I Know This Much Is True (Wally Lamb)

In fairness, I've only read about a quarter of it so far, and don't hate it (yet) as much as Irishgit, but I can see his point. This is considered the best of current American literature? No wonder our culture is in such grave trouble. Lamb is a pedestrian writer, and the story is mawkish, soap opera style melodrama for the same people who think Spielberg is a great film-maker, or Julia Roberts a great actress, or Britney Spears a great entertainer. Based on this story (unless it gets dramatically better soon), I'll refrain in the future from reading an "Oprah endorsed book".

Of all the over-rated, semi-literate pieces of shit that have been foisted on the supposed reading public by that grand fraud Oprah, this drivel takes the frigging cake. I'd rather read the Orlando phonebook, translated into Spanish, then into Lebanese before being translated into English by a partially blind Japanese linguist.

So I'm gathering that I could probably start on page 600 and be ok?

To be painfully honest - and I am, I assure you - what attracted me to this book, just as had Lamb's previous book She's Come Undone was, of all things, the cover. Shamefully I admit that the pure images - of which description I will spare you - were enough for me to purchase these books of his, and little else - but don't despere (on my behalf or your own), because none of these books were, indeed, just beautiful covers! I could go on talking in plural but it would be pointless since there already is a review up on She's Come Undone and therefor I feel no need to dwell on it... any more than I already have (pardon). So apart from it's excellent cover, is there really subject enough to cover the 900-or-so odd pages that makes this book one of the longest I've ever read (and yet finished in 4 days)? The short answer: Yes! This book takes so many twists and turns but never leaves Dominick as it goes along, except for a couple of chapters that are devoted to his grandfather. We follow h... Read more

I'm not quite sure what to make of this 900 page, rambling story of a man and his schizophrenic twin brother. Parts of the book reminded me of a Pat Conroy novel - especially the emphasis placed on how important it is to come to terms with the horrors of the past in order to come to make peace with the present. At times the book reminded me of a John Irving novel, with Lamb's liberal politics supplying the underlying backbone to the storyline. Whoever Wally Lamb counts as his influences, you have to give him credit for creating a pretty ambitious piece of fiction. This novel tries to tackle everything: from difficult childhoods, to infidelity, to religion, to politics, to racism, to immigration, to AIDS, and for the most part, it does a pretty good job of holding things together. My only complaint is that at times, the characters seemed to be merely tools to get across whatever point that Lamb was trying to make in that particular chapter - some of the politics, in particular, see... Read more

After reading Lamb's first book She's Come Undone, which I thought was very good yet to predictable, I immediately started This Much I know is True, which is a at first a little slow, It wasn't until around page 150 of this 897 page novel that I was consumed. The story of identical twin brothers one a schizophrenic, the other mentally well- well sort of. Written well, with well formed characters. The book offers insight, a bit of humor, tragedies, love, and healing. LONG book...definitely worth the read though.

Great ending. Could have used some serious editing between pages 200 - 700.

I sat in the back of a library and read through this book for hours at a time. It begins with a man cutting off his own hand and goes on to explore the life of him and his twin brother. It tells of a family and the ways that are passed on through generations. It's beautiful and sensitive.

I could NOT put this book down! It is an incredible book, the interwoven story lines are intriguing and engrossing. I can't believe it is only Lamb's second work. Lamb is one of those gifted authors that is so believable that you think the story is autobiographical. The novel searches the past for answers to the present and future beautifully.

I generally shy away from Oprah's book of the month selections - simply because I hate the notion that Oprah and her house wife disciples can make a book an instant success...however, Wally Lamb's I Know This Much Is True was a great read. Hard to put down. Heartbreaking, breathtaking, thought-provoking. Definetly check it out.

I loved this story! It made me laugh and cry. I couldn't put it down - I read all 900 pages in less than a week - and I didn't want it to be over.

This novel about a twin and his schizophernic twin brother, and his guilt over being "sane" is compelling and thought provoking. It's a very moving story.

I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb is an exceptional novel where one learns the true meaning of forgiveness.