I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review from TLC Book Tours, which was fabulous because, I mean, I was able to get a WALLY LAMB book!!! Score!
We Are Water by Wally Lamb is an emotional book about what it means to be a family. It is also a book of secrets.
Annie Oh is a famous artist who left her husband, Orion Oh, after over 20 years of marriage in order to marry her lover Vivica. Annie has some anger that fuels her art, coming from deep seeded secrets that no one knows.
Orion also has some anger. He’s angry that Annie left him, angry that she is going to remarry in their hometown. . . Then there’s Ariane, the goody goody daughter, and her twin brother Andrew who is born again, and their younger sister Marissa who is the struggling actress. All three siblings have their own secrets and life struggles to work out.
Annie’s approaching wedding brings the family together, and forces them to be honest with their secrets.
We Are Water by Wally Lamb is a more subtle read. I enjoyed it, and would recommend it to fans of his novels. However, I do have to say that She’s Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True were less subtle and really grabbed me.
I had a few issues with pieces of Lamb’s writing. Sometimes it was fabulous, but I wasn’t a fan of some of the stream of consciousness paragraphs, as well as there being parts of the book with way too much dialogue.
Here are the rest of the tour stops, and I bolded the ones you should especially take note of because I think the bloggers are extra awesome:
Wednesday, October 16th: Alison’s Book Marks
Thursday, October 17th: Read Lately
Friday, October 18th: The Little Reader Library
Monday, October 21st: A Bookish Way of Life
Tuesday, October 22nd: Girls Just Reading
Wednesday, October 23rd: The Well-Read Redhead
Thursday, October 24th: West Metro Mommy
Friday, October 25th: Drey’s Library
Monday, October 28th: Kritters Ramblings
Tuesday, October 29th: Bibliophiliac
Wednesday, October 30th: Booksie’s Blog
Thursday, October 31st: Lit and Life
Monday, November 4th: Book-alicious Mama
Tuesday, November 5th: BoundbyWords
Wednesday, November 6th: Books Speak Volumes
Thursday, November 7th: Book Hooked Blog
Friday, November 8th: Peeking Between the Pages
Tuesday, November 12th: Tiffany’s Bookshelf
Wednesday, November 13th: Turn the Page
Thursday, November 14th: Dolce Bellezza
Have you read anything by Wally Lamb?
Interested in getting your own copy? It comes out soon, October 22! Check it out on Amazon & IndieBound. I get a small percentage if you purchase from those links, and it doesn’t cost you any extra.
I’ve been looking forward to the tour for this one and wondering what the reviews would be. It’s been a while since I read a Wally Lamb book, but it does seem like the quality has been in a slight decline over the years – maybe that’s because I loved She’s Come Undone so much when I was younger!
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I agree with you and I think that this book is just much more of a subtle family read than She’s Come Undone, where that one really hit me hard. . . but then again, I read it when I was really young and then again maybe 5 years ago.
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I’m so looking forward to this one. Did you read The Hour I First Believed?
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No I haven’t yet! I need to pick that one up, though! Is it good?
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I’ve just started reading this one and am already sucked in. I wanted to read it because I loved She’s Come Undone and LOVED that book. I’m keeping your review in mind for when I get to those dialogue filled parts – sometimes, too much is too much 🙂 And, thanks for putting my tour date in bold – I think your blog is super awesome, too!
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I think if I knew in advance that this book was heavier on the dialogue, it would help. But it’s still a top book for me. Although She’s Come Undone just blows me away still. Soooo good!
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I love Lamb’s books and cannot wait to get my hands on this one 🙂 I’m not a fan of stream of consciousness though…uh oh.
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The stream of consciousness stuff will only detract a little, don’t worry! I still think it’s a 4 star book and worth reading.
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This was my first Wally Lamb, and I LOVED it. For such a long book, I was surprised by how much it pulled me in. I was surprised by the very dark place this book went to with Andrew; is that typical of Lamb? I liked how he ended the book, though. Nice review!
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It’s your first Wally Lamb???? Pick up She’s Come Undone. Like now. Because I’ve read it twice, it was so good (and it’s an Oprah pick).
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I read She’s Come Undone in one sitting. I loved it so much, I’m almost afraid to read anything else by him because it might not live up to my expectations!!
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I Know This Much is True.
Read it.
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I am looking forward to reading this book. I am on the wait list at my library!
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I hope you get it soon! It’s not even out yet. . . does the library have advanced copies or do they let you get on a wait list in advance? That’s cool!
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I read She’s Come Undone. It was good, but it wasn’t something that I’d run around shoving into the hands of strangers. That’s how I rate books, I guess, by the amount it makes me want to accost innocent bystanders.
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Then We Are Water won’t be an accosting book for you. And I don’t think you’re crazy because sometimes I want to should from the rooftops how much I love books or just sign on to people’s Amazon accounts and purchase a book for them. 😛
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I’ve read lots of Lamb! He’s one of the original authors I started reading on my own long ago and stuck with. I have a signed copy coming in the mail! Can’t wait.
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SIGNED COP???? How?????
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Barnes and Noble sent an email saying you could purchase a signed copy. There was also Bill Bryson’s new one and Allegiant. I had all three ordered to be sent to the store. Two were cancelled and no longer available, but I hurried and ordered to my house We Are Water.
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Oh awesome!!! That’s so cool!!!
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The only Wally Lamb book I’ve read is She’s Come Undone which was fabulous! Not sure if I’ll read this one. Gotta think about it.
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I kind of waffle over Lamb’s writing. I really liked She’s Come Undone, but when I’ve tried to read some others–namely, The Hour I First Believed–I was just weighed down by the length and list of tragedies the characters had to endure. Maybe I’ll try this one when I run across it at the ‘brary. 🙂
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I Know This Much is True is long but it’s one complete story – it might be more your style. It’s worth trying, you can always DNF.
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Lamb isn’t for every body- you hear a lot of people love him, and some-meh. I fall in the middle. I have really enjoyed some but not all of his books. I do have this one on my list to read-glad to hear you enjoyed it.
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I’m a Lamb fan all the way! 🙂
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I feel a bit silly that you are so excited about this Willy Lamb book in your disclaimer and I don’t even know who it is (or his books!)
Anyway, loved your honest review and will go check out the blog stops for different views on this book!
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Don’t feel silly! I’ve made it a point to read most of Oprah’s Book Club choices, and 1 (but maybe 2) of his books are on that list. 🙂
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Pingback: Wally Lamb, author of We Are Water, on tour October/November 2013 | TLC Book Tours
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book for the tour!
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Thank you for the book! TLC Book Tours is always a fabulous resource and I’m happy to be part of it! 🙂
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Finally catching up on my blogs. Great review and thanks for highlighting me 🙂
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I totally get it – I fall behind ALL the time! And you’re welcome!
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I am so looking forward to this one! I’ve read Lamb’s She’s Come Undone (maybe 12 years ago), I Know This Much is True (read in 2005-ish), and The Hour I First Believed (in 2008, right after it was released). Can’t wait to get my hands on We Are Water! I think I might put it on my Christmas list 🙂
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That’s a fab idea!!!!
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Were you excited to get this book, or what? I’ve actually never read a Lamb book (was She’s Come Undone one of them or am I making that up?) even though you’ve told me multiple times to do it.
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She’s Come Undone was one of them, and it is my favorite for sure.
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