage about five times, so when I find a book that grabs my attention,
I really appreciate it. I want to be drawn into another world for a while – I'm after total escapism.
Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty, is a book I grabbed on a whim. I was drawn to the story because it's centred around three women who are relatable to me in age and immediate circumstance. As I began reading, I realised that's about all we have in common.
It's a murder mystery, a "whodunnit", with a shocking twist and well-developed characters. The murder investigation is cleverly intertwined with the plot and I was left questioning until the very end. Even though Big Little Lies was published in 2014, the characters remain valid in today's social climate.
Moriarty tackles some heavy issues such as abuse and domestic violence. I admit it's a grim subject matter but what is encouraging is the portrayal of the main characters. They are empowering and complicated with diverse and interesting stories and they discover they can support each other as they each face strong adversity. The book was made into a television series, which I also highly recommend.
