Customer Reviews

She's Come Undone

5 star:		(870)
4 star:		(254)
3 star:		(93)
2 star:		(91)
1 star:		(144)

 

 

Dolores is the main characeter in his Wally Lamb novel--not a short novel either, I might add---and while one would expect to be put off by her, Lamb somehow makes us watch---nay, want to see where she's going, how, when, why, and ever other question you can think of. This is a fascinating tale, and one that will keep you glued to the pages of this remarkable book, even if it's not the current page-turner like Nora Robert's "Spellbound" or McCrae's "Katzenjammer." Frankly, I thought it was just great and I'd recommend it to anyone who's interested in serious literature.

If you're like me, you tend to read all the Oprah selections ("A Virtuous Woman," "Ellen Foster," "Bark of the Dogwood," "Fall on Your Knees"), so it should come as no surprise that "She's Come Undone" made her list and mine as well. I like Lamb, but the guy does not write short books. Delores is the main character in this latest novel, and she is quite the unlikable person. But something about the way Lamb paints her is unique and welcome to WANT to know more about her---to see what makes her tick. And boy, do we get an earful. Delores eventually finds her place in the world, but not before a long trial and error process. As if the story itself isn't good enough to entice you to buy this book, Lamb's excellent writing style is superb and makes for an easy pleasurable read.

Also recommended: Fall on Your Knees and the novel Bark of the Dogwood

Our book club recently read three great, great books, one of which was SHE'S COME UNDONE. The other two were LIFE OF PI and Jackson McCrae's CHILDREN'S CORNER. I was so impressed with Oprah's other recommendations; I had to try this one, despite the cover. It was definitely worth it. Wally Lamb writes a humorous, poignant story, but what I appreciated the most was that he never cut his heroine any slack. He never cheated the story on her behalf. When she was good, she was realistically good, and when she was bad, she was just as real, at times horrid. I must admit I really hated her at one point, when she did something I could not excuse, whatever her reasons. But I never stopped loving her, or rooting for her; I even catch myself wondering how she's doing now. The book does more than tug at your heartstrings, though. Lamb has crafted a artful work that challenges as it entertains.

I read the book without knowing it was an Oprah selection. I was attracted to the book, and engrossed in the plot quickly due to the weight struggle of the primary character. I ended up disappointed because the character was not developed, and the weight issue was somewhat trivialized, esp. the process of losing weight. Instead of truly understanding the psyche of the main character, the author chose to toss trauma after trauma on her. After a while, I didn't particularly care about the next trauma, I didn't admire her coping skills or her self-actualization, and I didn't wish the best on her. I wished that the book would end, and felt obligated to finish it. I read another person's review, and agreed, that in some ways this book reminded me of an adult version of a Judy Blume novel. I have also read a lot of positive reviews, and if the book served to awaken or help others, then it can't be all bad. But for me, having faced some similar life experiences and feelings, I could gain no insight

Its been about 9 months since I read this book and I still think about Doris every single day. Oh my gosh this book was riveting, heartbreaking, heart stopping, heart pounding. LOVEEEEED IT!! Oh I loved it!! Would recommend it to anyone who'd care to listen. :))

First of all, I love coming of age stories that progress into the adult life.

This book was interesting and intriguing and I was always wondering what would happen next in Dolores'life.

The only thing I vaguely didn't like (and I can't even really blame the author) was that it took awile, for me atleast, to get to know Dolores and figure out why her story was one to tell. But it definatly was.

SHE'S COME UNDONE deals with controversial topics such as suicide, rape, and homosexuality.

This book was very well written and Lamb wrote in the voice of a female very convincingly. I never really hated Dolores though I never really liked her either, she did some things that I do not agree with. Despite all that, I could somehow relate to her.

My favorite character was Mr.Pucci. He just seemed really nice, sweet, and supportive.

SHE'S COME UNDONE is a story of madness but also of learning. I truly enjoyed this book as much as a person could as a book dealing with this kind of subject matter.

Reviewed by Callie at Handle Like Hendrix

I read this book for the first time in 1997, and I think I've read it every year since. I never fail to feel uplifted at the end. It's still hard to believe that a man wrote it.

I first read this book when i was 7 years older, and since then it has been my favourite. I don't really have much to say, except i have never felt so passionatly about a book in my life. close to the end, Dolores thinks to herself, "love is like breathing, you take it in, and you let it out."

to me, nothing has ever felt so true.

You would really be missing out if youy didn't read this book.

I adore it.

I found this book to be a great read. It kept me interested from start to finish, I would definately read other books by Wally Lamb. His character development of Dolores is so well-written I would have thought Wally was a woman himself.

Dolores Price begins her story in 1956, the day a free television is delivered. When you look up "weirdo" in the dictionary, you will undoubtedly see a picture of poor Dolores. Her parents are nuts jobs and almost everyone she knows is a total jerk. I will echo what many have said before me - there's no way a man wrote this book, I mean why would he even want to? It's an amazing journey into the heart and mind of a tormented female soul. You laugh out loud and feel like crying while you read it. At times I was downright angry and felt haunted when I put it down. I wish it had ended a bit differently, but all in all I would call this book absolutely stellar. I'm already on to his much longer tome, I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE. I can tell it's going to be even better. I've never been so captivated by a writer's style. Would also recommend BARK OF THE DOGWOOD by Jackson McCrae for another equally disturbing and well-written book.