Rating:  Summary: Very enjoyable yet sad... Review: This book is not just about the trials and tribulations of a fat girl but about growing up, rape, family relationships, marriage and divorce. Dolores Price is a honest, funny, real character and I found myself rooting for her all throughout the novel, even when she made questionable decisions. At times hilarious and heartbreaking, this was the one of the best books I've ever read concerning the above mentioned issues.
Rating:  Summary: through hell and back to tell the tale Review: Most people when they see someone in public who is obese, look away, either in self-righteous disgust or from pity. The author resists this urge and hurls the reader into the dysfunctional (but not cliched) world of Dolores Price. Many writers spend their time creating idealized versions of themselves - book shelves are crammed with protagonists who are smarter, prettier and more sensitive than anyone around them. How refreshing to meet a character who is human, with all the shortcomings of anyone walking down the street. "She's Come Undone" charts the life of a young woman who survives abuse and eventually finds peace and self-respect. This is a well-worn theme, but the journey she takes is uniquely hers. It is hard to describe the book without using the cliches of the self-help movement, but it easily soars above the typical Oprah recommendation. Maybe Renee Zellweger can plump up again to play the protagonist because I sure would love to see this book on the big screen.
Rating:  Summary: Bottomline...I feel better about myself Review: Overall it was a well written book (the author can tell a story and the editors did their jobs). However the content was a little hard to take in. I often found myself having faith that the next page will have something good for Dolores but I was left disappointed. It was sad and slow with no real closure of every tragedy in her life unless it ended up in death. I often heard that this was a great book and was waiting to see where it was so great. It wasn't so great.
Rating:  Summary: Entertaining Review: This book is about a woman and her struggles through life, starting when she was around four years old and ending near her forties. I had a hard time trying to decide what to write for the review of this book. When I first started reading it, I was not impressed with the author's style of writing. It was hard for me to follow the time line of events and feel sympathy for the main character, Dolores Price. As the story went on, I began to get used to the author's style of writing, then I found myself very angry with Dolores and the decisions she made. Upon further speculation, I wondered, maybe her decisions affected me so much because I could relate to her in so many ways. I wanted to reach into the story, take Dolores and just shake her up, yell at her or somehow make her understand that she wasn't alone, that she had other choices she could make. By the end, I couldn't put the book down; I was so involved in the story and hoping that Dolores would find happiness.
Rating:  Summary: A Lesson in Compassion Review: I was deeply moved and surprised by this novel. Wally Lamb has an incredible gift of conveying human emotion. I was shocked that he so accurately, without sounding too typical, depicted the feelings of a young woman. I was also not expecting the book to touch on so many different emotional subjects. Wally delved into the human psyche in all areas from sexuality to sanity to dealing with death. Although the subject matter is heavy, I would definitely not say that the book is depressing to read. Dolores' struggles carry with them the promises of hope, friendship, finding true love, and most importantly, self-acceptance and accepting that one's true self is infinitely flawed. Growing up an "ugly duckling" (although I was a thin, awkward version), I could relate a great deal to Dolores. I can also relate to how, similar to her character, these experiences shape and transform a person in later life, hopefully teaching you to be more tolerant and accepting of others. This book is a great read for everyone. It teaches compassion and understanding, which truly improves us all.
Rating:  Summary: Warm and honest Review: Some of the plot and character portraits were unbelievable, but overall it was a warm and honest portrait of a troubled young woman and her bold return to an honest, but harsh life. A quick and enjoyable read that evokes conflicting emotions, from disgust to pity to pride, for the protagonist, Dolores.
Rating:  Summary: Interesting but depressing Review: This story was good but just a little too sad for me. I LOVED THE ENDING and it made up for some of the sad parts. I really would not recommend this book unless you are just in one of those psychoanalyzing moods.
Rating:  Summary: Great read Review: I was quite worried about how much I could relate to the main character in this book on some of her feelings. This poor girl seemed to have so much happen to her in life. The book kept me reading and rooting for her from the beginning to the end!
Rating:  Summary: Amazing portrait of a woman Review: Wow. What an amazing book. This book takes you through the life of Dolores Price, through the good, the bad, and the terrible. While most people probably won't relate to everything poor Dolores (meaning The Lady of Sorrow) goes through, I'm sure most people can find at least one experience in this book to which they can relate. With wonderfully flowing words, you go through this book drifting on the waves that comprise Dolores' life. It's so well written, you put all of your energy into hoping Dolores finally gets some good out of life - you celebrate and mourn right along with her. Dolores is an amazingly complex character, and this book is an amazing portrait of her personality and her mind. Written in the first person, it's easy to read along, and we gain a deep understanding of her. While it's sad that she has to suffer through so much, and there are a few convenient coincidences, it's not entirely unrealistic, it's a story that could happen, which makes it all the more poignant. I really can't say enough good things about this book. It has the potential to change your life by encouraging you to make your own happiness. Take what life has to offer. You can make it through life although it won't always be easy or pleasant. Don't give up on yourself.
Rating:  Summary: Loved It! Review: This book was a selection picked for our neighborhood book club. The person who chose it, warned me that a lot happens, but that it was an easy read. She was right on the money. I don't want to rehash the plot, since I find that annoying when reading reviews. But lets just say that I don't know that I could have endured all that Dolores went through without just throwing up my hands and giving up on life. She is definitely a strong person (although she seemed to always be surrounded by losers). It was a very enjoyable book and a quick read. I would not hesitate to recommend this to a friend.
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