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Jennifer
Rating:
Review
The jacket on this book states you will never forget Dolores Price, which is entirely correct. In this book, Dolores’ life is eloquently and sometimes sadly described from the age of 4 through 40. She’s been emotionally and physically abused throughout her life, she comforts herself with food, and has terrible relationships. Dolores goes from an obese young adult to someone who finds the strength to pull herself up by the bootstraps and come out on top with self-esteem, a new, slim body, and a kind-hearted lover. It’s a brutally difficult journey for Dolores, but I cheered her on through to the end. There’s a reason why I’ve read this book three times already, and why it’s my all-time favorite read. I aspire to be as brave as Dolores, and want to reach in through the pages and give her a hug. And to know that this magnificent book is written by a man is secondary. Wally Lamb, please keep writing for us!
Best Line:
“Back in my room I located Valley of the Dolls and read. I had an inch and a half of pages left to go. I didn’t know what I’d do if I finished.” I felt the same way reading this book.
Kim
Rating:
Review
One thing that brought me back from the dark side with this novel was the fact that the narrator and main character is a woman, written by a male author. I’m not easily fooled with such nonsense, as other ladies were in my book group after reading the disaster Midwives by Chris Bohjalian. I don’t even want to get started with that one. Mr. Lamb deserves a huge amount of credit for this book. Dolores is honest and forthright, not to mention living a life that is pretty messed up most of the time, beginning in early childhood. There are so many things that make Dolores lovable, pathetic, detestable and oh-so human that I devoured this book, and not so much because I identified with her, but because I felt for her. This book was published in 1992, so it’s been around for awhile. If you’ve not read it by now, do.
Best Line:
“I killed her fish instead." That line caught me completely off-guard.
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