Amy Kay
Hooked on Books
L&A Libraries is excited to announce that Zoe Whittall’s The Fake is our 2023 One Book, One L&A read. Zoe Whithall, is a Poet, Novelist and TV writer (Schitt’s Creek, Degrassi & the Baroness Von Sketch Show). Her novel The Best Kind of People (2016) was shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize. Born on a sheep farm in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Zoe Whittall lives in Picton, Ontario.
Individuals, book clubs, organizations, employers – everyone – is invited to take up the challenge of the One Book, One Community initiative and organize their own way of “getting on the same page” by reading this page-turning novel that asks: what if someone lied to you about having a cancer diagnosis?
Hustlers, con artists and grifters are having a moment right now thanks to, or in part because of, shows like Inventing Anna, The Dropout and The Tinder Swindler. The Fake is as timely as it is witty and gripping.
After the death of her wife, Shelby feels more alone than ever—until she meets Cammie, a charismatic woman unafraid of what anyone else thinks and whose own history of trauma draws Shelby close. When Cammie is fired from her job and admits she is in treatment for kidney cancer, Shelby devotes all her time to helping Cammie thrive. But Shelby’s intuition tells her there are things about Cammie’s past that don’t add up. Could the realest thing about Cammie be that she’s actually a scammer?
Gibson is almost 40, fresh from a divorce and deeply depressed. Then he meets and falls in love with Cammie. Suddenly, he’s having the best sex of his life with a woman so attractive he’s stunned she even glanced his way, and for the first time ever he feels truly known. This is the kind of desire and passion that musicians have been writing love songs about for centuries. But Gibson’s friends are wary of Cammie, and eventually he too has to admit that Cammie’s dramatic life can feel a bit over the top.
When Gibson and Shelby meet, they realize Cammie’s stories don’t always add up. In fact, they’re far from the truth. But what kind of a person would lie about having cancer? And what does it say about Shelby and Gibson that they fell for it?
Zoe Whittall’s previous novel, The Spectacular, explores sexuality, gender and maternal ambivalence as three generations of women strive for real freedom. The Best Kind of People tackles the issues of loyalty, truth, and the meaning of happiness through the lens of an all-American family on the brink of collapse. The novel is currently being adapted for film by director Sarah Polley.
The OBOC program will culminate with an in-person author event with Zoe Whittall during Canadian Library Month, October 2023, location to be determined.
You can reserve your copy of The Fake (or any of the authors other titles) in a variety of formats from the County of Lennox & Addington Libraries at CountyLibrary.ca.