We are not ourselves matthew thomas book

And thomas does it with the epic sweep and small pleasures of the very best fiction. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. We are not ourselves took 10 years to write, and justifies every one of them. Someone more poetically inclined might find inspiration in the polyphony of voices, but she just wanted to be surrounded by people who looked like her family. One of janet maslins ten favorite books of the year in the new york times. We are not ourselves is also available as an audiobook, read by the. Book oxygen is a breathing space for books and writers. Although matthew thomass we are not ourselves tells the story of three generations of an irishamerican family, the action is seen mainly from eileens point of view.

We are not ourselves is a rendering of the effect of. Matthew thomas we are not ourselves sunday, june 14, 2015 7. We are not ourselves by matthew thomas born in 1941, eileen tumulty is raised by her irish immigrant parents in woodside, queens, in an apartment where the mood swings between heartbreak and hilarity, depending on whether guests are over and. She was raised in the 1940s by working class irish immigrant parents. Matthew thomass new york timesbestselling novel we are not ourselves was shortlisted for the james tait black prize, the center for fiction first novel prize, and the john gardner fiction book award. We are not ourselves, matthew thomas epic first novel, was 10 years in the making and, upon completion, the subject of a vigorous publishers bidding war. We are not ourselves was an instant bestseller in hardcover and is sure to be a smash in paperback, particulary with book clubs. Matthew thomas was born and raised in new york city. The story is about an irishamerican family, and spans three generations. Supposedly it was the most ethnically diverse square mile in the world.

We are not ourselves by matthew thomas lonesome reader. In we are not ourselves, eileen leary moves to a threefamily home in jackson heights in queens, new york, which, even as she watches, becomes increasingly diverse. The opening scene was something this reader wants to know more about who the boy and the father are, for example. Thomas novel is a 600page irishamerican family saga that empathetically presents daytoday life in the outer boroughs and suburbs of new york city during the late 20th century. Its author, matthew thomas, is in his thirties when the book is published. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The daughter of irish immigrants in queens, her life is a failed. Jun 02, 2015 we are not ourselves by matthew thomas born in 1941, eileen tumulty is raised by her irish immigrant parents in woodside, queens, in an apartment where the mood swings between heartbreak and hilarity, depending on whether guests are over and how much alcohol has been consumed. Through the lives of characters who begin in woodside, queens in 1941 and span the years to present day, matthew thomas charts the american century. Matthew thomas s new york timesbestselling novel we are not ourselves was shortlisted for the james tait black prize, the center for fiction first novel prize, and the john gardner fiction book award.

At the center of this brilliant debut is eileen tumulty leary, a daughter, wife, and mother, whose fortunes improve with the rising tide of middleclass mobility, but who then finds herself corseted by the very men who are closest to her. The book spans six decades in the life of eileen tumulty, the daughter of an irish immigrant bartender and his alcoholic wife. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new. Aug 22, 2014 matthew thomass devastating debut novel, we are not ourselves, is a starkly honest, intimate family story with the power to rock you to your core. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading we are not ourselves. Aug 27, 2014 a quotation from king lear prefaces matthew thomas s long and ambitious first novel, and also gives the book its title. Apr 15, 2016 the critically acclaimed first novel by matthew thomas, we are not ourselves is a sweeping tale of life, love and loss set against the backdrop of midcentury new york.

Eileen tumulty, the heroine of matthew thomas first novel, we are not ourselves, will be recognizable to many new yorkers. Aug 10, 2014 eileen tumulty, the heroine of matthew thomas first novel, we are not ourselves, will be recognizable to many new yorkers. I always wanted to write something somewhat sweeping. Rather than become engrossed in entirely selfish pursuits in life this book offers refreshingly agnostic ideas about the satisfaction which. We are not ourselves by matthew thomas new york times 100 notable books of 2014 washington post top 50 fiction list for 2014 entertainment weekly. We are not ourselves by matthew thomas the book musings. Matthew thomas is the toast of the publishing world overnight after we are not ourselves a novel he took 10 years to write sparked a bidding war. Aug 25, 2014 we are not ourselves is a subtle book in the beginningand then it smacks you in the face with emotion. Helen dunmore acclaims a first novel that was 10 years in the writing and is now on the guardian first book award longlist. We are not ourselves by matthew thomas waterstones. By that i dont mean its story is insignificant but quotidian. Helen dunmore, guardian matthew thomass ambitious first novel presents the life of one woman from cradle to late middleage, and the changing backdrop of new york. We are not ourselves by matthew thomas, signed abebooks. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read we are not ourselves.

Sep 07, 2014 although matthew thomass we are not ourselves tells the story of three generations of an irishamerican family, the action is seen mainly from eileens point of view. The main theme isnt overtly put out there until well into the story, but i felt like this was a realistic portrayal of how it must be for the friends and family members of someone undergoing this type of change. The main characters are eileen, her husband ed and son. We are not ourselves is the perfect distillation of the american dream as played out in the twentieth century. Although matthew thomass we are not ourselves tells the story of three. Signed, placed, and dated shortly after publication by matthew thomas thomas, matthew published by new york city, ny.

Matthew thomas first novel, we are not ourselves, is an epic of small events. We are not ourselves by matthew thomas is a novel that starts off with a bang the murder of a frog and a father abusing his son for it. We are not ourselves, a 620page saga of three generations in an irishamerican family from queens, new york, took over a decade to write and netted a reported sevenfigure advance for debut novelist matthew thomas thomas was thinking big when he began. At the center of this brilliant debut is eileen tumulty leary, a daughter, wife, and mother, whose fortunes improve with the rising tide of middleclass mobility, but who then. This mammoth novel is matthew thomass first, and like many of its kind, its a family saga that packs in as much as. We are not ourselves is published by fourth estate, 640 pages. In most cases, eileen had to take care of her parents, but eileen was. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. Thomass depiction of eds alzheimers is masterly and intensely moving. Matthew thomass devastating debut novel, we are not ourselves, is a starkly honest, intimate family story with the power to rock you to your core. We are not ourselves book by matthew thomas official. Eileen, the mother is the child of an alcoholic father and has dreams of escaping her queens childhood for a bigger piece of the american dream. His new york timesbestselling novel we are not ourselves has been shortlisted for the center for fiction first novel prize, the james tait black prize, and the john gardner fiction book award, longlisted for the international dublin literary award, the guardian first book award, and the folio prize, named a new york times notable book, and. And the restaurant acrossmore thank you for the kind words, annette, and im sorry i missed you in austin.

We are not ourselves book by matthew thomas official publisher. A graduate of the university of chicago, he has an ma from the writing seminars at johns hopkins university and an mfa from the university of california, irvine. The schoolgirl eileen watches her father hold court in the bar only to clam up at home, the silence between. We are not ourselves by matthew thomas, paperback barnes. Eileen cant help but dream of a calmer life, in a better neighborhood.

We are not ourselves is a powerfully moving book, and the figure of eileen leary mother, wife, daughter, lover, nurse, caretaker, whiskey drinker, upwardly mobile dreamer, retrenched protector of values is a real addition to our literature. Through the lives of these characters, thomas charts the. Yet, as thomas shows, it can also teach you the priceless value of true love. Sep 01, 2014 we are not ourselves by matthew thomas.

The reasons eileen tumulty is so driven to improve her lot in life are obvious from the first pages of the unsentimental debut novel by matthew thomas. Mar 05, 2015 we are not ourselves took 10 years to write, and justifies every one of them. Through the lives of these characters, thomas charts the story of the american century. We are not ourselves by matthew thomas book oxygen.

Born in 1941, eileen tumulty is raised by her irish immigrant parents in woodside, queens, in an apartment where the mood swings between heartbreak and hilarity, depending on whether guests are over and how much alcohol has been consumed. We are not ourselves is the first novel from matthew thomas and it is a stunning, emotionally devastating and redemptive story of three generations of an immigrant irish family. We are not ourselves by matthew thomas book club discussion. Matthew thomas s devastating debut novel, we are not ourselves, does not trumpet the fact that its an honest, intimate family story with the power to rock you to your core. Although matthew thomas s we are not ourselves tells the story of three generations of an irishamerican family, the action is seen mainly from eileens point of view. A novel rare fine copy of the first hardcover editionfirst printing. Aug 22, 2014 matthew thomas first novel, we are not ourselves, is an epic of small events. We are not ourselves, by matthew thomas the new york times. Why do you think thomas chose to use the phrase we are not ourselves, taken from the king lear epigraph, as the title of his novel. We are not ourselves when nature, being oppressed, commands the mind to. His new york timesbestselling novel we are not ourselves has been shortlisted for the center for fiction first novel. The critically acclaimed first novel by matthew thomas, we are not ourselves is a sweeping tale of life, love and loss set against the backdrop of midcentury new york. And the restaurant across the street, 24 dinergreat food.

We are not ourselves is a subtle book in the beginningand then it smacks you in the face with emotion. Matthew thomas we are not ourselves tuesday, september 16, 2014 6. We are not ourselves by matthew thomas and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This novel deals with the self being slowly stripped naked. A quotation from king lear prefaces matthew thomass long and ambitious first novel, and also gives the book its title. Eileen tumulty did not have an easy life growing up.