Saturday 25 February 2012

REVIEW She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb is an amazing story. It has had me hanging on it's every word for the last week. I wanted to read it but didn't want it to end. Reading other reviews of this book there are as many people who love it, as who hate it. I love it! Which is a weird thing to say about a book who's central character has such a miserable life.


It is basically the story of Dolores Price, we meet her when she is a little girl and follow her through her life until about forty years old. She certainly has more than her fair share of bad things happen to  her and the consequences are extreme at times. The first thing that happens is the death of her baby brother at birth, this changes her family life forever and is really the catalyst that destroys her parents marriage and leads to a chain of events that she struggles to come to terms with. Moving to a new school, being bullied at school, feeling isolated from her peers is just the beginning of Dolores' problems. Then the unimaginable happens, something that changes her life forever. 


As a result we see Dolores sink deeper into her isolation and despair, eventually reaching rock bottom emotionally with a nervous breakdown and physically being severely overweight. She spends many years getting better, eventually feeling able to experience the real world once again.
She embarks on a new life, and relationship and believes she has finally found happiness. However once again it all comes crashing down around her.


But this time she is a much stronger person and yet again builds a new life for herself. This time a real life, built on trust, friendship and love. The relationships she forges with various characters in the latter stages of the book are very touching. Despite all the awful things that have happened to her she still hasn't given up on life and relationships.


I enjoyed this book very much. If I hadn't known the author was a man I never would have guessed, it feels so much like a woman's perspective on life. It all feels so real, being with Dolores every step of the way, experiencing every emotion with her. At times you feel angry with her, sad with her, and happy with her. I can't believe I've had this book on my shelf for over two years, I wish I had read it sooner. I will certainly be reading more by Wally Lamb.

4 comments:

  1. Couldn't agree more - I loved that book as well!

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  2. I loved this book. It's deep & dark but one of my favorites.

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  3. I read this one years ago and loved it! I'm glad you enjoyed it too!

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