I Know This Much Is True

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Incredible!
Review: I was hooked after the first page and finished the book within 2days. Definitely the best on Oprah's list!

Rating:
Summary: I've never read 900 pages so fast!
Review: Miserable characters and an unbelievable plot usually bore me, but Lamb's humanity transforms the dark mythology into truth. Amazing--I've never seen such easy prose pack so much depth. Lamb is a genius.

Rating:
Summary: This was an extraordinary book, very emotional and deep.
Review: As i read this book, I found many parallels in the lives of people that i know and myself that were similar to those Dominic had to face and overcome throughout the novel. After all, this novel seemed to be a coming out for Dominic that changed his life forever. He was tired of always being the strong one. If it wasn't for his brother, mother, wife, or step father, which whom he felt he had to be tough for he might have realized his inner soul or person a lot sooner. But, as he read the novel of his so called beloved Grandfather, he found out life isn't always like the stories you heard growing up. People are different, so he came to the revelation he had to change for the better to save his life. He had lost his wife, his daughterand practically his brother trying to prove what a strong person he was, never wanting anybody to see him break down like a real person. After the final fall from the three story house,it all began to open his eyes, or it was a start. He still had many things on his mind, he had witnessed someone shoot themselve to death, he lost his girlfriend who was pregnant by another man, not being able to be the hero and rescue his brother from Hatch, and crashing his car the night before made him have to fight back harder than ever. He finally triumphed, got everything he loved so much back and found out he could share things about himself that he could never before. Love is the motivation, whether it be for Thomas, his mother, dessa, baby Angela or even Joy and the new baby, but it changed him and the whole novel built up to final pages where the most important things to him are found out. He learns of his true father and gets his family back. He is te happiest man on earth, it is just a shame he had all the trials and failures before his true self was found.

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put this book down!!
Review: Wally Lamb is a wonderful writer. I was so impressed with his first book, She's Come Undone, that I had to run out and get this one!! It's a change from the previous but just as enjoyable. Not only did I enjoy the book, but I was also able to learn from it. I am anxious to see what Mr. Lamb is working on next......

Rating:
Summary: Who wrote this book?Not the author of "She's Come Undone"
Review: I don't know if my disappointment with this book is the result of expectations that were too high after having been delighted with She's Come Undone, or if I am responding to my own training in the mental health field, but I was sorely disappointed with this one, and I remain convinced it was not written by the same author (ghost?) as the former successful novel. Moreover, can we not spend three hundred-plus pages getting no where fast? I realize Dominic is troubled, but he is hardly a protagonist worth caring about, which makes him a far cry from Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment. I got the feeling Lamb was rushing through this one, feeling his way in the dark, flubbing the plot and basically dropping the proverbial ball. Ironically, I see he researched his topic considerably- maybe too much? In any event, the story could have been told in 300 pages- it certainly did not merit the 800 plus it took(hard copy). Not a good use of my time... I'm sorry- I cannot recommend it to anyone. I simply was bored to tears.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent character development
Review: I love books that take time to introduce the reader to characters and really let us get to know them. I've read both of Mr. Lamb's books now - She's Come Undone and I Know This Much is True - and thought they were great.

Rating:
Summary: A complex page-turner
Review: The multi-layered complexity of this book was truly enthralling--it made the huge length seem reasonable. I, too, felt that the "Hollywood" ending was one of the only mistakes made by Lamb. I had a feeling that through all the misfortune Dominick had encountered, there is no way things would have wrapped up in such a tidy fashion. Otherwise, a great work.

Rating:
Summary: Extremely overwhelming, touches on many sensitive issues...
Review: I read some of the other reviews about "I Know This Much is True" and believe I have a different perspective to offer -- I am the mother of 25-year old twin sons. I have been discouraged that they can't seem to settle themselves into careers and getting on with their lives; I've also been worrying if perhaps the older of the two might have some mental problems because of past behaviors. Reading about Thomas' problems made me realize that my twin's aren't that severe -- and we also recently learned that some of his behaviors might have been caused by a physical defect with which he was born. This book gave me insight into twin behaviors, a better understanding of my own, and a desire to be a better parent to them. Also, recognizing that Dominick didn't realize his self-worth until he was 41 years old, means I'll need to be more patient with my twins. I was very, very overcome with emotion at the ending paragraph when he explained what I Know This Much is True means to Dominick. I typed the words up on a small card and carry it in my purse because I never want to forget this book!

Rating:
Summary: This work is a well-written, well-researched novel.
Review: Wally Lamb is truly a gifted writer. It is obvious that Mr. Lamb did a great deal of research in putting this work together. And his hard work certainly paid off in a piece that is not only intriguing and entertaining but challenging in it's ability to address forgiveness and renovation. He went far beyond the typical beachside entertainment. He gave his readers something to think about and grow from.

Rating:
Summary: This was the best book that I have ever read!!
Review: This powerful novel has the ability to draw in the reader like never before. Wally Lamb paints the picture of the life of a man who desperately needs to take a step back and look at his currently wrecked life. The author has a talent for making the reader fall in love with the characters. Once you pick up this 900 page book, it will honestly be hard to put it back down...I know this much is true!!!!