Product Description

In Wally Lamb’s pitch perfect new novel, it is 1964. LBJ and Lady Bird are in the White House, Meet the Beatles is on everyone’s turntable, and ten-year-old Felix Funicello (distant cousin of the iconic Annette!) is doing his best to navigate fifth grade—easier said than done when scary movies still give you nightmares and you bear a striking resemblance to a certain adorable cartoon boy. But there are several things young Felix can depend on: the birds and bees are puzzling, television is magical, and this is one Christmas he’s never going to forget.

Customer Reviews (63)

Lamp is the Streep or Hoffman of literature
"A Wishin' and hopin' " is a small novel by Wally Lamb. I almost missed it since it fell under the shadow of his materpiece, "The Hour I First Believed" and Richard Russo's "The Bridge of Sighs" but I found it because I've learned to search for Wally Lamb. Like watching the film work of Dustin Hoffman (Compare "Pappillon" to "Kramer vs Kramer") or Meryl Streep (compare "Sophie's Choice" to "Silkwood") and then think how Wally Lamb has not written a book that isn't charactrer driven yet. Like Stephen sondheim, every single work stands on it's own and only through intense study can someone recognize the author. Every single word in what is turning into a master of the first person has adopted a specific character and each character is so spot on that one would never know that Wally Lamb wrote "She's Come Undone" as well as "I Know This Much Is True." His characters are so well developed that the detail is akin to an actor preparing for a role. This man's Russian dialect is as good as Streep or Shaloub would do it.

This most recent novel is from the mind and heart of a fifth grade boy at a parochial school in 1964 as he comes to an understanding of the world and how he fits into it. We learn along with him; we remember and we relate so strongly to this young man, appropriately named Felix, as he is forced to view elements of the outside world from within the frame work of a changing Catholic Church. We also see the start of a changing America, how fifth grade is a time when friendships begin to change and, if we're lucky, we begin to establish understanding and compassion.

Mr. Lamb is a master of plotting and not since John Irving has anyone managed to create literary plots that are so outlandish that they are head on with real life; most truth isn't believable to the reading public. Wally Lamb uses history, nostalgia and real characters to get at our soft underbellies so that this small and beautiful book is just as satisfying as "The World According To Garp" or "The Poisonwood Bible." As my previous reviews have said, Wally Lamb is headed for historic posterity; a man who is destined for the Pulitzer or Nobel and a man who has managed to chronicle American history with truth and humanity, just as it was lived.

This small piece of literature is a gem; it's not a huge loud explosion but rather a delicate bit of the finest pate on a thin cracker with a few drops of the finest Caviar atop. Eat it slowly and press that flavor against the roof of your mouth.

And remember when he wins the Pulitzer and joins the ranks of Shirley Jackson, William Styron, Charles Dickens and Bernard Shaw, that you heard it here first.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY
It must be an age thing but the older I get the more nostalgic I become and the more books like Wally Lamb's Wishin' and Hopin': A Christmas Story appeal to me.

This little saga takes the reader back to the 60's when kids were really kids (and not little zombies tied by the "electronic umbilical cord" to either, their cell phone, computer, or i-pod). They went to school, were fearful of their teachers (instead of visa-versa), had no "rights" (except to learn the assigned classroom material) and actually came away from the experience with some knowledge of the "3 R's".

We follow Felix Funicello, a wide-eyed 10 year old boy and cousin of Annette, as he experiences the trepidation and wonder of a Catholic school education, the competitive harassment of a "tattle-tale" teachers pet, the deliciously terrifying ordeal of sitting through Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte (the Bette Davis follow up to "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane) and trying not to show his fright, his mom competing in the Pillsbury Bake off hosted by non other than Ronald Reagan, the annual school pageant and a plethora of other every day happenings that most of us of "a certain age" can fondly recall.

I notice that a few reviewers felt the story was a bore. Perhaps this delightful trip down memory lane had to be experienced first hand in order to be appreciated.What we felt were mortifying situations in our youth suddenly become amusing anecdotes as we grow older and lines like, "her mouth dropped open like a glove compartment door with a broken latch" present a visual that many of us who owned "vintage" used cars can relate to. Although a complete departure from the tone and subject matter of his other works, Wally Lambs recounting of Felix's life lessons is nevertheless a heartwarming and amusing diversion and well worth the few hours of your time it takes to read. 3 1/2 stars

well-written, lighter topic read
I really enjoyed this read and thought it was a nice break from some of his heavier-topic books. Also, being from southeastern ct, I loved hearing about our local sites!

Wishin' and hopin' and laughin'
Strongly reminiscent of Jean Shepard's A Christmas Story, Wishin' and Hopin' is the fictional memoir of fifth grader Felix Funicello, with a focus on the events of the first half of the school year at St Aloysius Gonzaga.Set in Wally Lamb's Three Rivers community in eastern Connecticut, most of the action occurs at school, with amemorable foray into Hartford. This is a warmly humorous tale, told with all the emotions that any ten year old boy would feel growing up inthe early '60's, in the days before the upheavals of the sexual revolution and the civil rights movement. While Felix is involved in many laugh out loud situations, Lamb's forte is in his ability to create appealing and memorable characters. In Wishin', we meet the teacher's pet, Felix's parents and sisters, his best friend, the long term substitute teacher who initiates French lessons, the principle, kids' TV personality Ranger Andy, and yes, Annette Funicello, one of Felix's cousins. We experience Felix's nightmares after watching Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte, his mother's memorable appearance on national television, and the piece de resistance, the Christmas pageant.

Wishin' and Hopin' will transport readers back to a more innocent time, but there's nothing dated about its presentation. Not to be missed is the epilogue in which we are brought up to date on the adult lives of the characters. Enjoy!

Refreshingly Funny
I loved this book.Was my first time reading Walley Lamb and certainly not my last.I laughed out loud so many times my co-worker kept wanting to know "What's happening now".If you want a really quick, easy and funny read then this is the book for you. ... Read more

Product Description

When high school teacher Caelum Quirk and his wife, Maureen, a school nurse, move to Littleton, Colorado, they both get jobs at Columbine High School. In April 1999, while Caelum is away, Maureen finds herself in the library at Columbine, cowering in a cabinet and expecting to be killed. Miraculously, she survives, but at a cost: she is unable to recover from the trauma. When Caelum and Maureen flee to an illusion of safety on the Quirk family's Connecticut farm, they discover that the effects of chaos are not easily put right, and further tragedy ensues.

Product Description

In a stunning work of insight and hope, New York Times bestselling author Wally Lamb once again reveals his unmatched talent for finding humanity in the lost and lonely and celebrates the transforming power of the written word.

Those collected here are disturbing and horrific. They reveal, often in graphic detail, the worst kind of abuse: incest, drug addiction, spousal violence, parental neglect, or incompetence. They're also testimony to what social workers and health care professionals have confirmed for years--that those who populate our prisons are often victims first themselves. Thus, the telling of these stories serves as a form of therapy. They are also sadaccounts of the brutalities many suffer, yet few discuss: "One day I figured out a dying little girl lived inside of me, so I threw her a lifeline in the form of paper and pen." Considering the degradation the contributors have experienced both in and outside prison, the courage, candor, and honesty with which they speak truly make these stories, asdifficult as they are to read, "victories against voicelessness--miracles in print." --Silvana Tropea ... Read more

Customer Reviews (74)

Staggering
I've read some of the other reviews and I feel that there is a misconception regarding these women and their stories.Some are under the impression that these women have written these stories to act as an excuse for their actions.Nowhere in any of the stories did I personally get that feeling.These women happened to get crapped on throughout most of their lives and unfortunately did some bad things.whether it is as a result of life experiences is up to the reader to determine.Not once will you find an example where a woman says, "Because XYZ happened to me, I am now incarcerated."I believe that each and every author is courageous in sharing their stories and publishing them for the world to read.Some of the things these women have had to endure throughout their lives both in and out of prison are despicable and inhuman.I think its comical that some reviewers were upset that there were no "happy stories".#1- The point of the book was not to share humdrum stories about how theyused to love going grocery shopping with their relatives--the point was for this to be therapeutic writing.#2- If the stories were about random happy topics, you probably would have put the book down and given it a 1 star rating anyways becasue it couldn't keep your attention.#3- Some of these women didn't have any good memories worth sharing, and those who did shared them but unfortunately they didn't have a happy ending (duh!).

This book helped me to open my eyes and realize that these women are not just monsters and felons.They are real people with emotions and problems like many others.I have found it very easy to get caught up in the media and believe that prisons should be about making their inmates as miserable as possible because they are bad people.I now realize that is not the point and wouldn't make anything better.I thank God there are still people out there like Dale Griffith and Wally Lamb who believe in the power of love, respect and rehabilitation.

Compelling, Heart-breaking, Amazing!
Wally Lamb, the bestselling author, was a teacher first. When he wrote his first two novels, they were both picked up by Oprah Winfrey and her book club, causing them to become instant successes. Because of the success, Lamb was forever being asked for speaking engagements or to support causes. And because he is such a nice man, he has an incredibly hard time saying no. In fact, Lamb had to write down his refusal on an index card and keep it next to the phone. It was the only way he could say no. But when the prison librarian at York Correctional Institution called to ask Lamb to lead a writing workshop at the prison, he couldn't find the card. And so he said yes.

A rash of suicide attempts had happened at York. The overall mental well-being of many of the prisoners was despair, and the staff there thought that using writing as a coping tool might be of value to the women housed at York. I used to keep a hand-written journal. I wish I knew why I stopped using it, to be honest. When I could put feelings on paper, it always made me feel lighter. In the way using this blog for my venting has lightened my mood, writing in a journal was indeed therapeutic for me. The same was thought about the women at York. Maybe if they could write down their feelings, it would make them feel better about themselves. And Lamb was asked to lead the workshop. But once the workshop had ended, Lamb was once again put on the spot. "Are you coming back?", they asked him. He gave each woman an assignment: Write an essay. Entrance to the next "class" was that essay. What started out as a committment that seemed like a burden, to something that fills him with hope and love: Lamb returned to teach another workshop. And he has not stopped returning.

What he came to realize, is that these women were more than just criminals. More than just their crimes. "There are things that need to be known about prison and prisoners. There are misconceptions to be abandoned, biases to be dropped. There are a heart and a mind that need opening. There are many. We are a paradoxical nation, enormously charitable and stubbornly unforgiving. We have called into existence the prisons we wanted. I am less and less convinced they are the prisons we need."

"To imprison a woman is to remove her voice from the world, but many female inmates have been silenced by life long before the transport carries them from the court house to the correctional facility. Because incest and domestic violence cut across the economic divide, women of all means are schooled in silence. Of the eleven contributors to the volume, eight have been battered and nine have been sexually abused, a statistic that reflects the norm for incarcerated women. Their essays, then, are victories against voicelessness -- miracles in print."

I think this book has two points. The first being, using writing as a tool for coping with the bad things in life is healthy. Each woman "grew" into a different person by giving voice to their pasts. It was a way to release the inner demons.

The second point being that the prison system is flawed. The eleven women that contributed essays to this book each has a story to tell. And each is equally heart-breaking. Most of these women were let down by society and by the system long before she committed any crime. It seems to me the chain of events leading up to their convictions were almost inevitable. Both of the above quotes come from Lamb himself, questioning the prison system itself. It's easy to believe that these women are criminals, and to just lock them up and throw away the key is the right thing to do. When you look at the system as a whole, it seems to work. But to break it down by an individual case by case scenario, the sheer wrongness screams out from the pages.

There is a short biography of each of the contributing authors in the book. Each of the essays are a look into the past -- to the life that was lived and events that led up to incarceration. But the biographies tell a bit more. You learn a bit about each crime that was committed and where each woman is today. Each woman's voice is distinct; each woman's writing varies. And yet, there is a common thread that runs through each essay: the violence and horrific childhood that shaped the lives of each woman. Here are just a few examples:

Convicted of Larceny by Embezzlement, Carolyn Adams' life has been one of mental health issues and pain. She was not only sexually abused by her father starting at the age of 6, but when she was in the 7th grade, she found herself pregnant. Not even understanding what was going on, she was sent to a home for unwed mothers until she could give birth. "I find the one that says 'Baby Boy May'. His face is pink and wrinkled and he's sucking on his tiny fist, eyes shut. I stare at him for a long time, memorizing each part: his perfect miniature feet, his tuft of blond hair, his tightly shut eyes. I can't connect the child lying here to the "it" I carried inside my body. This baby was the secret. He doesn't seem real. Just as he opens one dark blue eye, a had clamps onto my shoulder. 'Young lady, didn't you see that sign? Children aren't allowed on the nursery ward. Now scoot before you get into trouble'. " After her release from prison, Carolyn today volunteers at a wellness center for battered women, CRIS Radio for the Blind and a service center for the elderly. She continues to write to help her advocacy of the mentally ill.

Brenda Medina has been incarcerated since she turned 18 in 1993. She was convicted of homicide (gang related) and is serving 25 years without parole. Raised by her parents, her mother was mentally ill and beat her. She joined a gang at a young age to find someplace she belonged. She was known for being tough and stoic. " 'I'm not dying for nobody,' I said. 'No matter how many times they drag me over to seg'. He stopped bouncing and leaned forward. Looked me in the eye. 'You've got it backwards,' he said. 'That's exactly what you are doing. Every time you convince someone else what a hard case you are? Every time you earn yourself a ticket, or a lockdown? Your spirit dies a little more. They can make it pretty tough for you in here, Brenda, but they can't kill your spirit. Only you have the power to do that.' I had never cried in front of him before that day. Still incarcerated, Brenda completed her GED and has completed 36 hours towards an associates degree. She is a bilingual tutor. She is now a writer, photographer and editor for the York Voice, the inmate newsletter. She also designed, organized and implemented the first ever Latino Appreciation Week at York. Writing has become her "sanctuary".

Barbara Parsons Lane was convicted of manslaughter, due to emotional duress. When she was 6, she was molested by her grandfather -- who had molested her mother when SHE was a child. Her mother committed suicide years later, leaving an emotionally unstable daughter to pick up the pieces of her life. In her essay entitled Puzzle Pieces we learn a little more about why she has been incarcerated: "I am tired now, sick of puzzles and memories. My grandfather is long dead, and my mother, now, too. And I'm in prison for having taken the life of my husband, the man who molested my granddaughter, the child of my child." Lane has since earned an associate in science degree from the local community college, graduating with honors. She is a certified tutor and maintains her membership in the active support group, Survivors of Abuse and Struggles, a writing- and reading-based group for victims of battering. She is also deeply involved with the prison's PUP partnership, training dogs to assist special needs adults and children.

These are just a few of the voices you hear ringing out from this book. The final essay is written by Dale Griffiths, one of the teachers at York. She was instrumental in getting Lamb to come, and keeping him on as a volunteer. These are MY students. The ones who fell through the cracks at public schools. By my seventh year of teaching at York, I had gathered, edited and "published" four booklets of my students' writing -- stories describing worlds where love and hate blur and where sexual abuse, violence, and drug addiction are both commonplace and epidemic. I'd long known the statistical connection between childhood brutality and incarceration. Now I knew the writers, too. Each of those statistics has a name, a face, a history.

If you get a chance to read this book, I encourage you to do it. It is hard to read. Brutally honest and forthright, it tugged at my heart strings like nothing I've ever read before. I spent many a page openly weeping. I have never considered myself privileged. But I do realize now that a childhood like mine is a treasure. Although I didn't feel like it was exciting, and I couldn't wait to grow up, I was certainly lucky not to have to deal with the issues that these women did. This book also makes me hug my kids just a little tighter each night, and say "I love you" a couple extra times a day. No child should have to endure the violence these women did. If this book does nothing else, it should give you a reason to look at the injustice that is indeed the American prison system. Heart-breaking and gut-wrenching, this book will leave you, the reader, wanting to do more. I know I do. Now, I just need to find a way to channel that desire into action. A 5-star review, and then some.

All I can say is "Wow"!
The stories in "Couldn't Keep it to Myself" were page turners. They were honest and heartbreaking.
Not saying that the horrible things these ladies went through in their lives is an excuse for the actions that led to their imprisonment, but this book lets you see the human behind the inmate.

Bravo!
This is a collection of stories written by female inmates, taught writing by Mr. Lamb. I found the stories to be spellbinding. It's one of those books that I can't put down after I start. I am very impressed by the quality of writing and the depth of emotion in these stories.

Honest about who they are
The women in this book don't sugarcoat their crimes but tell you honestly how they came to be.I highly recommend this book to any women. ... Read more

Product Description

On the afternoon of October 12, 1990, my twin brother, Thomas, entered the Three Rivers, Connecticut, public library, retreated to one of the rear study carrels, and prayed to God the sacrifice he was about to commit would be deemed acceptable. . . .

A stretch, both literally and figuratively from his Oprah-christenedbestseller, She's ComeUndone, Lamb's book ventures outside the confines of thetightly bound beach read and marathons through a detailed, neatlycataloged account of every familial travesty and personal failure onecan endure. At its heart lies Freud's "return of therepressed": the more we try to deny who we are, the morewe become what we fear. Lamb takes Freud's psychologicalabstraction to the realm of everyday living, packing his novel withtender, believable dialogue and thoughtful observation. --RebekahWarren ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1510)

Best book i've ever read
This book was amazing, and anyone complaining about the length is not a person that truly enjoys reading. I'm so amazed by this that i'm going to read the authors other 3 novels as well. This is a story that needed the length it has, it's not a simple start to finish job. He goes back and forth, there are stories within stories, and it tells an entire fictional life story, not just a part of that persons life. If you have the time then read it, it is 900 pages, and i had plenty of time on my hands when i took this up.

THE GREATEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ
this story was by far on of the greatest books i have ever read. it was engrossing and powerful and changed the way i look at things. the charactors domineck and thomas were truly classics. i loved this book and would read it again and again.

A Creative Writing Major's favorite book...
By far my favorite book. Granted, it is quite a dark book and that seems to be its one major knock againt it. Still, if you can muscle through it, this novel is a great read. Definitely Lamb's best work so far

One of my favorite books
I love this book.Beautifully written and a page turner.Although it is long, I promise, you won't be able to put it down.I've read this story 3x over the years and it never disappoints.If you haven't read it yet... what are you waiting for??

Yes, They Are Twins
On the back cover of this book, there's an excerpt from a review in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It says this novel is a "tour de force that sweeps the reader along in its swift emotional current." I agree whole-heartedly. Written by Wally Lamb, it's a touching story that zeroes in on some of the most basic of human emotions and eloquently attempts to answer some of mankind's most fundamental questions.

Born in the final moments of 1949, Dominick Birdsey was followed in birth during the first moments of 1950 by his identical twin brother, Thomas.Within the first few pages of the novel, Thomas, then about forty, enters a library stall. He had been diagnosed with schizophrenia about twenty years earlier. Soon after entering the stall, Thomas proceeds to cut off his right hand! He claimed that he was inspired by God to do this as a protest against the Gulf War of 1991, then in its early stages.

The rest of this long book (897 pages) looks at the relationship between the twins, beginning with their early childhood and continuing beyond Thomas's self-amputation. Their mother was not married when they were born. Throughout much of the book, Dominick is tormented because he does not know his father's identity. He develops various "interesting" theories about his mystery father. When the twins were still infants, their mother married Ray, a man with a hot temper, prone to slamming people around. He's a key player.

Dominick, the narrator and central figure, tells us about the time when Thomas's schizophrenia became apparent; the twins were going to college. Dominick tells us about his own failed marriage. About the woman he lived with after his marriage and her relationship with a "Duchess." Dominick tells us about a lot of people who impacted his life. There may be as many as ten characters that are developed at much length that I will not mention in this review. Most of them do not win Dominick's seal of approval; he mocks virtually every character in the book.

All in all, Dominick emerges as a selfish man who lacks direction. It's all about him.He has a razor-sharp, usually bitter, wit and possesses keen insight about what motivates people. There are plenty of laughs in this book. There's a lot of sorrow too.

I agree with those who say this book is too long. One way to shorten it would have been to save the story of Dominick's brutish grandfather, Domenico, for another book. Domenico was born in Sicily, and immigrated to the U.S. in 1901, when he was twenty-one. His story is a worthy one in its own right, but it just adds to the misery overload that is this book.

Despite a rushed attempt by Lamb to change directions late in the work, it is definitely a "downer." But it's an extremely insightful and well written one.



... Read more

Product Description

In this extraordinary coming-of-age odyssey, Wally Lamb invites us to hitch a wild ride on a journey of love, pain, and renewal with the most heartbreakingly comical heroine to come along in years.

Meet Dolores Price.She's 13, wise-mouthed but wounded, having bid her childhood goodbye.Stranded in front of her bedroom TV, she spends the next few years nourishing herself with the Mallomars, potato chips, and Pepsi her anxious mother supplies.When she finally orbits into young womanhood at 257 pounds, Dolores is no stronger and life is no kinder.But this time she's determined to rise to the occasion and give herself one more chance before she really goes under.Amazon.com Review
Oprah Book Club® Selection, January 1997: "Mine is a story of craving; an unreliable account of lustsand troubles that began, somehow, in 1956 on the day our freetelevision was delivered." So begins the story of Dolores Price,the unconventional heroine of Wally Lamb's She's ComeUndone. Dolores is a class-A emotional basket case, and whyshouldn't she be? She's suffered almost every abuse and familialtravesty that exists: Her father is a violent, philandering liar; hermother has the mental and emotional consistency of Jell-O; and the menin her life are probably the gender's most loathsomecreatures. But Dolores is no quitter; she battles her woes with asense of self-indulgence and gluttony rivaled only by Henry VIII. Hersis a dysfunctional Wonder Years, where growing up in the goldenera was anything but ideal. While most kids her age were dealing withthe monumental importance of the latest Beatles single and how collegeturned an older sibling into a long-haired hippie, Dolores wasgrappling with such issues as divorce, rape, and mentalillness. Whether you're disgusted by her antics or moved by herpathetic ploys, you'll be drawn into Dolores's warped, hilarious,Mallomar-munching world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1739)

Good but not great
I have been debating whether or not to read this book for some time now. I found it in a used book store for 5 bucks so I decided to give it a try. I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it's very interesting- a story of an obese girl learning to come into herself and the world and on the other hand it's quite depressing. Throughout most of the story, I couldn't stand Dolores. She was mean, rude and I could not relate to her at all. But once she started to come into herself, I learned to lighten up a bit. I wouldn't say I liked her by the end of the story, but I didn't hate her either. This book is worth reading, I only gave it 3 stars because it's very intense and very depressing. It's also pretty long so it takes a good chunk of time to read, it's a quick read but still you have to be willing to sit back for some time and read the story of this girls depressing life.

A Modern Bildungsroman
It's probably no accident that the heroine of Wally Lamb's engaging first novel, "She's Come Undone," is named Dolores, just like Nabokov's young heroine, Dolores Haze, better known as Lolita. The plot lines of these novels also have some obvious similarities, since both heroines are raped by sociopathic older men posing as father figures. But whereas Nabokov's Lolita comes undone from this experience, Lamb's Dolores becomes a survivor after being a victim. She has a lot to overcome: the unraveling of her parents' marriage; her difficult relationship with her mother; being raped at a young age; being ostracized by her peers at school. Dolores copes with her difficulties by rewarding herself with food, but predictably, overeating only adds to her problems. Even the man she falls in love with and eventually marries turns out to be nothing more than a narcissist in love with her adulation rather than with her. Yet by the end of the narrative, the heroine becomes stronger and more self-sufficient rather than weaker because of her troubles.

The best contemporary fiction, it seems, offers us two Aristotelian alternatives, as an escape from the humdrum of ourlives: heroes that are somehow better than usand who can inspire us or antiheroes whose lives are so disastrous and whose problems are so heart-wrenching that they make our own lives seem downright easy by comparison. In "She's Come Undone," Wally Lamb magically manages to do both at once, which is not an easy task. This master of psychological fiction depicts a compelling heroine who is first defeated, only to rise above the worst life has to offer.

Claudia Moscovici, Notablewriters.com

Poor character development, interesting perspective
I enjoyed the first half of the book then kind of lost interest when Dolores "found" herself by marrying the wrong guy and lost the bitterness and insight that made her intriguing. The book became less like a journal and more dialogue heavy, which was pretty boring. Everything was also wrapped up a bit too neatly in the end with past characters reappearing. Many of the characters were interesting in the first half but then characters in the 2nd half were muddled. It was interesting from a historical perspective (early 60's to late 80's) and Wally Lamb seems to really understand women/girls but I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Depressing, but a look into someone else's life
Although the story is depressing, it is a look inside of someone else's life through their eyes.I really enjoyed this story.

Awesome, Could not put it down!
This is the best book I have read in years. Funny, sad, moving, shocking... everything you could want in a book! ... Read more

Product Description

For several years, Wally Lamb, the author of two of the most beloved novels of our time, has run a writing workshop at the York Correctional Institution, Connecticut's only maximum-security prison for women. Writing, Lamb discovered, was a way for these women to face their fears and failures and begin to imagine better lives. Couldn't Keep It to Myself, a collection of their essays, was published in 2003 to great critical acclaim. With I'll Fly Away, Lamb offers readers a new volume of intimate pieces from the York workshop. Startling, heartbreaking, and inspiring, these stories are as varied as the individuals who wrote them, but each illuminates an important core truth: that a life can be altered through self-awareness and the power of the written word.

Customer Reviews (10)

Wally Lamb's gift to the women incarcerated at York Prison....
I came across Wally Lamb's first book written by the women incarcerated at York Prison when I was a new volunteer at Greenhaven Correctional Facility in Dutchess County, NY. Although I was working on an individual basis with the men there, Lamb's book motivated me to take a new path with my students at Greenhaven. He inspired me to help the men write their own "stories" about their lives. I also own Lamb's second book, I'LL FLY AWAY and have read portions of it to my classes. One of my students encouraged me to write a personal letter to one of the women in the book. She is the author of "A Gift". For the last year now, we have been corresponding and I have visited her 4 times. She has one of the longest sentences at York: 50 years with no chance of parole. I think what Lamb has accomplished in publishing these two remarkable books is to educate people like us about women like those at York. They have made some poor choices but they are also victims themselves--in many cases of horrific abuse in all its forms. I am proud to own these books and Lamb mailed me an autographed copy of the second book~encouraging me to continue my work at Greenhaven.

More true-life stories handled so well
I think Wally Lamb has a quality in his writing that speaks of his ability to capture a woman's voice. He is delicate but TRUE and REAL with this collection. I can literally visualize not only each woman giving her testimony but Lamb's weighing its importance and proper place in this collection. Highly readable but so real that I can read it only in small doses because of the truth of the content and Lamb's handling of the material he collected. For these women to be so honest with him, he had to make them feel SAFE with his handling of their stories.

Wally Lamb's Amazing Work
The way Wally captures the ambiguity of the women's various backgrounds and what sets the stage for their almost inevitable foray into prison is insightful, heartbreaking, and thought provoking. He does this with compassion and a firm hand. Loved it.

I'll Fly Away
Wally Lamb has done it again! This shows his compassion for these women along with their chance to do something worthwhile. Well written.

not my favorite
Wally Lamb is definitely one of my favorite authors and I am always awaiting his next work.I enjoyed "Couldn't Keep it to Myself" but was not as pleased with this book.Just bought his latest novel "The Hour I First Believed" and am enjoying it so far. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Best of Psychological Fiction
Wally Lamb's second novel, I know this much is true, sets the bar very high for contemporary psychological fiction. Today's readers have little patience with this genre. The best-known authors of psychological fiction, Henry James and Marcel Proust, have become relegated to the pages of literary history. Sure, we regard them as giants in the literary canon. But from that to actually having the patience to read them... Few contemporary readers take the time to appreciate all the nuances of James' minute descriptions of gestures, gazes, hidden undercurrents and how each movement reflects the depth of human feelings and desires. Yet fewer take the time to follow all of Proust's minute analyses of human motivations and page-long, tortuous sentences.

In his first two novels, Wally Lamb makes this now arcane genre palatable to contemporary readers. "I know this Much is True" traces the lives of two twin brothers: the narrator, Dominick Birdsey, an English teacher who has suffered through a troubled family life, an abusive stepfather, a failing marriage, a pathological relationship with his younger girlfriend (and her lover), and, above all, the burden and duty of taking care of Thomas, his fraternal twin who develops paranoid schizophrenia at the age of 19.

This novel is a psychological tour-de-force, both in its vivid characterizations (even Dominick's sleazy friend and foil, Leo, is completely believable) and in its detailed descriptions of mental illness and how it affects both the individual who suffers from it and those who care about him. To describe mental illness in a way mainstream readers have the patience to read is no easy task.Lamb does a masterful job of giving us a multidimensional picture of paranoid schizophrenia both from within Thomas' deteriorating mental state and from without, by depicting Dominick's struggles to save his brother from the illness that overtakes his life and to protect him from the reactions of others. By showing us a before and after schizophrenia picture of Thomas, we can relate to him as a human being and follow the painful challenges he and his family face in dealing with his mental illness. Finally, Lamb's style-accessible yet sophisticated-renders the lost genre of "psychological fiction" what it really should be: mainstream fiction of the highest caliber.

Claudia Moscovici, Notablewriters.com ... Read more

Product Description
Simone, a popular but troubled high school teacher, is very adept at hiding her emotional turmoil, until it lands her in an inner-city outpatient psychiatric hospital where hers is the only white face. She inadvertently alienates Satch, a fullback of a woman who relentlessly taunts her for her denial and cheerful demeanor. In the weeks that follow, Simone and Satch are thrown together both inside and outside the hospital. Their surprising and often tumultuous friendship becomes essential to both women's quests to uncover the hidden truths of their pasts that propel them toward self-destruction. Alternately heart-wrenching and funny, Edgewise is a timely story of love, abuse, and the hope of redemption.Wally Lamb says, ?Edgewise is a harrowing story of injury and feeling, despair and hope. Vivid and unflinching in the telling, Stites' novel is courageous, heartfelt and unforgettable.? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Book Review: Edgewise
The Review


This novel came to me for review.However, the cover really kind of set me apart from the book as I was a bit afraid of cracking it open and finding out what was inside.But, when I agree to review a book... I do.And, so it came the book's time to be read, yet a part of me resisted.

During the first few chapters, I kept myself distant from this book.Reading about others' heartbreak and dysfunction just held me arm length's away.I have been through too much in the past year to immerse myself in other people's fears and faults.But, I don't walk away from a commitment and I never leave a book unfinished.I read on.

Within a few more chapters, I came to understand the characters and learned to relate to them rather than avoid them.I found myself wanting to watch Simone's psychosis unravel itself within the story.I wanted to know what it was that caused Simone to fall apart.As I pressed on, I was able to relate to the supporting characters of the story.I wanted to see them succeed and move beyond the fears that trapped them.

This book is not what I would consider a "light read."It includes considerable depth into the inner workings of the minds of the broken characters.The author must have extensive experience in the psychiatry field and the book reflects it.In many ways, this book is sad, yet it provides hope.I found myself happy for Simone's small victories: leaving Michael at the dinner table, confronting her father, and not giving up on Satch.However, the overall feel of the book left me feeling a bit "bluesy" and down.It is hard to think about how the parenting of a child can severely affect their well-being as an adult.It's even harder to think about my own personal challenges and what it will take to overcome them fully.

On Sher's "Out of Ten Scale:"

This book is the first of its kind that I've reviewed.Without a solid comparison book, I am rating this one of my pure opinion.For the genre Fiction:Psychological, I am going to rate this book a 7 OUT OF 10.

Compelling
Jan Stites' darkly compelling novel, Edgewise, is hard to put down. The novel is the story of Simone, a 40-year-old teacher whose carefully contained life unravels on the pages before us. When she is suspended from her job after breaking down in the classroom, Simone turns to an outpatient program in a psychiatric hospital eerily nicknamed "Oakhell," a mandated move if Simone wants to regain her teaching position.

While there, Simone encounters a group of fellow patients whose stories are so real, so authentic, they will break your heart and leave you smiling through your tears. These are the people, along with a stellar professional staff, who reach out to Simone and help her on her journey.

It's a journey worth taking. Not only could I not put the book down, but I came away with heightened understanding and greater compassion for those whose lives have been overwhelmed by personal tragedy. I like these characters, a lot. And I like the novel. It's definitely worth the read.

A story of humanity and how strength can come from many sources
The problems life throws at you may just be the solution. "Edgewise" follows Simone, a deeply troubled woman. When she breaks down, she fines herself in a mental institution which has gained the charming nickname of 'Oakhell'. As she fines herself in conflict with Satch, she is throw into a series of events where she must face her own problems, Satch, and perhaps Satch's problems as well. "Edgewise" is a story of humanity and how strength can come from many sources, even those we supposedly hate.

Honest & Compelling!
A true honest depiction of a women in emotional trouble, searching for love & lasting connections.A definite page turner, I highly recommend reading about these complex & rich characters, most especially Simone.I hope to read more from Jan Stites!

Orinda Laura
The review I read on Edgewise compelled me to chose this book for our book club.I was not disappointed!It is easy to care about Simone and get to know all of the characters well.This book is a must read and one that will stick with you.Jan Stites came to our book club and she is fascinating!I can't say enough good things about Edgewise and Jan Stites. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I know this much is true, this book is falling apart!
When I received this book the first thing I noticed was the cover was all banged up. Then when i opened it I saw that the first 30 pages had fallen out and were just loosely crammed back in. However I got what I deserved for buying it used for $5 so I'm keeping it. And I am really enjoying the book, everyone should read it! ... Read more