I Know This Much Is True: A Novel (P.S.)

#1 New York Times Bestseller and Oprah Book Club selection

"Thoughtful . . . heart-wrenching . . . . An exercise in soul-baring storytelling—with the soul belonging to 20th-century America itself. It's hard to read and to stop reading, and impossible to forget."—USA Today

Dominick Birdsey, a forty-year-old housepainter living in Three Rivers, Connecticut, finds his subdued life greatly disturbed when his identical twin brother Thomas, a paranoid schizophrenic, commits a shocking act of self-mutilation. Dominick is forced to care for his brother as well as confront dark secrets and pain he has buried deep within himself—a journey of the soul that takes him beyond his blue-collar New England town to Sicily’s Mount Etna, the birthplace of his grandfather and namesake. Coming to terms with his life and lineage, Dominick struggles to find forgiveness and finally rebuild himself beyond the haunted shadow of his troubled twin.

I Know This Much Is True is a masterfully told story of alienation and connection, power and abuse, devastation and renewal—an unforgettable masterpiece.

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Published Apr 8, 2008

912 pages

Average rating: 7.96

75 RATINGS

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Erinlester

Jul 15, 2025

10/10 stars

I absolutely loved this book. I Know This Much Is True is one of those rare stories where the characters feel so vivid and fully developed, they stay with you long after the last page. Each one felt real—flawed, layered, and deeply human. The story is both heartbreaking and compelling, especially in the way it explores mental illness. It gave me such a strong sense of empathy and sorrow—not just for the characters, but for anyone navigating those struggles in real life. Wally Lamb doesn’t shy away from pain, but he writes with such compassion and depth. Yes, the book is long, and there are many intertwining storylines, but I was completely invested in every one of them. Each thread added richness and meaning to the bigger picture, and I never once felt lost or overwhelmed—just eager to keep turning the pages. It’s an emotional, thought-provoking read that will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommend.

Ruthie2025

Mar 19, 2025

5 out 5. Its an emotional roller coaster with bombshells of plot twists. A journey of mental anguish, heartache, joys, and relief. This book makes you feel, and reflect. Its a lifetime journey.

MJDeluxe

Jul 15, 2024

A raw look at generational trauma, mental illness and forgiveness. Long but immensely rewarding.

Karilappin

Dec 28, 2023

6/10 stars

2.75 maybe. I feel like perhaps I read the wrong version of this book because other people talk about how long it is and the audible version was only like 6ish hours? Anyways, maybe that's why it was choppy and I was confused - not my favorite book. A story about identical twins and I just really didn't like the main character; total jerk. (audiobook)

margardenlady

Dec 27, 2023

8/10 stars

This took me forever to get into but i persevered. And was rewarded in the end. Lamb is so good at revealing the psyches of his main characters. That kept me going and in this case repelled me too. At the beginning i didn't know if i liked or detested Dominick. He grew on me.