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A man takes care of his twin brother, who has schizophrenia, while his own life unravels
1998Slow paceMelancholic
What it is about
Dominick Birdsey is a house painter whose identical twin Thomas has paranoid schizophrenia. After a shocking act by Thomas, Dominick struggles to care for him and to face his own anger, loss and family past. The story moves between present and memory, including an old family manuscript.
Who will enjoy it
Readers who like long, emotional family dramas.
What you will get
An immersive, demanding novel that is tough but moving. It was an Oprah’s Book Club pick.
I Know This Much Is True Facts: Pages, Genre and Setting
Genre
Literary Fiction · Twins · Mental illness · Family
Length
897 pages · ≈ 26 h
More about this book
Characters
Dominick Birdsey and his twin brother Thomas.
Setting
Connecticut, over several decades.
What makes it different
A huge family novel carried by a complicated narrator.
Feel
Heavy, absorbing and honest.
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