We Are Not Ourselves - Matthew Thomas

We Are Not Ourselves

By Matthew Thomas

  • Release Date: 2014-08-19
  • Genre: Literary Fiction
Score: 4
4
From 511 Ratings

Description

The instant New York Times bestseller The Washington Post calls a “stunning…superbly rendered” novel, and Entertainment Weekly describes as “a gripping family saga, maybe the best…since The Corrections.”

As an Irish immigrant in Queens in 1941, Eileen has dreamed of more in her life—but when she and her family seem to be moving closer to that dream, devastation hits and they must learn how to not only hold on to their reality, but to each other.

Born in 1941, Eileen Tumulty is raised by her Irish immigrant parents in Woodside, Queens, in an apartment where the mood swings between heartbreak and hilarity, depending on how much alcohol has been consumed. From an early age, Eileen wished that she lived somewhere else. She sets her sights on upper class Bronxville, New York, and an American Dream is born.

Driven by this longing, Eileen places her stock and love in Ed Leary, a handsome young scientist, and with him begins a family. Over the years Eileen encourages her husband to want more: a better job, better friends, a better house. It slowly becomes clear that his growing reluctance is part of a deeper, more incomprehensive psychological shift. An inescapable darkness enters their lives, and Eileen and Ed and their son Connell try desperately to hold together a semblance of the reality they have known, and to preserve, against long odds, an idea they have cherished of the future.

Described by The New York Times Book Review as “A long, gorgeous epic, full of love and caring…one of the best novels you’ll read this year,” We Are Not Ourselves is a testament to our greatest desires and our greatest frailties. Through the lives of these characters, Thomas charts the story of the American Century. The result is, “stunning…The joys of this book are the joys of any classic work of literature—for that is what this is destined to become—superbly rendered small moments that capture both an individual life and the universality of that person’s experience” (The Washington Post).

Reviews

  • Good read

    4
    By read1st
    Interesting, involved
  • we have no idea who we are

    1
    By marjorie8888
    Is this author being paid by the word? So boring. Such unbelievable characters. Many sentences orety much go like this: “ I like green no I hate green”. The main character does not know what she is doing. Major money problems , sure…go out and spend huge amounts. The son is absurd. His behavior is not normal. DO NOT BOTHER READING THIS BOOK. Find me a woman who has “tufts” of hair on her feet, lol.
  • Nothing Out of the Ordinary

    2
    By CinnamonRich
    This book was well written and I read the entire book thinking something out of the ordinary was going to happen...and was disappointed. It’s really just the story of a typical middle class family in the greater New York area. Daily life, aspirations and disappointments, family issues, etc. most people I know could write a fictional account of their life that would be funnier, more heartfelt and more exciting to read. I will say that perhaps someone not familiar with a typical American life may find it more interesting.
  • We are not ourselves

    4
    By tmw9876
    Lovely, touching story. Only complaint is that it would have been a better read if the author had used 20 percent fewer words.
  • Phenomenal book

    5
    By Sss2772
    A looooong read for the average reader. But there are some great lessons in this book that just hit closer to home and with much more lasting effect when reading as opposed to movies, etc. this book will teach you to truly value everyday with your loved ones and to always choose empathy over a hard heart
  • We Are Not Ourselves

    5
    By Perky too
    Very good story. A reviewer said "her life comes close to a definitive portrait of American social dynamics in the 20th century". I can't think of a better way to describe this book. Characters are all very believable and you will either like them and be empathetic or not. It's a good read.
  • Fantastic book bad rash

    5
    By asonden
    This book was so fantastic I developed a rash on my buttox from reading it but continued on reading anyway... Hell I might even read it again... Well worth the rash.
  • Boring...

    2
    By Longhorn5555
    The author handles prose well enough, but this is a story about nothing of interest. It is the literary equivalent of ...she woke up and went to the store... Later, she made dinner... The next day she did it again... Mind numbing boredom...
  • Incredible

    5
    By kissjill
    I loved reading this book due to the complexities of the characters and where it took place. I look forward to reading more from Mathew Thomas!
  • We are not ourselves

    5
    By Brendan878787
    This is a profound book - beautifully written Well worth it