A review by gabmc
We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas

4.0

How can a book be both beautiful and depressing at the same time? This was such a beautifully written story - I think I have over 100 highlights in the 600 pages of the book. However it dealt with some of the darker aspects of family life, such as the impact of an alcoholic mother on a young girl, and the consequences of early onset dementia on a family. Eileen Tumulty was born in New York to Irish immigrant parents - her mother pined for Ireland and her father had his sights set on a better life for Eileen in America. As a young girl, Eileen dreamed of marrying someone with not such an Irish last name as hers. However, when she met Ed Leary one New Year's Eve she knew pretty quickly that she was going to marry him. Eileen and Ed eventually had a son, Connell. Ed and Connell developed an amazing relationship but Eileen referred to him as 'the boy' and seemed to hold him at arm's length. Eileen was very ambitious for Ed and wanted him to apply for 'better' jobs so they could move into a house in a 'better' area. The characters are so vivid and the writing is touching. I will be thinking about this book for some time to come.