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pattytwin1's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
taramarion's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book (except for the diary excerpts from Dominick's grandfather). Another Wally Lamb book is next on my to-read list.
wyleendover's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
heidilreads's review against another edition
3.0
I think the length of this book was my first challenge. I finished the first 28 chapters, but now my 3 weeks is up and I don't want to keep reading it... So, I'll watch the hbo mini-series and see how things play out...
morganjordan514's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thehawk72's review against another edition
1.0
I realize my opinion on this is probably unpopular, but I could not stand this book for a moment.
Was the writing great? Yes. But there were absolutely no likebale characters in this book other than Dessa. Thomas absolutely got shit on the entire time and he didn’t even have a slightly fighting chance at the beginning, which is maybe the point of what the author was trying to do, point out how shitty our mental health system is, but it was absolutely heartbreaking. Sure, I felt for Dominick and the trauma that entire family faced. He was stressed out having to take care of everyone. However, he did not deserve the tightly wrapped up ending he received. He deserved to heal more. He deserved to learn to love himself. Not for everything in his life to fall perfectly into place without him doing much of anything (at least this was how it seemed to me.)
I am all for an unlikeable main character. This just did not hit for me. Especially not the racist, sexist, and homophobic aspects that played such massive roles in this plot.
Was the writing great? Yes. But there were absolutely no likebale characters in this book other than Dessa. Thomas absolutely got shit on the entire time and he didn’t even have a slightly fighting chance at the beginning, which is maybe the point of what the author was trying to do, point out how shitty our mental health system is, but it was absolutely heartbreaking. Sure, I felt for Dominick and the trauma that entire family faced. He was stressed out having to take care of everyone. However, he did not deserve the tightly wrapped up ending he received. He deserved to heal more. He deserved to learn to love himself. Not for everything in his life to fall perfectly into place without him doing much of anything (at least this was how it seemed to me.)
I am all for an unlikeable main character. This just did not hit for me. Especially not the racist, sexist, and homophobic aspects that played such massive roles in this plot.
aprilnnp's review against another edition
4.0
This one's going to stay with me for a while.
Incredibly well-written, the meat of this book wormed its way into my heart. I loved the realness of it, the internal struggle, the frustration. The therapy sessions with Dr. Patel were spot-on, and Lamb obviously did his research on schizophrenia. I loved the imperfect mess that the families in the book were, abuse and grief and divorce and love, and the characters were so wonderfully dimensional - I found myself loving and hating them, never completely good or completely bad, which is how characters should be. Only two complaints, really, which is why I gave it four stars instead of five:
I could've done without some of the length of Domineco Tempesto's story. Important to the book? Yes, it was, but it felt so long and was insanely frustrating to read (which, granted, it was supposed to be) - I found myself sighing in relief when we came back to Dominick's voice. The background was vital to the story, but I just feel like it didn't have to be *quite* so long and detailed...
And the ending. I like a happy ending, but this - this felt almost contrived, too cookie-cutter for what was otherwise an incredibly realistic, sometimes difficult, book. Lamb tied every end up in a pretty little bow within the last ten pages or so, and I felt in part satisfied, and in part just wanted to roll my eyes, because really? Life hardly ever works out like that. I didn't find it believable.
Overall, though, it was worth the 900-page read - the story is fantastic. Kudos to Lamb. I liked this one WAY more than She's Come Undone.
Incredibly well-written, the meat of this book wormed its way into my heart. I loved the realness of it, the internal struggle, the frustration. The therapy sessions with Dr. Patel were spot-on, and Lamb obviously did his research on schizophrenia. I loved the imperfect mess that the families in the book were, abuse and grief and divorce and love, and the characters were so wonderfully dimensional - I found myself loving and hating them, never completely good or completely bad, which is how characters should be. Only two complaints, really, which is why I gave it four stars instead of five:
I could've done without some of the length of Domineco Tempesto's story. Important to the book? Yes, it was, but it felt so long and was insanely frustrating to read (which, granted, it was supposed to be) - I found myself sighing in relief when we came back to Dominick's voice. The background was vital to the story, but I just feel like it didn't have to be *quite* so long and detailed...
And the ending. I like a happy ending, but this - this felt almost contrived, too cookie-cutter for what was otherwise an incredibly realistic, sometimes difficult, book. Lamb tied every end up in a pretty little bow within the last ten pages or so, and I felt in part satisfied, and in part just wanted to roll my eyes, because really? Life hardly ever works out like that. I didn't find it believable.
Overall, though, it was worth the 900-page read - the story is fantastic. Kudos to Lamb. I liked this one WAY more than She's Come Undone.
nelo's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0