|
| |||||||||||
What are readers saying about She's Come Undone?
|
A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-22 08:13:22.
(Language: English)
 
I would call this book standard Oprah book club fare. It was an interesting read but not a great work of literature. The beginning is heavy as many Oprah books are where there is a huge amount of tragedy facing one character. The rest of the book is about how she eventually deals with it. The synopsis on the back claims that it traces the character's life from 4 to forty. Not really. It really focuses on 4-5 key points in her life. It touches on 4-40 but I would hardly describe it as about her life from 4-40. This is not recommended for sensitive children. There is a rape scene and emotional abuse.
|
Yes (0) 
No (0) |
|
A Reader posted a review at 2008-04-08 05:37:19.
(Language: English)
I read this ages ago. As someone who thought she would identify with the protagonist...I was very disappointed in this book. So much of it was overdone, and it just seemed like an exercise in self-loathing for Dolores, with no real hope...or no real message. Didn't do it for me at all. And while I don't care for the author, and I wouldn't marvel at his abilities...if you think he can amazingly write in a woman's voice...then that just means you find him talented - it needn't be a reflection on his sexual orientation. There are gay and straight men who "understand" women, please stop upholding stereotypes - we real women aren't that mysterious (at least I'm not).
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2011-08-20 12:41:51.
(Language: English)
Great book!
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2009-04-11 09:33:05.
(Language: English)
Let's try this review again- I read this because my friend suggested trying on of Opera's book club selections. The verdict was this: This book made me angry. The character was utterly weak, hopeless and was a testament to insecurity and helplessness. The ending was a disaster. So much for Opera's book club. All I can say about this book is, now that I've read one of Oprah's recommendations, I will NEVER user her suggestions again. This novel was a testament to low self-esteem and helplessness. It made me angry as a woman and the ending was utterly pathetic. Topping this off, was that this was written by a man.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2010-03-05 12:23:19.
(Language: English)
Wally Lamb does a jaw dropping phenomenal job of writing in the female voice. His ability to capture the depth of feeling, and provide apt and in depth analysis into the female psyche left me in wonder and awe. His prose will elicit a plethora of emotion from laughter to tears as you journey along with Dolores from her bleak childhood into her disparaging young adulthood. Ultimately this tale of perseverance in the face of unfathomable adversity will leave you rooting for Dolores and more thankful for your own set of circumstances! Read it if you're courageous enough to traverse the despair of another...
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2010-03-08 07:15:00.
(Language: English)
The masterful prose reigns supreme in this tale of a tightly woven web of lies that encase our herione's many dysfunctions. Wally Lamb gives us every emotion in ways that are wholly unexpected; despite some truly absurd turns in the plotline, his characters remain believable throughout this engaging and amazing tale of love, hate, violence, tenderness, sanity and lunacy.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2008-02-18 12:32:24.
(Language: English)
Wally Lamb seems to build stories about characters with bad luck, grief, and poor coping skills. She's Come Undone is about a girl whose parents get divorced after her baby brother dies, gets raped, becomes obese, goes to college after her mother is killed in an auto accident, tries to commit suicide, spends three years in a mental hospital, gets in a relationship based on lies and deceit, has an abortion, gets divorced, and gets remarried after her grandmother dies. Overall the character is pathetic and pitiful. All this crap happens to her and she handles it so badly. The ending isn't even happy, it's just mediocre. I guess I just don't like depressing books. I give it a 4 out of 10.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2011-08-02 05:16:50.
(Language: English)
if you want to read something super depressing, this is the book for you. just tie this woman up with a chain by the ankle and drive from one end of the state to the other. that's how bad it is.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2011-06-29 07:49:26.
(Language: English)
i read this every year its like seeing my fav movie unbelievably real too real!! loved it cried laughed it broke my heart so much!! still cant believe a man wrote it!!!
|
|
Autumn posted a review at 2012-02-03 04:44:37.
(Language: English)
So moving and intense and wonderful
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-01 10:49:05.
(Language: English)
I don't usually go for the whole chicklit genre of "troubled teen on the path to enlightened adulthood" but this novel was so well written you feel like you actually know the main character and she's talking directly to you. The style reminded me of the Judy Blume books I read as a pre-teen, (and parts reminded me of "Go Ask Alice") but more psychologically complex. You really want to keep reading and find out what happens to Dolores, and there are so many twists and turns in her life (all plausible and realistic) that you stay engaged in what is a relatively long book. The most amazing part is that the author is male - he did an unbelievable job of describing the thoughts and emotions of a teenage girl and then of a young woman, while painting some very unsympathetic male characters.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-03 09:28:19.
(Language: English)
I regret not having written a review for his book the moment I read its last word. Had I done so, I would have been able to recount every scene that made me laugh, cry or that led to self-reflection. Now a month has passed and all I can say is I loved this book with all my heart. The writing was rich, the telling of Dolores' story was real and incredibly well written. When I couldn't read, I thought endlessly about my friend Dolores, just hoping that she could come out on top and end up with the life she deserved. This is an outstanding story of triumph over challenge and the harsh journey from abuse and dysfunction, to self discovery and happiness. I highly recommend this book.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-25 03:09:40.
(Language: English)
Wally Lamb is incredibly impressive in this gut wrenchingly sad portrait of Dolores Price. With gritty realism and some genius bits of humor, her story is almost emblematic of a generation of North American women who grew up Catholic in the 60s. Betrayed by her family, religion and oppressed by rapidly changing society so bent on punishing anyone who did not fit the media's image of adolescent womanhood, Dolores shuts down emotionally. Just as she hits rock bottom, she is rescued and brought to a mental institution, where she truly begins her journey of self awareness and eventually, self love. Incredibly intense, with a wealth of secondary characters who are just as flawed and loveable as the heroine. It will not fail to resonate with anybody with even a tiny shred of empathy for anyone who has felt the pain of social isolation.
|
|
|
eva posted a review at 2011-05-07 06:53:22.
(Language: English)
This is a weird one for me, because I first read it I think when I was a teen and thought WOW! this is an amazing book, especially since a man wrote it. Then I re-read it like 10 years later and HATED it. Thought it was awful, poorly written, stupid concept and trite. So right now, I wouldn't recommend it. Strange how my opinion can change, but maybe 10 years is a long time to have my life and tastes change.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-08 08:15:41.
(Language: English)
very very good. Not as good as 'This much i know is true' or 'the hour I first believed' but those are two of my favorite books.I was surprised that this is was a female point of view book from a male author. Not that uncommon, but after reading his other two books I did not expect this. No one captures the beauty in loving someone broken like he does. And in the end of sad stories is a great deal of hope in the peace and wonder that can be found in everyday life.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2009-01-03 10:56:28.
(Language: English)
If I still had this book I would burn it in my fireplace. By far the top 5 of the worst books I have ever read. The female protagonist is tortured by the author, she never has a good moment, and things only get worse for her. She is abused, her life goes downhill and never perks up. I was shocked to see so many people on the New York subway reading this book. Worse yet, book clubs with people reading it. What did they sit around and discuss afterward? How she should have jumped off of a bridge? Don't waste your time.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2009-05-17 10:36:32.
(Language: English)
Wow, what a great book. As others have said, I too am surprised that this book was written by a man. I have not found a lot of male writers who can write female characters so knowingly, but this book is an exception - very well done. The male and female characters were complex and engaging, and the story was compelling and draining. The one exception I will take with the story is with the ending. I think the story should have stayed with the tragedy theme, not opted for a feel good ending. With characters so inherently troubled, the happily ever after ending left me wondering what happened six months down the road. Though the book is done the story is not over. In keeping with the tragedy that I saw this story being, I think Dolores should have taken one final swim with the whales, jumping from the boat during that final stormy night, never to be seen again. In all though, a fabulous book.
|
|
Jennie-Mae posted a review at 2010-02-18 09:51:17.
(Language: English)
I really liked this book. I didn't always like Dolores, but I could definitely relate to many aspects of her life. The subject matter is very intense, holds nothing back. I liked that the events in Dolores' life weren't sugar-coated, the story was very realistic. I did find it a bit long, could have been edited slightly without taking away from the story, but other than that, a very well written, thought provoking story.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2008-01-18 03:16:41.
(Language: English)
I remember a friend lent me this book before it was in oprahs book club about 10 years ago. By the time I got to the end of the book I was SO shocked that Wally Lamb was a man that I had to keep checking just ot make sure. This book has made me both laugh, cry, and share the anger and triumphs of one of my favorite female protagonists of all time. Through the eyes of Dolores I see a little bit of myself, trapped and betrayed by her ridiculous sense of reality and yet somehow she breaches the surface of of that cold and unforgiving water. I give this book a 9 out of 10. LOVE it, ironically though written by a man, I think he relates beautifully to the a woman's perspective. Ridiculous, descriptive, incredibly depressing, and uplifting all at the same time. I recommend this book to anyone :)
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2009-07-30 06:23:53.
(Language: English)
Lamb is genius in describing female feelings/thought/emotions that mamy of us women go thru growing up. But, he also takes us thru the coming of age of this young girl, who had more than her share of growing pains. This book is so charged with (female) emotion, you'd think Lamb actually lived thru it. It's been over 10 years since I last read this book and I still can't wrap my brain around the fact that Wally Lamb is a MAN! A true work of art! This is <i>Top<i> 5 material for sure!
|
|
Christie posted a review at 2010-08-24 08:53:08.
(Language: English)
Nice story of finding and respecting yourself through a journey of life's common challenges. Didn't find it remarkable though. Felt the author could have spent more time fleshing out the protagonists feelings about her body after she sheds her excess weight, rather than the short shrift I feel he gave it.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2010-07-09 08:22:59.
(Language: English)
I read this book years and years ago, and I still think it's one of my fav's. Everyone I have talked to about this book has enjoyed it for one reason or another and takes away a little something from the book as well. Great book and by far the best first book by any author I have read a first book by. And in case you are wondering, his other books are just as well written and addictive.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-11 10:16:55.
(Language: English)
Well, what can I say... It's an "Oprah book club" book. I agree with others that Lamb does a decent job of getting inside the female mind, but that's the only good thing about this book. I found I just could not root for the main character as she is horrible and totally unwilling to take responsibility for herself. That is never resolved, which provided for an extremely disappointing ending. It's far more graphic in places than it needs to be as well. Do people really enjoy reading the graphic details of rape? I know I don't.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2007-10-12 11:36:09.
(Language: English)
I read this, I don't know, several years ago...I think not long after it was released...was an Oprah-pick at the time, which I never thought I'd go for...but when I was at Chapters one nite, there it was. It is STILL at the top of my Top 10 list of favorite books of all time. Wally Lamb is a guy...obviously...but if you didn't actually KNOW the author's name before reading this book, you'd Swear it was written by a woman...I'm thinking he likely grew up with several female siblings?? Anyhoo...I highly recommend this book...and looking for his other work of fiction ( as far as I know he's only got 3 books out, and the last one is non-fiction ) " I Know This Much Is True "...I think that one IS my all-time fave. Just like " She's Come Undone " I Know This Much Is True show's Wally Lamb to be an amazingly smooth writer, and he's consistant with the flow of story-line from the first page to the last...ENJOY!!
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2009-04-03 06:41:27.
(Language: English)
We've all heard the adage "never judge a book by its cover" and in the case of "She's Come Undone" nothing could be more true. I picked this book up at a sidewalk book sale mainly because I was looking for a light read after several non-fiction books I had just finished. I usually avoid books that have the "Oprah" sticker on them because most of those books are tad too light for my taste. However, since I was seeking something for the brain dead, one dedication on the cover from The New York Times read "An ambitious, often stirring and hilarious book." Phew. I wonder if that reviewer could tell me what is hilarious about childhood rape, adultery, wife beating, eating disorders, nervous breakdowns and years in mental institutions? I was horrified by that description!!!! "She's Come Undone" is a very good book. I am sure many young women could relate to Delores, the main character. She suffered terribly in her early years with no help from anyone. She was left to deal with adult problems at a very young age and it affected her egregiously. This is one of the saddest books I've read in a long time. I was sobbing at the end, even though there was a pseudo-happy ending. Mr. Lamb touched on so many issues confronting many of us and I think was very sensitive to some things, but knew very little about others, especially eating disorders. He touched on the early years of AIDS with decency and class. I wonder if he had friends that were affected? I recommend this book especially to young women with mental health issues. There is hope and as the psychiatrist in the story tells us "you have to create your own happines". Just be prepared, there is nothing "hilarious" in this book.
|
Share your views!
Similar books
