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'It is one of the most disturbing novels I have read, but that is its beauty.'

Charlotte Haines Lyon explores questions of truth and lies in this month's Book of the Month Carry Me Down.

Is telling a lie always immoral? Is truth a moral absolute that should be protected and fought for no matter what? Do white lies degrade our human relationships? These questions are just a few of those explored in painful detail in Carry Me Down.

Eleven-year-old John Egan discovers he has a gift; he is a human lie detector. Truth and lies become an obsession as the sad youngster wends his way through bullying and strained family relationships

Despite somewhat bleak prose, John’s stream of consciousness treats us to intense emotions. His desperate hunger for physical closeness with his parents is both heartbreaking and uncomfortable. Where is the line between genuine childhood need and Oedipal desire?

Maybe more simple forces are at play. Could it be that due to John’s unusual stature – he is nearly six foot tall with his voice breaking – that his parents no longer see him as a child? Maybe grownup children don’t need affection. A stark warning for parents in a society of ever younger would-be adults.

John’s father continually lies and his mother won’t take John’s concerns about this seriously? His acute observations of those around him become increasingly perturbing. Is John a sensitive young boy or is he actually quite troubled?

Booker material

Hyland has written novel that on the face of it is typical Booker material – not a lot of action per page. However she tweaks the tension impressively by the paragraph making for a compelling read. In many ways it feels like a crime novel, with each twist making you think differently about the situation; hence all the questions.

Every so often the observations come to a violent halt and events takes over. Such occurrences are even more shocking due to the apparently reflective narrative. I have to say this book is not for those who want to be uplifted; it is one of the most disturbing novels I have read, but that is its beauty.

Life isn’t clean and easy. It involves pain and difficult decisions no matter how blessed we might be. Hyland highlights this wonderfully through her dramatic portrayal of the inner workings of a troubled boy’s mind.

Truth

Truth does not always make things run smoothly or magically transform life for the better. As the saying goes, “truth hurts”, at least it can do. It can be a brutal destructive force.

Whether this means that we should avoid truth is of course a different matter. Hyland shows that it isn’t necessarily truth that is bad but the fact we as humans can create a truth that hurts.

As a parent the book also underlines the need for adults not to underestimate our children. It is easy to assume that they won’t understand certain things and hide things from them, maybe lie to them. We do them a great disservice going down this road. Children are often far more astute than we give credit.

Yes the novel is somewhat stark, but sometimes we need a reminder of the reality of life. We need to be made to feel uncomfortable. Let’s just be thankful that such a acute exposé of a young life can be gripping and brilliantly written.

Carry Me Down
M J Hyland
Canongate Books
£9.99
Click on the orange link to buy a copy and raise money for Christian Aid projects.