Title: I Know This Much Is TrueAuthor: Wally Lamb
ISBN: 0-06-098756--1
Recommended Grade Level of Reader: Adult Crossover (Acceptable Content for 11th and Up)
Publisher: ReganBooks
Media Type: Book
Copyright: 1998
Genre: Fiction
Reader's Annotation: With a schizophrenic twin brother and a failed marriage, life couldn't get too much worse for Dominick... or could it?
Plot Summary: I Know This Much is True details events in the life of the main character, Dominick Birdsey. Told from Dominick's point-of-view, the story revolves around Dominick's adult life with flashbacks to his childhood. Dominick has a schizophrenic twin brother who has gone in and out of mental hospitals. The reader sees Dominick struggle with loving and taking care of his brother, but at the same time resenting him. Dominick also struggles with his failed marriage to Dessa and his relationship with his stepfather. The main plot is concerned with Thomas, Dominick's brother, and Thomas's shocking surprise.
Evaluation: (A+) It is evident why this is a number one New York Times Bestseller. Lamb develops the characters so well that the reader will feel as if he or she knows Dominick, Thomas, and many of the other characters. The plot is realistic and the text is rich with pertinent information on schizophrenia. Lamb even provides a list of sources consulted which reinforces why the plot and characters are convincing. While readers might be hesitant to pick this novel up due to its enormous size (897 pages), every page is filled with emotion, suspense, and heartbreak which will make it difficult to set this book down.
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