We Are Water

More like 2 and a half stars. A C-? At the end of the audiobook there is an interview with Lamb in which he said he began this novel with the voice of Orion (the one Lamb read for the audiobook), and if there is a character here I admired, he would be it. At least at the outset, he seems the least screwed up, despite his own childhood challenges. But that's not the main issue. It's over-written and repetitive, there are too many voices (even though there's a sameness to them), and so the story has no focus. But the worst part is that the voice of the pedophile in the story is completely unnecessary. The reader understands his crimes without having to read/hear about them in graphic detail.

This is the first book I have read by Wally Lamb. While I found his writing to be excellent and enjoyed the “multiple points of view” narrative, the chapters written from Annie's cousin's perspective were sickening - which they were clearly meant to be and again gives credit to Lamb's talent. That being said, I still wish I hadn't been subjected to the details in those sections.