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rsutton06's review
5.0
Just like She's Come Undone, Lamb's voice in this novel is stunning. His character development is deep and masterful. The plot is also intricate but keeps the reader fully engaged throughout. There is also a wonderful twist at the end.
katlizlove's review
4.0
I liked this book overall, quite a bit, although some of the sadness hit a little too close to home. I always love reading books where I have almost no immediate personality traits in common with the main character and the author does such a good job on the interiory, that I understand them as I would myself.
I did not enjoy, so much, the grandfather’s writing/story but I think it was probably necessary to story. The bulk of that writing and the time it took up was the reason I felt the book was a four star instead of a five. Happy to have spent time on this novel.
I did not enjoy, so much, the grandfather’s writing/story but I think it was probably necessary to story. The bulk of that writing and the time it took up was the reason I felt the book was a four star instead of a five. Happy to have spent time on this novel.
megsy13's review
3.0
It’s closer to 3.5 stars.
A slow burn, with some truly serious subject matter but told with so much heart
A slow burn, with some truly serious subject matter but told with so much heart
yourfriendgil's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
suvata's review
4.0
Continuing my TBR project:
This is one the oldest selection on my TBR list - Originally added January 20, 2017.
Wow! I flew through this book; just couldn’t put it down. I need to check out the rest of his catalog.
This is one the oldest selection on my TBR list - Originally added January 20, 2017.
Wow! I flew through this book; just couldn’t put it down. I need to check out the rest of his catalog.
book_concierge's review
2.0
2.5 stars
Lamb writes the psychoanalytic process so well. However, this book bogged down with unnecessary detail (the grandfather's diary, for example).
Twin brothers, one of whom is schizophrenic, struggle to find individual identities. Tom commits a horrific act of self-mutilation and Dominick struggles to "save" Tom - spiraling out of control himself. Only when Dominick can come to grips with his anger (at Tom, at his stepfather, at his late mother, at his grandfather, at his "missing" father) can he ultimately forgive those closest to him - and himself. The ending is a little too neat.
Lamb writes the psychoanalytic process so well. However, this book bogged down with unnecessary detail (the grandfather's diary, for example).
Twin brothers, one of whom is schizophrenic, struggle to find individual identities. Tom commits a horrific act of self-mutilation and Dominick struggles to "save" Tom - spiraling out of control himself. Only when Dominick can come to grips with his anger (at Tom, at his stepfather, at his late mother, at his grandfather, at his "missing" father) can he ultimately forgive those closest to him - and himself. The ending is a little too neat.
alyssajcori's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book where absolutely everything goes wrong, but those are the kinds of books I tend to love best. The novel goes back and forth in time, as well as changes narrators much later on to a memoir of the main narrator's grandfather. You follow identical twin boys through life - one is "normal", the other is mentally ill.
There are a lot of upsetting, horrifying storylines, but it is all told with such empathy and realness that it didn't turn me off. I would not recommend this book if you're looking for an uplifting read. I would recommend it if you want to be completely immersed in a life that is likely very different from your own, yet somehow you find yourself relating to the characters.
There are a lot of upsetting, horrifying storylines, but it is all told with such empathy and realness that it didn't turn me off. I would not recommend this book if you're looking for an uplifting read. I would recommend it if you want to be completely immersed in a life that is likely very different from your own, yet somehow you find yourself relating to the characters.
avidreadr's review
5.0
This book was extremely important to me growing up, in ways i cannot even articulate. I even memorized many parts and performed them for oratories.