I Know This Much Is True

Rating:
Summary: An Epic Masterpiece!
Review: As a guy, I couldn't care less what Oprah Winfrey's book club recommends. I read this one because I wanted to! This masterfully written, gut-wrenching multigenerational epic is indeed a "parable of failure", to quote Dr. Patel. This ain't no "chick book", guys - Wally Lamb pulls no punches in his portrait of a dysfunctional family: schizophrenia, child abuse, domestic violence, homosexuality, incest, rape, and murder are just some of the elements that play a part in this contemporary retelling of an old Hindu myth. This book is indeed a mythic, spiritual, and at times, Wagnerian look at one man's destruction and struggle for redemption - a path also traveled by his mother and grandfather. Even at 900 pages, the book seems to end too soon. Lamb is a master of characterization and narrative. With this, his second novel, Lamb has proven himself a master storyteller in the tradition of Salinger, Maugham, and Steinbeck. I Know This Much Is True is a definite must-read, and an experience you will never forget!

Rating:
Summary: A hard-to-put-down thrilling story
Review: It took me the entire summer to read "I know this much is true," but every time I put it down, I couldn't wait to return! This was THE most interesting story-telling novel that I have ever read! I appreciate the capability of Mr. Lamb, and look forward to another outstanding novel.

Rating:
Summary: Simple the best book I have ever read!!
Review: I heard about both of Wally Lamb's book from a dear friend BGT. After reading Lamb's first book, She's Come Undone, I couldn't wait to get my hands on his second book. With both of the books, I was so involved that I wanted to be in the book with the characters themselves. Especially the Birdseys. I fell in-love with both Thomas and Domonick the second they steped onto the first page. I have never been so moved by a book. It captured my soul and my heart forever. I plan on reading the book again. I own it so I will definetly be reading it again as I get older. After finishing the book I wanted to meet Thomas and Domonick, they were that real to me. I wish Wally Lamb would hurry up and write another book, I can't wait to get involved with more of his wonderful characters. I don't see how anyone could say anything negative about this book, they obviosly don't know what a real good book is! I recomend this book to everyone, knowing that you will love it.

Rating:
Summary: A very well written, real-to-life story; wonderful to read.
Review: Wally Lamb does an excellent job of portraying both his characters and the story of their lives. This is one of the books that can have such a thourough story line and still remain incredibly focused. This is one that I would recommend to my best friends.

Rating:
Summary: Totally Awesome and moving! A MUST READ! Highly recommended
Review: This book's characters grabbed me from the beginning and I had a difficult time putting the story down, actually looking forward to what was going on in Dominck's life. This is a great show of emotion--all emotions!--and if find yourself not liking this book, you must be taking something out of context! This is real life situtation drama that had me laughing, crying, feeling frustration, anger, love, joy--you name it, I felt it. What I didn't like? That the fantastic story had to end! It's going to be awhile before I find a book of this magnitude to grab me and make me keep reading as this did. My hat's off to you, Mr. Lamb, on a book well written!

Rating:
Summary: Completly captivated from beginning to end.
Review: I had never heard of Wally Lamb until his second novel "I Know This Much is True" was published. I purposely read his first novel, "She's Come Undone" to see if I liked the way he writes. I was pleasantly suprised and finished his first novel so that I could read his new one. From the beginning I was completly captivated and enjoyed the story line of the life of Dominick and Thomas the identical twins and the family and friends who went in and out of their lives. I like Dominick wanted to know who their biological father was and wondered if their lives would have been different if their mother had not married Ray. Although the book is long it held my attention to the end. I highly reccommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story.

Rating:
Summary: Could not put it down!!!
Review: This is the best book I have read. It is long, but reads very quickly. I didn't want it to end.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I have ever read.
Review: I actually ordered this book by mistake, and when I got it, thought about sending it back. Yet I quickly became immersed in the story and the lives of Dominick and Thomas Birdsey. This was one of the most readable novels that I have ever pulled off the shelf. I thought there was reality in all of the characters, and even in the story of Dominick's grandfather. I actually enjoyed the flaws and imperfections in Dominick, because they made him more real. The only unreal part of the book for me was his fall off the roof (I work in a hospital and see a lot of that with an unhappy ending). I also thought that the book was very spiritual, especially in a modern day setting. The ending felt like the end of the book of Job, where the main character got everything back. Dr. Patel was one of the most likable shrinks that I have ever read (or even heard about for that matter). The infusion of the Siva's ability to renovate with the Native American(i couldn't even begin to spell the tribes name without the book in front of me)view of wholness in the roundness of things really brought the ending together well. Both Dominick and Dessa, Ray and the rest of the cast are going to be in a continual regeneration of themselves and their world. Wonderful, Mr. Lamb. I can't wait for your first novel to get here, so I can start on it!!

Rating:
Summary: Compelling to the very end
Review: While it took an incredibly long time to get through the over 900 pages, I never once thought that I would have to put the book aside. Not finishing it was never an option. An interesting and intriguing way of pulling together several story lines, often unexpectedly, and always with good detail and exquisite style. Thanks Mr. Lamb for the good read.

Rating:
Summary: It became more compelling as I read right up to the very end
Review: Like "Catcher in the Rye, " this book reads in a very believable voice through the eyes of a human, flaws and all, male character who struggles to find meaning in his life. I felt I could identify to his story, even though I am not a twin. I highly suggest this book to all adults.