I Know This Much Is True

published	June 14th 1998 by Harper
binding	Hardcover
isbn	0060391626 (isbn13: 9780060391621)
pages	901
description	Oprah Book Club® Selection, June 1998: What if you were a 40-year-old housepainter, horrifically abused, emotionally unavailable, and your ide...more [close] Oprah Book Club® Selection, June 1998: What if you were a 40-year-old housepainter, horrifically abused, emotionally unavailable, and your identical twin was a paranoid schizophrenic who believed in public self-mutilation? You'd either be a guest on the Jerry Springer Show or Dominick Birdsey, the antihero, narrator, and bad-juju magnet of I Know This Much Is True. Somewhere in the recesses of this hefty 912-page tome lurks an honest, moving account of one man's search, denial, and acceptance of self. This is no easy feat considering his grandfather seemed to take parenting tips from the SS and his grandmother was a possible teenage murderess, his stepfather a latent sadist, and his brother, Thomas, a politically motivated psychopath. Not one to break with tradition, Dominick continues the dysfunctional legacy with rape, a failed marriage, a nervous breakdown, SIDS, a car crash, and a racist conspiracy against a coworker--just to name a few. A stretch, both literally and figuratively from his Oprah-christened bestseller, She's Come Undone, Lamb's book ventures outside the confines of the tightly bound beach read and marathons through a detailed, neatly cataloged account of every familial travesty and personal failure one can endure. At its heart lies Freud's "return of the repressed": the more we try to deny who we are, the more we become what we fear. Lamb takes Freud's psychological abstraction to the realm of everyday living, packing his novel with tender, believable dialogue and thoughtful observation. --Rebekah Warren [close]
date added	02-07-07 edit book

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Heather rated it:

(review of isbn 0060987561)

04/10/08

Read in April, 2008

This is a book I have been meaning to read since 1997. That's actually even before it was officially published, which might seem weird, if you didn't already know that Wally Lamb was teaching writing at my high school at the time he was working on this novel; and if you didn't know that my freshman English class helped "edit" one of the first chapters, back in 1994 or 1995.

The novel tells the story of Dominick and Thomas Birdsey, identical twins dealing with very fraternal problems...more This is a book I have been meaning to read since 1997. That's actually even before it was officially published, which might seem weird, if you didn't already know that Wally Lamb was teaching writing at my high school at the time he was working on this novel; and if you didn't know that my freshman English class helped "edit" one of the first chapters, back in 1994 or 1995.

The novel tells the story of Dominick and Thomas Birdsey, identical twins dealing with very fraternal problems, namely that Thomas is schizophrenic, and Dominick is almost his last remaining caregiver. The novel is about many things, but most of all, as told from Dominick's perspective, it is about forgiveness of the self, of family, of our pasts, both personal and collective.

I know a number of the people named in the acknowledgements (including several of my high school teachers), and my high school gets a shout-out as well. I didn't know Lamb very well, but I always found him pretty favorable, one of those teachers you like because they never actually have to give you a grade.

I never read this book until now because I also have a connection to one of those named in the dedication: to Sam Deglin, a high school friend who, along with her younger brother Randy, was killed in a freak car accident in front of our high school in January of 1997. I knew she and Randy were named in the dedication, and for this reason, I avoided the book. I didn't want to know how their deaths connected wtih the story, and I didn't want to be reminded at all of my hometown in southeastern Connecticut, where I assumed (correctly, it turns out) the book was set.

I think enough time passed in order for me to feel OK about this book...and in fact, once I began reading, I couldn't stop. The references to people, places, and events of my hometown were only part of the allure: this book is beautifully written, and the structure of the novel - which jumps back and forth between the 1920s, 1940s, 1960s, and 1980s with refreshingly little unnecessary exposition - contributes to the sense that, like the mind of Thomas Birdsey (who I guess you could call the "antagonist"), things are never what they seem, and that sometimes the answers to our biggest fears and questions were right in front of us, all along.

I would recommend this book highly, but it certainly helps to know a thing or two about growing up in Norwich, Connecticut too!...less

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Anne rated it:

05/06/08

Read in May, 2008

Years ago, I read Lamb's first novel, She's Come Undone, and was struck by his ability to write an incredibly believable story from the viewpoint of a woman. Since then, I've been meaning to read this follow-up novel, but honestly, the length of it has always kind of intimidated me (901 pages). Then the other day, I picked it off my shelf and became engrossed right away. The story is told from the perspective of Dominick Birdsey, a middle-aged divorced house-painter whose schizophrenic twin brot...more Years ago, I read Lamb's first novel, She's Come Undone, and was struck by his ability to write an incredibly believable story from the viewpoint of a woman. Since then, I've been meaning to read this follow-up novel, but honestly, the length of it has always kind of intimidated me (901 pages). Then the other day, I picked it off my shelf and became engrossed right away. The story is told from the perspective of Dominick Birdsey, a middle-aged divorced house-painter whose schizophrenic twin brother, Thomas, just cut off his own hand in public to protest the war. As Thomas is shipped off to a mental institution, Dominick finds himself in the familiar position of trying to protect his brother at the expense of his own career and love life. The story flips back and forth between present day and the past - with Dominik exploring his childhood with an abusive step-father, an unknown father, and a mother who seems to prefer Thomas and is wholly unable to protect herself and her children. At one point, Dominick discovers and begins to read an autobiography written by his maternal grandfather. The autobiography is presented as written (as opposed to simply through Dominik's retelling). While the stories within the autobiography present important issues with respect to mental health within families, and provide Dominick with a lens through which to view his upbringing, I found the chapters of the book itself to be unnecessary and distracting - not to mention LONG. But, despite this, this book is an amazing exploration of the impact mental illness can have on a family. At times, like many books that deal with these difficult issues, there was a little too much going on - in addition to the mental illness and physical abuse, there is child pornography, a hint of incest, racial tension, HIV/AIDS, institutional violence, and numerous other random life tragedies strewn throughout the narrative. But, in the end, Dominick is a likeable character and a wonderful narrator. The ending may be a little too Hollywood perfect for some, but I kind of like a happy ending now and again. I Know This Much Is True is an ambitious undertaking - for Lamb and for his readers, but certainly one well worth the effort....less

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2 comments

Laura rated it:

(review of isbn 0060987561)

02/19/08

Read in February, 2008

recommended to Laura by: saw it on a shelf, got a feeling like I had to read it

901 pages
I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb is by far the best book I've read in a long time. Calling it my favorite is an understatement; as is trying to sum it up in one review.
During the break, all I wanted to do was read. I read about 300 pages a day! I can't describe what exactly made me love the book, but I can guess. First of all, every character was carefully crafted by the author and each forced me to care about what happened to them. The pr...more

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Rachel rated it:

(review of isbn 0060987561)

05/29/08

Read in May, 2008

recommended to Rachel by: Tina

Ufta. Well...it's a testament to the quality of this book that I was willing to stick it out the entire 900 pages (well, 856, but who's counting?) If you can get past the intimidating bulk and stick it through to the end, there really is some quality writing here that is well worth the time it takes to read.

The plot centers around Dominick Birdsey, the "sane" counterpart to his schizophrenic and paranoid identical twin, Thomas. Most of the novel is dedicated to Dominick acting as a...more

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Sara rated it:

(review of isbn 0060987561)

04/09/08

bookshelves: advisorybooks

Read in April, 2008

This is a VERY lengthy book! Hardly read books this long because they tend to get very boring for me and lead to confusion. However this book was different- it was actually good in a way, although it still left me questions and misunderstandings about the book. Still, I still got the big picture at the end. This book about a set of identical twins, Dominick- narrator- and Thomas. Truly a depressing story where it starts off Thomas cutting off his right hand because it was a sacrifice to God. Thi...more

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William rated it:

(review of isbn 0060987561)

02/13/08

Read in January, 2008

recommended to William by: samantha
recommends it for: any Joe Schmoe who feels that life has handed them a bad deal a lot of the time.

Wow.
I've read this book during a particular time of turmoil in my life and it was just what I needed, I think. The book is a journey through the life of Dominick Birdsey, a 40 year old housepainter who has pretty much reached near bottom in his satisfaction with his life. He is the twin brother of Thomas Birdsey, a schizophrenic who just cut off his right hand in a public library to protest Gulf War I. The book goes through Dominick's past, starting from his fucked up childhood under his unbe...more

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Belinda rated it:

(review of isbn 0006513239)

02/17/08

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in January, 2003

This was a very interesting book because it told two stories....a crazy present day story involving twin psychology and his grandfathers life story which gives the protagonist insight into his mothers life and where he comes from....I loved it. I love genealogy and psychology so it was a perfect mix for me. I was so drawn into each story that I'd get mad as it switched between stories because I didn't want to have to wait to hear more. I did not like the present day character as a person but ...more

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Traci rated it:

(review of isbn 0060987561)

04/03/08

Read in September, 2001

recommends it for: anyone who feels like they're living their own consolation prize for a life

This is my favorite book ever.

I was reading it while I lived in New York, during the 2 weeks I was holed up in my apartment in New Jersey recovering from the shock of 9/11 . . . adjusting to life all alone in a big city with just my baby daughter (who, at that time, I felt some ambivalence about) . . . missing my older two children . . . and mostly learning how to live after extracting myself from a rigid and controlling church experience. I felt very much like I was learning how to live wi...more

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Julie rated it:

(review of isbn 0060987561)

10/13/07

The storyline feels authentic as we flash between the growing years of the twins, Thomas and Dominick. In his twenties Thomas develops schizophrenia, and his brother becomes the caretaker after their mother's death. Dominick does not undertake his task lightly. In fact, it dominates his entire life. However, Dominick is not so much a victim as the survivor trying to find the light of day. He has mixed feelings about their mother, who seems to favor the more sensitive twin, Thomas. The only fathe...more

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Judy rated it:

(review of isbn 0060987561)

06/07/08

bookshelves: oprah-book

Read in July, 1999

recommends it for: People who like family epcis

Lamb's tale of one man dealing with his twin brother's schizophrenia is honest and true to life. Spanning decades and making a number of digressions (a grandfather's biography, a flashback to when Dominick realizes he and his brother are not the same person), the story was always engaging.

The description of Dominick's infant daughter's death at three weeks is heart wrenching. Even sadder is his indulgence in a "what if" fantasy seven years later, as he imagines taking her to dancin...more

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JO rated it:

02/22/07

Read in January, 2000

recommends it for: Men and Women

Again, Wally Lamb. This book is about two identical twins in two very different worlds. Dominic is strong willed, confused, yet thoughtful. His brother is schizophrenic, depressed and in an institution.
The book starts out in a shocking way revealing a situation that stuna a little city. Dominic is in the whirlwind of it.
The book then leads us back and forth from present day to back in his childhood dealing with his shy mother and his overbearing and hateful step father. He and his brother ...more

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Taylor rated it:

(review of isbn 0006513239)

04/26/07

bookshelves: fiction

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in April, 2007

The point of view, the colloquial style, the brutal light in which Lamb paints Dominick's life -- as the identical twin who is not the schizophrenic, as the survivor of abuse, as a parent that lost a child to SIDS -- is awesome. It's not a difficult read, but it can be really gut wrenching at times.

HOWEVER. It all works out. In the last couple of chapters, everything is made right and the good guy wins. I got so angry. Sure, not everything is perfect, but it is much closer than it would eve...more

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Barbara rated it:

(review of isbn 0060987561)

06/13/08

bookshelves: fiction

Read in April, 2008

I decided to tackle this almost 900-page novel on my flights to South Africa. It was really really good. I’d read Wally Lamb’s She’s Come Undone years ago, and thought it was absolutely amazing. A former boss of mine had read both novels and thought this one was far superior, so I had high hopes. And while I thought this one was a little more scattered, it worked for me.

At first, I didn’t find any of the characters likable, other than the narrator’s ex-wife. This didn’t seem to b...more

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Colleen rated it:

(review of isbn 0060987561)

06/15/08

I read this book in early winter, partly because I was thinking about my own experience with a severely mentally ill family member, and how it has shaped my life. I understood very well the narrator/main character's anger, confusion, and fear over his brother's schizophrenia, and the need to both defend his brother from the criticism and misunderstanding of others while struggling with his own criticism and sometimes shame and hatred towards him. The book is long, and the main character's voice ...more

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Jennine rated it:

(review of isbn 0060987561)

03/17/08

This is one of those books I read that has never left me. After I finished it I just sat in my chair and cryed for a long time. And I can't explain why exactly, as the ending was surprisingly hopeful. It explores the nature of close family relationships and how you can love someone and also hate them and be embarrassed by them, and the guilt that results from these conflicting emotions. The main character has a mother with physical defects which have inhibited her whole life, a brother with s...more

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Samantha rated it:

(review of isbn 0060987561)

02/25/08

Read in January, 2002

recommended to Samantha by: i read his first book, good too!
recommends it for: everyone

and why, for the love of buddha, does the title include 'oprah's book club?' who gives a sh....i read it way before oprah got her hands on it and endorsed it. it really is an awesome book. the author, wally lamb, has excellent writing skills (did that sound too much like a teacher? sorry, my bad)!!! at the back of the book he talks about how he studied up on twins and schizophrenia before writing this book, which gives him and the story concreteness (is that a word?). it solidifies (that is ...more

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Aleah rated it:

(review of isbn 0060987561)

01/25/08

Read in November, 2007

recommends it for: Psychology buffs

This book started out just like The Mermaid Chair, which I hated, so it took me a while to get into it. When I finally did though, I pleasantly discovered this book was nothing like The Mermaid Chair, and I was constantly dying to know what would happen next. The story revolves around two 40-something identical twin brothers, one with paranoid schizophrenia, the other without. Since I LOVE psychology, this was fascinating to me. The descriptions of the schizophrenic brother are amazingly acc...more

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Stephanie rated it:

(review of isbn 0060987561)

06/18/08

Read in June, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Emily rated it:

(review of isbn 0060987561)

07/03/07

bookshelves: booksofthepast

recommends it for: those who tin foil their heads

I read this book ages ago- some time before college- and got so consumed by the characters that I thought about them for weeks after I'd finished the book. I would wonder about things on which Lamb didn't elaborate, would think about their personalities, their situations. It's remarkable when a book can become so important to a person.

This story moved (it's a cheesy word, but I really WAS moved) and captivated me because it's so human. The people face things about which I know nothing, ...more

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Erin rated it:

(review of isbn 0060987561)

02/03/08

Read in January, 2000

Ug. I got physically ill reading this book. IT is about mental illness, dysfunctional families, and domestic abuse. It's the story of one family's dark secrets and recurring patterns of behavior largely succeeds in its ambitious reach. It's about a sibling's responsibility, depicting the moral and emotional conundrum of an identical twin whose love for his afflicted brother is mixed with resentment, bitterness and guilt. His twin Thomas's, is a schizophrenic paranoia and the resulting chaos in...more

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