I Know This Much Is True

Rating:
Summary: reads like a memoir
Review: This was an incredible book, in fact, one that I almost did not read. I absolutely hated Shes Come Undone, but I decided to give the author another chance, and I am glad that I did. Dominick seems so real, and you suffer the pain along with him. Due to the fact that I am going through some hard times right now makes me believe that misery surely does love company, because I could understand his misery. This book is actually three stories in one; Dominicks, his grandfather, and "the monkey". I loved the way this book flowed, it is truly a masterpiece

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: As eloquent as some of these reviews are, I can't seem to completely bring to words what I thought of this book. It was a great read and one that I could not put down. I became so engrossed in the characters that I was sad to see it end-even after reading hundreds of pages! This is one of those books that makes you close the cover at the end and just sigh because you were taken on a great, tragic ride. I normally prefer biographies but this was a very enjoyable work of fiction. It's a great add to your library.

Rating:
Summary: This Much I Know Is True
Review: Initially the story of twins intrigued me, for I am a twin also. But as I soon found out, there was so much more to the book, not just a story about twins. Dominick has so many fears, and projects so much anger towards everyone, including his wife, mother, stepfather, and of course, his twin brother. Anger towards others destroys everything in their lives, not just the person who projects the anger. I could not stop reading this book, once I had begun. Understanding oneself through self-discovery and/or therapy, and reaching out to others help you heal from the past. This much I know is true.

Rating:
Summary: The best book I ever read
Review: I keep checking to see if Wally Lamb has another book out because I enjoyed this one immensely. This is a wonderful book, and everyone I've talked to who has read it agrees that it is hard to put it down.

Rating:
Summary: Almost a work of literature
Review: Having focused mostly on non-fiction, I admit becoming partial to Oprah's bookclub which introduced me to such good books as this one. Despite its length, Lamb deftly succeeds in grabbing the reader's attention right to the end. That in itself is no mean feat. This is a novel about modern America, suburbans and borderliners, normals and abonoramls, men and women, the I and the other, the system and the individual,love and hate, family feuds, doctors and patients,... Lamb's characters are well-developed, well-researched and brilliantly presented. This book is not about binary oppostions nor black and white; the grey is stressed and thus we find ourselves abhoring then sympathising, repelled but eventually attracted, bewildered but finally understanding.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: Perhaps the best book I've read in years. A true page turner with an excellent plot. A superb read.

Rating:
Summary: Better than "She's Come Undone"
Review: A wonderful book. I became so involved with the lives of the characters that I was sorry when the book came to an end. I much preferred it over "She's Come Undone." I read this book everyday while travelling on the train to work and without fail, on each of those days, someone would stop me and say..."It's a great book, isn't it!"

Rating:
Summary: Stay away from monkeys
Review: Lost brothers. Lost sisters. Twins untwinned. Amputated limbs. Rabbits. Monkeys. Raising others' children. Confinement. Abuse. Rape.

All of these images cross the generations as Dominick copes with the escalating crisis of his identical twin brother. As the story wraps up into it surprisingly neat conclusion (considering how very messed up the characters are), I ended wishing for a little ambiguity.

Maybe I diluted my reading too much (I read this book over 3 months), sharing my time with Borges. The themes of repeated history strike most heavily. After chewing up Lamb's novel in very tiny little bites, I feel like there is very little left to digest. I would suggest that somebody reading this immerse themselves in the book in order to develop the resounding sense of everything that goes wrong for Dominick. By parceling the book out, the reader may diminish its impact. I've just finished reading this, and all I can say is I'm glad.

Technically, Lamb has pretty good dialog, and there are some interesting parallel plot structures (though not nearly so innovative as the cover blurbs suggest). Some plot developments seem natural and sensible, others completely contrived, and this occurs throughout the book, not just at the ending. In many ways, old Domenico's diary seems the most fascinating feat: The way that Lamb moves into a different character's first-person narrative voice is impressive.

Redemption is a powerful story line, done correctly. For some reason, and I don't know what, this one didn't seem to hit all the right targets.

Rating:
Summary: Why are we taken by Dominick Birdsey?
Review: This book flat out earns all five stars. Wally Lamb has brought us another novel about a tragic character that our hearts run away with. A wonderful book, that twists and turns between past and present, good and evil.

But... and there is a but. Like Dolores Price in She's Come Undone, Dominick is an unfortunate hero. Both characters seem to get themselves into ridiculous circumstances and with both characters I have wanted to tell them both to grow up and stop being so arrogant. Is Wally Lamb trying (and failing) to craft a Garp or a Owen Meany?. Whatever the case, neither character comes close to supplying the heart wrench of our literary angel "Owen Meany".

I think I wanted more from this book than it was ever going to provide, but it still kept me intrigued. This book is certainly worth the effort it takes to read 900 pages, and it packs a great punch and numerous surprises. The ending is well developed, if not a little perfect and the flash backs between near and distant past are very well combined, and for that reason "I Know This Much is True" goes down as a classic.

Rating:
Summary: I know this much is true
Review: Wally Lamb has done it again! He gets you so connected with his characters that you feel a part of the book yourself. You really route for the main character in the end. If you have the time and love to read, read this book!