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I Know This Much Is True: A Novel
Écrit par Wally Lamb
Raconté par Ken Howard
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Identical twins Dominick and Thomas Birdsey were born in the waning moments of 1949 and the opening minutes of 1950.
Now at 40, Dominick's entire life has been compromised and constricted by anger and fear, by the paranoid schizophrenic twin brother he both loves and resents, and by the past they shared with their adoptive father, Ray, a spit-and polish ex-Navy man, and their long-suffering mother, Concettina.
The brothers' relationship undergoes the ultimate test when Thomas commits an unthinkable act that threatens the tenuous balance of both his and Dominick's lives. Wally Lamb's long awaited follow-up to the critically acclaimed novel She's Come Undone is narrated by Tony Award-winning actor Ken Howard.
A HarperAudio production.
Actions du livre
Commencer à écouterInformations sur le livre
I Know This Much Is True: A Novel
Écrit par Wally Lamb
Raconté par Ken Howard
Description
Identical twins Dominick and Thomas Birdsey were born in the waning moments of 1949 and the opening minutes of 1950.
Now at 40, Dominick's entire life has been compromised and constricted by anger and fear, by the paranoid schizophrenic twin brother he both loves and resents, and by the past they shared with their adoptive father, Ray, a spit-and polish ex-Navy man, and their long-suffering mother, Concettina.
The brothers' relationship undergoes the ultimate test when Thomas commits an unthinkable act that threatens the tenuous balance of both his and Dominick's lives. Wally Lamb's long awaited follow-up to the critically acclaimed novel She's Come Undone is narrated by Tony Award-winning actor Ken Howard.
A HarperAudio production.
À propos de l'auteur
Avis
Words fail to describe this novel.
I think the closest thing is "family epic," but perhaps in not the way you expect. The novel follows Dominick who is struggling to put the pieces of his life together while everything falls apart. I went into the book knowing nothing, and maybe it's best you do the same, because describing what happens is only going to bore you. It doesn't sound like anything special, but it is. It's a story of a man, being his brother's keeper. It's a story of a man, trying to find his father. It's a story of a man, falling apart so he can put himself back together.
It's a story about life, plain and simple as that.
But it's astoundingly beautiful.
I tore through pages, reading them as fast as my eyes allowed, yet I read very few a day because I had to rest, had to let the story sit with me, so I could contemplate its meanings. It's a sad story, without a doubt, but I think there's a glimmer of hope in it too.
It will hurt, but it will be worth reading. Trust me.
Rating: 4I think the closest thing is "family epic," but perhaps in not the way you expect. The novel follows Dominick who is struggling to put the pieces of his life together while everything falls apart. I went into the book knowing nothing, and maybe it's best you do the same, because describing what happens is only going to bore you. It doesn't sound like anything special, but it is. It's a story of a man, being his brother's keeper. It's a story of a man, trying to find his father. It's a story of a man, falling apart so he can put himself back together.
It's a story about life, plain and simple as that.
But it's astoundingly beautiful.
I tore through pages, reading them as fast as my eyes allowed, yet I read very few a day because I had to rest, had to let the story sit with me, so I could contemplate its meanings. It's a sad story, without a doubt, but I think there's a glimmer of hope in it too.
It will hurt, but it will be worth reading. Trust me.
This is one of those books that is a book with a capital "B". This has two stories going at the same time, wonderful writing, great characters..... it's just got it all. I was actually glad that this book was so long because I enjoyed every page of this one.
Rating: 5An all-time fave!
Rating: 5What a story!
Rating: 5A sprawling and fascinating three generation family history, which was hard to put down. Deals with themes of self-forgiveness, as well as forgiveness of others.
My only minor complaints were that it all wrapped up a little too neatly at the end, and also that it bordered on schlocky very occasionally - specifically thinking of the psychiatrist sessions
But it was gripping and moving, for sure. May read another
Rating: 4My only minor complaints were that it all wrapped up a little too neatly at the end, and also that it bordered on schlocky very occasionally - specifically thinking of the psychiatrist sessions
But it was gripping and moving, for sure. May read another
I had this book on my shelf for forever and after reading some reviews decided to finally read it. I wasn't disappointed, it was pretty good, just not as great as everyone else seemed to think. The characters were good and so was the story line, it was just soooo long!
Rating: 4Great book, awesome characters. I didn't like the parts where it went way back into history.
Rating: 3This is one of those books that is a book with a capital "B". This has two stories going at the same time, wonderful writing, great characters..... it's just got it all. I was actually glad that this book was so long because I enjoyed every page of this one.
Rating: 5
Amazing story telling. Lots about twins , accepting & becoming. I can understand why Oprah choose it for her book club.
Rating: 5
Amazing read! This is the 2nd Time I read this, the first time was about 14 years ago and I still feel like I took away as much now as the first time when I was 16.
Rating: 5I've finished "I Know This Much is True". I was engrossed in the story the entire time but I suppose it helped that I was traveling and trapped in airports for most of the day. At its conclusion, I was thankful there was a happy ending because this wasn't easy to listen to. I wondered if it was easier to read so I pulled it off my shelf when I got home. It had been a book I'd picked up years ago at a used book sale and never read because the original, UNABRIDGED version has 897 pages!
I browsed through the book to see what was missing because it was then I'd realized I'd listened to the ABRIDGED version. There is a lot that is not in the audiobook. But knowing this now, I will check the book description prior to purchasing. I'm not fond of ABRIDGED audiobooks.
As for the story, I found that I made the same transition as the main character, Dominek. In the beginning I found his character to be unappealing, a person I wouldn't want to know. A "jerk" in real life. I had some sympathy for him in relation to dealing with his brother but that was it. The rape story pissed me off and then I hated him. That was the turning point. From then on, the story was about his own rebirth even as his brother "died". And my reading curve became about liking him again and feeling good about the arc a life can have.
Curious elements at play in this novel and admirably crafted characters.
Worth the listen. I'll let you know if its worth the read.
Rating: 4I browsed through the book to see what was missing because it was then I'd realized I'd listened to the ABRIDGED version. There is a lot that is not in the audiobook. But knowing this now, I will check the book description prior to purchasing. I'm not fond of ABRIDGED audiobooks.
As for the story, I found that I made the same transition as the main character, Dominek. In the beginning I found his character to be unappealing, a person I wouldn't want to know. A "jerk" in real life. I had some sympathy for him in relation to dealing with his brother but that was it. The rape story pissed me off and then I hated him. That was the turning point. From then on, the story was about his own rebirth even as his brother "died". And my reading curve became about liking him again and feeling good about the arc a life can have.
Curious elements at play in this novel and admirably crafted characters.
Worth the listen. I'll let you know if its worth the read.
True to Wally Lamb style. Enjoyed every moment of it.
Rating: 4Mawkishly sentimental. Stories that use psychologists and psychiatrists to advance the inner narrative are basically cheating, taking the low and easy road, and this is one of those. Happy endings semaphores with huge flags early in the text rob it of its tension. Nice app for the New Age.
Rating: 3I've only read two books more than once ,this was the third time for this one
Rating: 5Definitely not as good as his first book and very difficult at times, but overall a good solid novel. It was awfully depressing at time and the main character was thoroughly unlikable for a good chunk of the book; but the theme of redemption brought both Dominick and me around. It was not an easy book, but it rang true in that it showed the nuance of life - nothing is simply black and white; everything in life has shades of grey.
Rating: 3I was ready for a thick, involved book and this was the perfect story. It is one that haunts me still. There were times that I really disliked the book - REALLY disliked it!! But, I couldn't stop!Dominick is a twin. That descriptor has defined him through his entire life. Being a twin brings to mind pleasant images of shared secrets and moments. That is not the life of Dominick and his twin Thomas. The book opens with Thomas cutting off his hand in a public library to protest the Gulf War. Yes, cutting off his hand.This is a culmination of Thomas' life with mental illness. His defining moment in the stacks of the library. Thomas is convinced that this event will force the world leaders to pause and rethink their march to world destruction. But, this event also defined the moment start of the end for both Dominick and Andrew. The book then is about the journey from that moment for Dominick - the road to understanding of his own limits and the road to healing as he fights to keep Thomas safe and deal with both is mother's death and her refusal to admit how his real father was. Buried in this is the story of Dominck and Thomas' grandfather - a story that had been translated from Italian and uncovers the tendrils of mental illness from past generations. I gotta say - I cried and sighed and wrote down the final lines of this book! I LOVED it!!!
Rating: 5Another favorite author!
Rating: 5I didn't finish this book as it became more and more vulgar. I guess that's what I get for reading an Oprah pick.
Rating: 12.5 starsLamb 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.
Rating: 3What can you say about a novel that starts out with a suicide, includes a monkey with an almost incestuous relationship, and a young man who comes of age, along with the other characters who mature through the story? This one is a keeper to reread in my old age.
Rating: 5Traumatic read... the story of twins, one of them a schizophrenic. It's the story of how one deals with a 'broken' loved one, healing from dysfunctional family ties, and the realization that we're all broken somehow... even if the cracks don't visibly show.
Rating: 4This is an excellent, well written novel. I highly recommend this book! The character development is exceptional.
Rating: 5Lamb gets into his characters' heads better than anyone. He manages to make you care about all of his characters in spite of their flaws. A well-crafted story about mental illness, love and healing.
Rating: 5I absolutely loved this book. The characters were so real that they continue to live on in my mind weeks after I finished the book. There were times during this book that I laughed and times that I cried. Even though Thomas is the twin in the mental hospital, Dominick, who always felt it was his job to take care of his brother, is having a major meltdown due to all the trauma in his life. This is the story of twin brothers who both deal with the demons in their lives. It is a long but absolutely fantastic book and should is a must-read!
Rating: 5Did not particularly enjoy this book, but it was an Oprah selection if you like those.
Rating: 2Son of a timid woman, stepson of a hard man, identical twin of a paranoid schizophrenic...Dominick Birdsey is both a sympathetic yet unlikeable protagonist, if that's even possible. He's so angry at weakness but doesn't stand up for it. Instead, he tramples upon it, takes advantage of it, allows himself to gain from it. However, as the story moves along and as he suffers through exceedingly difficult trials, there are people placed in his path that challenge him to become better. And he does. It's poignant. It's slow. It's certainly the growth process that we see in real life rather than the quick fix we find in many novels. It's painful to read but told so beautifully that I can't do anything but recommend it. I've become a true Wally Lamb fan.
Rating: 5Excellent story about mental illness and the effects on a whole family. A bit long and one I could put down and pick back up, but very well written.
Rating: 4I felt about this the same way I felt about Lamb's She's Come Undone.
Rating: 2A MasterpieceFew authors write with the skill, the compassion, the insight into human nature—the almost preternatural understanding of what it means to struggle with one’s identity, one’s humanity—that Wally Lamb displays when he tells a story. But to imply that Lamb “simply” tells stories is to do him a disservice. He, in fact, creates worlds that mirror our own life experiences and tells stories that penetrate to the very depths of our knowledge.In “I Know This Much is True,” Lamb tells the story of Dominick and Thomas Birdsey, identical twin brothers with anything but identical life experiences. One of the driving themes of the novel is Dominick’s quest for his identity. As he narrates the tale, he implies that any number of elements—his ability to distinguish himself from his schizophrenic brother, discovering their father’s identity, understanding how he managed to destroy his marriage to Dessa, his ex-wife—will provide him with the comfort he so desperately seeks.Epic and sprawling (in the best of all possible ways), this novel almost defies summary. And, after all, summarizing it would reduce it to mere story. This is a novel that MUST be experienced. Lamb’s skill as a storyteller is on a par with John Irving, Toni Morrison, and William Faulkner. He is an author to be savored and treasured, for he understands the importance of storytelling and how it enriches our lives in ways that nothing else can.Read this novel. You will benefit from it immensely.
Rating: 5Loved this book (read in 2000). My favorite passage:“I am not a smart man, particularly, but one day, at long last, I stumbled from the dark woods of my own, and my family’s, and my country’s past, holding in my hands these truths: that love grows from the rich loam of forgiveness; that mongrels make good dogs; that the evidence of God exists in the roundness of things.This much, at least, I’ve figured out. I know this much is true.”
Rating: 5