Wally Lamb: schedule disrupter, sleep depriver, dirty house enabler, great, great writer. This book deserves ten stars! When I get a book by Wally Lam...moreWally Lamb: schedule disrupter, sleep depriver, dirty house enabler, great, great writer. This book deserves ten stars! When I get a book by Wally Lamb, I can't stop reading it. I don't want to do anything else, so maybe it's a good thing that his 700 and something page novels come out infrequently. But really, it isn't. I want one a year--minimum.
This book does an amazing job of integrating fact and fiction, so much so that I was sure some of the fictional parts were fact. This is a novel, but the fictional characters go through the Columbine shooting and other true-life events.
So many sad things happen, so many profound things happen, so many true things happen.
The features at the end of the book answered some of the questions I had, those about how Lamb blended fact and fiction and what was what, how he started this book, why he wrote this story, in particular, how life events informed the choices he made. He also includes a playlist of the songs he listened to over and over while he wrote this book and why those songs.
The twin brothers, the protagonists in I Know This Much is True, were mentioned in passing in this book. And, the psychologist, Dr. Patel, is the same person in both books. I wonder who she is--a fictional character or real life person.
I was happily surprised that the historical and current material kept my interest pretty much equally, with the current a little bit ahead, which ususally doesn't happen when a novel contains extensive passages of old letters, diaries, etc. I usually want to rush through one or the other to get back to the "good" part. Not this time.
The puzzle pieces slowly come together, pieces that throughout most of the book, we don't even know are out of place. Pieces that Caelum, the main character, doesn't realize are not in order. We discover the questions with him and then discover the answers.
Mazes, Minatours, PTSD, pain, evil, deception, and addiction are themes that run through this book, as well as redemtion, love, forgiveness, and survival.
Set aside a few days and read this book, surrender to it, don't even try to keep your regular routine. That's the best way to enjoy Wally Lamb. Too bad most of us don't have that luxury. But even if it's in bits and pieces, this book is so worth the time and gives back so much!
Five stars are not enough to give this book. Set in WWII Germany, it is awful and terrible and amazing and everything a book should be!! I took me a w...moreFive stars are not enough to give this book. Set in WWII Germany, it is awful and terrible and amazing and everything a book should be!! I took me a while to figure out what the author was doing and how she was using the fairy tale, but once I did, it blew me away. I had tears running down my face, especially at the end. This book is incredible!!!!!(less)
This is an amazing book looking at three generations of women and what they endured and survived in China before and after the communists took over. I...moreThis is an amazing book looking at three generations of women and what they endured and survived in China before and after the communists took over. It is so well written and fascinating!! I love this book!(less)
this is an amazing book. Her life was so hard and sad and hopeless, but she survived. The very first scene is one of the most dramatic I've ever read...morethis is an amazing book. Her life was so hard and sad and hopeless, but she survived. The very first scene is one of the most dramatic I've ever read in any memoir.(less)
WOW!! I love this book! It shows what people with schizophrenia went through before they had the drugs they have now, and what happens when they final...moreWOW!! I love this book! It shows what people with schizophrenia went through before they had the drugs they have now, and what happens when they finally get some help! A great book!(less)
When I read this book or watch the movie based on it, I witness an amazing transformation from powerless, victimized child to powerful woman and I am...moreWhen I read this book or watch the movie based on it, I witness an amazing transformation from powerless, victimized child to powerful woman and I am encouraged and strengthened.(less)
I love this book!! Micheal De Meng is a genius, for sure. I love the illustrations, how he ties his work in with mythology, how he tells us what's in...moreI love this book!! Micheal De Meng is a genius, for sure. I love the illustrations, how he ties his work in with mythology, how he tells us what's in his mind. That's the best part. Being in his mind while he works and seeing what happens(less)
It was so long ago, but I still think about the lessons that Merlin taught Arthur by changing him into different creatures. I don't remember much else...moreIt was so long ago, but I still think about the lessons that Merlin taught Arthur by changing him into different creatures. I don't remember much else, but that part is so fresh in my mind(less)
Judith Herman was the first person to really put the pieces together and figure out that victims of rape and domestic violence get ptsd, just like sol...moreJudith Herman was the first person to really put the pieces together and figure out that victims of rape and domestic violence get ptsd, just like soliders and for the same reasons. She calls it soul murder, which just about says it all. I would love to give this book 50 stars(less)
This is a really wonderful book. Very sad, but also very interesting as it explores what can happen to people who are off by themselves, with their ow...moreThis is a really wonderful book. Very sad, but also very interesting as it explores what can happen to people who are off by themselves, with their own set of values and own beliefs, how people deceive themselves and each other without even knowing it. It shows the games we play with our own minds, making what we want to do what we should do(less)
This book is so good!! It's almost too unbelievable, it was a novel, you'd say no, this couldn't have happened, but after reading this book I have no...moreThis book is so good!! It's almost too unbelievable, it was a novel, you'd say no, this couldn't have happened, but after reading this book I have no trouble believing that it did(less)
Andy Goldsworthy's art blows me away!!!! I first heard of him when I ran across the dvd of him making art and talking and since them he has become one...moreAndy Goldsworthy's art blows me away!!!! I first heard of him when I ran across the dvd of him making art and talking and since them he has become one of my all time favorite artists(less)
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