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A review by rlwaite
The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer
2.0
This was actually a pretty good book, but it would have been better if I hadn't been distracted by the lack of reasonable accuracy in the story's setting. I know that the author has not lived in Northeast Ohio, but even a little research would helped. At one point, the characters are driving east on I90 in Cleveland, and exit onto Martin Luther King Jr Drive. We are told, "Even with the darkness, it's clear we are in a rough neighborhood. Within a few quick turns, nearly all the businesses are either burnt out or boarded up. On each corner, there's some kid in a thick winter coat bouncing in place to find some warmth ... I work in these neighborhoods every day. I know drug dealers when I see them." Later, "...to the ride back past the burned-out storefronts of Martin Luther King Jr Drive ..."
S0rry, but are there no burned-out storefronts on Martin Luther King Jr Drive. In fact, there are NO storefronts and NO neighborhoods, and never have been. Martin Luther King Jr Drive starts at I90 and runs right thru the middle of Rockefeller Park, one of the largest parks located completely within city limits, land donated by Cleveland native John D Rockefeller.
At another point in the book, our characters "... follow I80 out of the city." That would not be possible as I80 is the Ohio Turnpike that runs east and west midway between Cleveland and Akron - it never goes in, or close to, Cleveland. On this trip, "... we're deep in Cuyahoga Valley National Park ..." Based on their destination (which I won't disclose) they are driving east. In that case, they would not be deep in the park.
I know that the truth must be tweaked to tell a good story, but these aren't tweaks - errors such as this are nothing more than laziness, the unwillingness to do some research. The author probably didn't realize that anyone from NE Ohio would or could read a book and discover such misrepresentations of their homeland.
S0rry, but are there no burned-out storefronts on Martin Luther King Jr Drive. In fact, there are NO storefronts and NO neighborhoods, and never have been. Martin Luther King Jr Drive starts at I90 and runs right thru the middle of Rockefeller Park, one of the largest parks located completely within city limits, land donated by Cleveland native John D Rockefeller.
At another point in the book, our characters "... follow I80 out of the city." That would not be possible as I80 is the Ohio Turnpike that runs east and west midway between Cleveland and Akron - it never goes in, or close to, Cleveland. On this trip, "... we're deep in Cuyahoga Valley National Park ..." Based on their destination (which I won't disclose) they are driving east. In that case, they would not be deep in the park.
I know that the truth must be tweaked to tell a good story, but these aren't tweaks - errors such as this are nothing more than laziness, the unwillingness to do some research. The author probably didn't realize that anyone from NE Ohio would or could read a book and discover such misrepresentations of their homeland.