About this title: A 40-year-old housepainter named Dominick Birdsey, from a spectacularly dysfunctional family, is the narrator of this long novel about the search for self-acceptance. A "New York Times" Notable Book for 1998.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: ReganBooks
Date Published: 06/1998
ISBN-13:9780060391621ISBN:0060391626
Description: Very good in very good dust jacket. Very Good, In very good dust jacket. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 912 p. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: ReganBooks
Date Published: 06/1998
ISBN-13:9780060391621ISBN:0060391626
Description: Very good in very good dust jacket. Very Good, In very good dust jacket. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 912 p. read more
Edition: 1ST,
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: ReganBooks
Date Published: 06/1998
ISBN-13:9780060391621ISBN:0060391626
Description: Very good in very good dust jacket. Very Good, In very good dust jacket. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 912 p. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: ReganBooks
Date Published: 06/1998
ISBN-13:9780060391621ISBN:0060391626
Description: Very good in very good dust jacket. Very Good, In very good dust jacket. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 912 p. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: ReganBooks
Date Published: 1999
ISBN-13:9780060987565ISBN:0060987561
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. almost Fine, no spinewear, some shelvewear, cover is attractive looking, clean pages & tight binding! Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 912 p. Oprah's Book Club (Paperback). Audience: General/trade. ( $16.00 Org. Price printed on back cover ) **** Please, No PRIORITY ORDERS as Book is Heavy ********* read more
Description: Very Good. 0060987561 This book evidences gentle use; the corner of the front cover has been just slightly damp but the pages are unaffected, clean and free of markings. The cover shows only minor shelf wear; the spine is uncreased and straight. Your book will be carefully protected for transit in sturdy, weather-resistant packaging. We are prompt, efficient, communicative. read more
Description: Very Good. 0060987561 Great condition Soft Cover book, clean pages, mild creases to spine, light edge/corner rubs, this book is GREAT! Shop & Save With US. read more
Description: Very Good. 0060987561 Great condition Soft Cover book, clean pages, mild creases to spine, light edge/corner rubs, this book is GREAT! Shop & Save With US. read more
"Another try, this time with my book club. This seemed really convoluted and both brothers were so messed up that I ended up caring more for the 'crazy' one because at least he had an excuse."
"this was one hell of a book. even besides the fact that it is close to 900 pages.
the book is basically the story of Dominick Birdsey, the "sane" twin brother of a mentally ill Thomas. It deals with his life struggle as twin, caretaker, family member, and friend of this person slowly coming undone (no pun intended). but by all means, this is not the only story going on in this novel...not the only character with struggles, pain and emotion.
from joy, Dominick's messed up girlfriend, to Ray, his abusive step father, down to Dell, the forman during one of his summer jobs as a landscaper...every character Wally Lamb writes is thought out, and lends an important piece to the puzzling, anguishing story of Dominick's life. not only do these characters help move the plot along, but, i felt some sort of emotion for every single character in this book. good or bad, i felt something, and that takes a lot from an author...to make the reader feel something on every single page.
it also amazed me how, in the middle of this engrossing novel about Dominick, the author plopped an entire second novel, the story of Dominick's grandfather, right into the middle of it. and it didn't even make me blink. it was just as fascinating to learn about Dominick's ancestors, and relate them to all i knew about him. what author can successfully do something like that? well...wally lamb, i guess.
kudos to Lamb for taking me through this journey of Dominick's self loathing, self pity and self discovery, with such an amazing voice."
"Wow! This was a really great book. Very complex characters touching on many aspects of the human condition (living as an identical twin, schizophrenia, depression, adoption, death, love and a whole host of others.) While the topics covered in this book can be at times very heavy, I think it is an accurate portrayal of the emotions people deal with in their lives about which they don't speak. It's quite a lengthy book, but one I was rather eager to finish."
"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 an advocate for his brother: Thomas has been admitted to a high security forensic institute and Dominick fights to have him removed while at the same time struggling with his own personal battles. The last third of the book is also a foray into the past as Dominick (and the reader) explores his grandfather's written history and discovers perhaps more than he would have liked to have known about his ancestors.
The author's strong points include well-rounded and extremely interesting characters, a terrific ability to make everything come full circle thematically, and a good ear for dialogue. I can forgive the small bits of mysticism here and there because I felt they weren't there simply for artsiness or filler, but rather to develop character and move the plot along.
I will say that I thought the ending was too "wrapped up." He spelled every little thing out, tied up every single loose end, made everything resolve itself in a nice little package. But I was so invested in the other 840+ pages that it was the characters and their quirks and their heartbreaks and their conflicts, not the ending, that stuck with me."
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