I Know This Much Is True

Rating:
Summary: Truly a wonderful book
Review: This book was both heartfelt and painfully honest. The central character starts out a very unlikable man, as do many of this books characters. By the end of this very optimistic book(though it takes some time to reveal its optimism), the lives of many people have come full circle and Dominick Birdsey becomes a very loveable man, even though his faults and "sins" are painfuly clear. Though it is a long book, it reads fast and is incredibly eye opening and heart-wrenching. I highly reccomend this book; warm up a cup of tea and sit down with it on a rainy day, it just keeps you reading. By the end, you'll wish it was longer. And don't forget the Kleenex, it just rings so true that the sorrows of Dominick become the sorrows of the reader. In other words, a real tearjerker.

Rating:
Summary: I understand.
Review: I have a sybling that in mentally ill. Even though we are not twins, I can relate to the main character in so many ways it's scary. I enjoyed this novel and couldn't put it down. The ending was a little disappointing, everything wrapped up so neatly, but the rest of the book was outstanding.

Rating:
Summary: A fine novel, wonderfully written.
Review: I read this in two days, staying up late, getting up early to find out the next tragic and comic turn in the life of Dominick and his crazy twin brother. The best part of the book is the marvelous voice in which it is written -- actually, two marvelous voices: Dominick, the forty year old housepainter who falls off the roof at the most critical time of his life and his grandfather, Domenico Onofrio Tempesta, a Great Man from Humble Beginnings, whose own story is interspersed with his grandson's. The writing is fine-tuned, strong, and, at times, unbearably funny. The best novel I've read in a long time.

Rating:
Summary: Wish I could read one Wally Lamb book after another.
Review: After hesitating to read this book, having heard or read that it was depressing (what ain't?) and focused on an unnatural brotherly bond of some kind, I got it anyway, and, so many weeks later, still remember those great scenes: Dominick and the car salesman (a character I think I went to college with) in the car, easing their misery with a joint and a beer; the poor brother overlooking a cliff. The protection one family member feels for another is such a strong thing - and it made a moving base for this novel. But Lamb's being such a verbal painter of an era, a time, a culture of the now middle-aged, is what's so special about his books, I think. Very few authors can take you back - oh, some can take you back to parts you don't want to go to, but not many can take you back to parts you forgot and feel at home in. I hope he keeps it up incessantly.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I have ever read.
Review: If you can get by the first couple hundred pages, you will find yourself unable to let this book go. I loved it. I found myself washing dishes with the book opened so I could read while I was working. It was that good. It took me two weeks to pick up another book. Stay with it, it is well worth it.

Rating:
Summary: This is the best book for anyone who thinks their screwed-up
Review: I am only 15, and I had read She's Come Undone, so I thought, why not read I Know This Much Is True? I am so glad I did. I would have never thought someone could come up with such great charaters. I think this book proves most people have it much better then we think.

Rating:
Summary: Possibly 3.5??
Review: Wow. This book is long, and perhaps a slightly drawn out. I am just thrilled at finishing it finally. I felt this novel was at times tedious and badly edited, with the story up until the ending being a very dispondent and uninspiring look at life. This would not have mattered, as this is rectified at the ending, however 900 pages is a long time to glimpse into such a negitive and saddening piece. Like 'Shes come undone', all was resolved in a complete and circle like manner, which was can be construed as idealist and fairytale like, however also as inspiring and hopeful. A decent novel, but only for the patient. I prefered 'Shes come undone', however there were marked similarities between the pieces.

Rating:
Summary: A Truly Gifted Writer!
Review: I read "She's Come UnDone" and I thought that it was an okay book, but it was very depressing. So I was reluctant to pick up another Lamb book. But I am truly glad I did. This was a book that took you to the edge of despair but brought you back. It was so different from his first book. I will never be reluctant to pick up another Wally Lamb book.

Rating:
Summary: A TRULY INCREDIBLE BOOK
Review: This is the first Wally Lamb book I have read and I couldn't put it down. Never has 900+ pages been such a fast read. I was anxious to see where this story was going. Was Thomas ever going to get well again? Was Dominick quietly going insane himself? If not, would he get involved with his brothers therapist, marry Joy or would Dessa eventually leave the man she has been all these years after the divorce and return to Dominick? Throughout the reading of the book I repeatedly tried to guess who the twins father really was but I never guessed the secret in spite of all the hints provided. I strongly suggest you buy this book but do not try to read it until you finish everything else you need to get done because you will not want to put it down until it's finished. I loved the way all the characters lives entertwined and I especially loved the ending. I will be reading more of Wally Lamb's books.

Rating:
Summary: Very boring!!
Review: As a psychologist, who loved "She's come undone," I was very disappointed by this book. I couldn't bear to read it all the way through. Are you sure the same person wrote both books?