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She's Come Undone: Summary

Everything you need to know about Wally Lamb's She's Come Undone, in 1 paragraph.
An illustration of a reader enjoying She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb in a cosy interior
A reader enjoying She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb
She's Come Undone is a novel by Wally Lamb that follows the life of Dolores Price, a young girl growing up in the 1960s. Dolores struggles with her parents' divorce and attempts to cope with her inner turmoil by finding solace in food, which leads to obesity. As she grows older, she has several relationships that end in disaster and finds herself in and out of psychiatric hospitals. After a series of traumatic events, Dolores eventually finds her way back to herself and discovers true self-acceptance.

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What is She's Come Undone about?

She's Come Undone is a novel by Wally Lamb about the life of Dolores Price, a woman who struggles with her mental health and relationships throughout her life. The novel deals with themes such as identity, family, relationships, trauma, and resilience. Throughout the novel, Dolores faces many challenges and traumas; she must learn to cope with these issues and develop new ways of finding strength and resilience. Additionally, the novel also explores important topics such as gender dynamics, sexuality, poverty, and class. Finally, the novel highlights the power of self-expression and how it can be used to work through emotional pain.

She's Come Undone: Book Club Questions

  1. What do you think were the most important themes of the book?
  2. How did Dante's journey to self-acceptance differ from Delia's?
  3. In what ways did the author use symbolism throughout the novel?
  4. What did you make of Delia's relationship with her mother?
  5. How did Delia's experiences with love shape her character?
  6. In what ways did Delia's relationships with men and women differ?
  7. Why do you think Delia was so determined to succeed despite all the challenges she faced?
  8. How did the structure of the novel impact your understanding of it?
  9. How have your own life experiences influenced your interpretation of She's Come Undone?
  10. Do you think there was a hopeful message in the book?

What to say about She's Come Undone

  • She's Come Undone is a powerful and heartbreaking story that demonstrates how resilience can help us overcome any challenge.
  • The narrative of She's Come Undone is captivating and intense, making it a truly unforgettable read.
  • I found the character development in She's Come Undone to be incredibly well-crafted and multi-dimensional.
  • The themes of self-discovery and identity explored in She's Come Undone are both relevant and thought-provoking.
  • I loved the way Dolores' journey of transformation was depicted in She's Come Undone; it was both inspiring and heartbreaking.
  • The writing style in She's Come Undone is truly remarkable; it manages to capture the raw emotion of the story without ever feeling overblown or melodramatic.
  • The structure of She's Come Undone keeps the reader engaged throughout, as each chapter reveals new aspects of Dolores’ life.
  • She's Come Undone is an honest exploration of how trauma can shape our lives, but also how we can eventually come to terms with our pasts and move on with strength.
  • I think readers will appreciate how realistic Dolores' character arc is in She's Come Undone; she makes mistakes but ultimately learns from them and finds a way to keep going forward despite her struggles.
  • There are many important lessons to be learned from reading She's Come Undone, such as embracing our flaws and recognizing our own worth regardless of what other people think about us.

Top 5 Quotes from She's Come Undone

  1. "Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes."
  2. "It's funny how you can get used to anything, even pain."
  3. "You can't go back and make a new start, but you can start now and make a new ending."
  4. "This is what I learned: that everybody is screwed up, broken, clingy, scared. That’s just part of being alive."
  5. "Things are rarely as bad or as good as they seem in the moment."

Adaptations of She's Come Undone

TV: 1. She's Come Undone (2002), a Lifetime movie starring Rosie O'Donnell and Jonathan Brandis 2. She's Come Undone (2018), a television miniseries adaptation of the novel by RAI 2, starring Caterina Murino and Luca Argentero Film: 1. She's Come Undone (2014), an independent movie directed by Roberto Faenza, starring Violante Placido and Alessandro Preziosi Radio: 1. She's Come Undone (2004), a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of the novel, written and directed by Mary Peate 2. She's Come Undone (2013), a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of the novel, written and directed by Susan Roberts Podcast: 1. She's Come Undone Podcast (2017-present), hosted by Meghann Dontes, featuring conversations about the novel with readers, writers, filmmakers, actors, and more. Theatrical: 1. She's Come Undone (2015), a theatrical adaptation of the novel in collaboration with Theater Works in Phoenix, Arizona.

Other books by Wally Lamb

  • I'll Take You There
  • The Hour I First Believed
  • We Are Water
  • Wishin' and Hopin'
  • I Know This Much Is True
  • I Know This Much Is True (Movie Tie-In Edition
  • Couldn't Keep It to Myself: Testimonies from Our Imprisoned Sisters

Did you know?

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She's Come Undone, which was published in 1992, was the first book by author Wally Lamb to become a New York Times Bestseller.