We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas

For me, the most difficult part of writing a review, or anything else for that matter, is getting started, coming up with something intriguing and creative to draw the reader in. I believe that most writing teachers and writers would agree that it's important to start strong in order to keep readers reading long enough to get to the meat of the piece.

That's why I was surprised when the first 100 pages of this highly regarded novel turned out to be dull almost past enduring. Only my habit of always finishing a book kept me reading.

This first section of the novel covers the years 1951-1982 in the life of the main character, Ellen Tumulty, an Irish American girl living in New York City. The problem is that it is almost totally just a telling of the events in her life--this happened, then this happened, then this happened, and so on. Dramatic events are reported, not shown, and consequently lose all their drama. I would compare the section to a Wikipedia article (lasting 100 pages).

Then, suddenly, the novel starts improving as it follows Ellen's marriage to Ed, a research scientist. We finally begin to know and understand her, not just learn the facts. When Ed begins to exhibit signs of early-onset Alzheimer's, the writing seems to change yet again, becoming very specific and immediate and riveting. For page 150 through to the last, all the praise on the back of the book seems justified.

The story is told by a narrator, mostly through the eyes and thoughts of Ellen, and some readers might find fault because Ellen is not a very likable character at all. A few chapters focus on the son, Connell, and he is also not portrayed in a favorable light, although he does show character growth. The reader is obviously supposed to conclude that these characters' actions have been pre-determined by the circumstances of their upbringings, but that understanding depends on reader acquaintance with pop psychology rather than on specific connections made by the author.

I have read that this is Thomas's first novel and that it took him ten years to write it. Since the last part was really good, I think he must have improved over that time. I look forward to his next novel.