She’s Come Undone
This one’s been making the circuit lately. But for the stragglers out there who haven’t read it:
We follow our hero, Dolores, as she lumbers through the veritable mine fields of adolescence, college and adulthood with only sarcasm, scowling and self loathing for her defense. A triumph for its complete tragic believability.It’s an engaging tale of one woman’s struggle into adulthood. One of those, cringe and sneer and blush but you just can’t put it down stories. A sometimes heart wrenching, sometimes hilarious look at the perils of growing up, not just female but fat. Alienation in all its cruel glory.
Wally Lamb creates an unforgettable character, a real three dimensional person created by her own individual history. Not a huge feat for a good writer but definitely appreciated since he creates her so convincingly and unapologetic. It anything, Dolores is unapologetic, she storms loudly into your mind’s eye and demands recognition. Recognition for merely being a flawed human being we can all relate to, perhaps a little too much.
-October 1999
