reubenalbatross 's review for:

I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb
DID NOT FINISH: 14%

I usually enjoy unlikeable narrators, especially if their mis-deeds and views are commented on or the novel has a compelling plot. So far, this book has included neither of these things, so I'm giving up.
 
My main issue is that Dominik is viewed almost as a heroic/self-sacrificing character in the majority of the book, but he has APPALING views on women. He is so misogynistic and objectifying - he essentially acts as if women only exist for his pleasure. As I've said, if there was ANY commentary on this, or a suggestion that we are meant to see this as a flaw in his character, I wouldn't have minded as much, but I get the sense that we are meant to forgive him for his behaviour because he works so hard to look after his brother. 
 
The first red flag was when between them, Lamb and Dominik victim blame a 13-YEAR-OLD sexual abuse victim by saying she 'wanted it' so it wasn't really rape. DISGUSTING. There's no commentary on this, or even an allusion to Dominik being mistaken in his views.
 
I was wary from that point on, and just couldn't deal with any more of Lamb’s repulsive misogyny, there is SO much in this book - I'd say there's at least one derogatory comment towards women on every single page of it. I just can't face another 700 pages of that, and after reading reviews where there's on-page rape which never gets properly discussed and the rapist is forgiven, I know this isn't the book for me.