Product Description

With the publication of The Average American Male -- and the release of the shocking viral videos that made it a water-cooler sensation -- Chad Kultgen became one of the most talked-about authors of recent years. Now, with The Lie, Kultgen returns with an even more salacious -- yet also more searching -- novel that reaches deeper into the craven inner workings of some of most depraved minds in America: college students.

His subjects are Brett, the rich hedonist whose appetite for sex is matched only by his contempt for women; his best friend, Kyle, the brooding science geek whose good intentions lead him to one disastrous decision; and Heather, the social-climbing sorority girl who has the power to destroy them both. As this devil's triangle plows through four years of college, Kultgen offers a astonishing take on the wild and amoral universe of college today: a frathouse world where sex is social currency, status means everything -- and winner takes all.

Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22048 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-01
• Released on: 2009-03-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780061657306
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
"Testosterone-fueled fiction..Readers who got a kick out of Kultgen's first book will get a bang out of this." (Publishers Weekly )

About the Author

Chad Kultgen is the author of The Average American Male. He is a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, and lives in california.

Customer Reviews

Brett rules
I've been reading a lot of fratire books lately and this one is definitely one of my favorites. I liked Kutgen's other book "the Average American Male" and I think this one is even better. It has the same sort of crude man humor, but it also has a much more interesting plot. Also, the story is told from the perspective of three main characters which gives you a cool look into how they see the same things differently. The Brett character is hilarious. The inhumane (this is an understatement) things he does to women is so outrageously funny that the author should consider writing another book just about Brett. I know it's only fiction, but it is darn funny to read about. Reading things from the character Heather's perspective reminds me of why I dumped my last girlfriend. She and Heather are both snobby, materialistic, sorority girls without a clue. Great job Kultgen and bring on the next one.

It's not a lie that i liked this book
The way this story is told between three different perspectives is fun to read and I'm surprised this writing style is not used more often. I think the story itself is entertaining, but selectively accurate at best.

The character Brett is not believable. His attitude about women, Yes, but the prolific ability he has to bed down new women and get them to defile themselves for his own personal entertainment is a gross exaggeration of the power that guys like Brett really have over women. Yes, women do look at a guy's (or his family's) bank account, but we look at a lot of other things too. And even if a girl is after a guy for his money, there are personal limits she will not cross to pursue him. Another issue I have with the character Brett is that the whole money thing is not that big of a deal among college students because most girls know they are probably not going to marry any of the guys they date at school. And many girls are no different than guys in wanting to sleep around and party. They are looking for fun, not money.

The character Heather seems to display this "I just want to have fun" mentality at certain points in the book and I give the author credit for capturing the dialogue, demeanor, and nonchalant sexual attitude of college girls.

The character Kyle is probably the most authentic of the three main characters and I suspect this is because he is the closest of the three to match the author's own personality and experiences. You get a real feeling for this guy's attitude on life, his fears, and his regrets.

I really didn't like the author's constant barrage of negative commentary directed towards the Christian roommate. This is a straw man attack of Christians and comes across as a personal vendetta. I'm not a born again Christian or anything, but most Christians do not shove their Christianity down your throat and do not pray for you because they think your non-belief is a one-way ticket to hell.

The bottom line. I enjoyed The Lie and will probably read the author's other book. Another good college book is Goat by Brad? or Brian Land.

Did I really read this?
Sort of. My friend let me borrow her Kindle, and this was on it. I was between books and wanted to see what her Kindle was like. I'll have to ask her if she's read it, but I'm pretty sure her husband bought this, because I also see Kultgen's other book on it.

I've always enjoyed books written from different perspectives, and at first that drew me into this one. But it ain't no Poisonwood Bible, I tell you. I quickly regretted having unfiltered access into these characters' repulsive minds, especially Brett's.

Thanks to the Kindle, all I had to do was click-click-click through the pages and read a couple words to know what was going on so I could find out how everything panned out in the end.

There were parts I did like, such as the fake engagement ring. And even the ending. They all kind of get their just desserts...I think. (If Heather suddenly suffered from a severe case of alopecia,that would have helped).

But most of the narrative is so sexually pornographic and exploitative that I don't believe the word "satire" can be applied. Kultgen takes it too far. That's his gimmick. Some readers will enjoy being shocked, others will just enjoy it period (ick), and those who despise it will help him sell more books with their outrage.