We Are Water
by Wally Lamb
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Description
Anna Oh, a middle-age wife, mother and artist, divorces her husband after 27 years of marriage to marry Vivica, the Manhattan art dealer who orchestrated her professional success.Tags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
A complex story told by the voices of different family members -- all of them believable and honest. With important lessons about the devastating damage done by secrets and the healing powers of telling the truth.
At its heart this is a story about love, family and relationships. Anna Oh, an artist, wife, and mother is ending her 27 year marriage to Orion, a psychologist. Because Anna has fallen in love with Viveca, the art dealer who is behind Anna's success. This decision is difficult on her three children -- twins Ariane and Andrew and the youngest, Marissa.
As Anna and Viveca go about planning their wedding in their small hometown in Connecticut -- there are painful resentments and truths that begin to surface. About marriage, about show more family life, about the changing landscape of art, racism and American society.
One of the reasons Wally Lamb is such a gifted writer is his ability to make us empathetic with each character's perspective. And in constructing this novel, Lamb gives each main character his or her own voice -- allowing each to narrate different chapters.
There is both welcome humor and deep understanding in the way he writes about the the essence of our collective need for love and meaning in our lives. show less
At its heart this is a story about love, family and relationships. Anna Oh, an artist, wife, and mother is ending her 27 year marriage to Orion, a psychologist. Because Anna has fallen in love with Viveca, the art dealer who is behind Anna's success. This decision is difficult on her three children -- twins Ariane and Andrew and the youngest, Marissa.
As Anna and Viveca go about planning their wedding in their small hometown in Connecticut -- there are painful resentments and truths that begin to surface. About marriage, about show more family life, about the changing landscape of art, racism and American society.
One of the reasons Wally Lamb is such a gifted writer is his ability to make us empathetic with each character's perspective. And in constructing this novel, Lamb gives each main character his or her own voice -- allowing each to narrate different chapters.
There is both welcome humor and deep understanding in the way he writes about the the essence of our collective need for love and meaning in our lives. show less
A complex story told by the voices of different family members -- all of them believable and honest. With important lessons about the devastating damage done by secrets and the healing powers of telling the truth.
At its heart this is a story about love, family and relationships. Anna Oh, an artist, wife, and mother is ending her 27 year marriage to Orion, a psychologist. Because Anna has fallen in love with Viveca, the art dealer who is behind Anna's success. This decision is difficult on her three children -- twins Ariane and Andrew and the youngest, Marissa.
As Anna and Viveca go about planning their wedding in their small hometown in Connecticut -- there are painful resentments and truths that begin to surface. About marriage, about show more family life, about the changing landscape of art, racism and American society.
One of the reasons Wally Lamb is such a gifted writer is his ability to make us empathetic with each character's perspective. And in constructing this novel, Lamb gives each main character his or her own voice -- allowing each to narrate different chapters.
There is both welcome humor and deep understanding in the way he writes about the the essence of our collective need for love and meaning in our lives. show less
At its heart this is a story about love, family and relationships. Anna Oh, an artist, wife, and mother is ending her 27 year marriage to Orion, a psychologist. Because Anna has fallen in love with Viveca, the art dealer who is behind Anna's success. This decision is difficult on her three children -- twins Ariane and Andrew and the youngest, Marissa.
As Anna and Viveca go about planning their wedding in their small hometown in Connecticut -- there are painful resentments and truths that begin to surface. About marriage, about show more family life, about the changing landscape of art, racism and American society.
One of the reasons Wally Lamb is such a gifted writer is his ability to make us empathetic with each character's perspective. And in constructing this novel, Lamb gives each main character his or her own voice -- allowing each to narrate different chapters.
There is both welcome humor and deep understanding in the way he writes about the the essence of our collective need for love and meaning in our lives. show less
We Are Water is a story about love and family, as well as how much pain family members can cause one another. Families are supposed to be the one safe haven a person has in this world, so when that safe haven disappears, it has a far-reaching impact on everyone. The Oh children experience some of this trauma at the announcement of their mother’s pending marriage to another woman. Still reeling from their parents’ separation and divorce, they must reconcile the natural feelings of loss and abandonment with their personal opinions on homosexuality. As everyone struggles to accept Annie’s decisions and prepare for her new stage in life, readers are taken on a ride through the complexity of family. With shocking reveals and surprise show more events, the Oh family must decide where their loyalties lie and just how far they will go to protect their loved ones.
All of the characters within We Are Water are intricate and fully developed. A reader’s shifting opinions regarding each character emphasize the complex relationships within the Oh family and serve as strong reminders that one can never judge a person on just one situation or scene. The idea of a family having to reconcile not only a divorce scenario but also a gay remarriage is thoroughly modern and wonderfully complex, using the family as a microcosm for each element of the ongoing gay rights arguments. However, Annie’s pending marriage is just a catalyst for the rest of the story, as each character must reconcile the new family dynamic with his or her own inner complications. Even better, as soon as readers become comfortable with each of the characters, their motivations, and their desires, Mr. Lamb complicates matters with two key scenes that literally change everything. To say too much more is to build up expectations and create scenarios where readers are looking for clues to these big events, but suffice it to say that these scenes take a beautiful family story and make it simply extraordinary.
Trauma and loss are two key themes of We Are Water. By flipping back and forth between characters’ points of view as well as the use of flashbacks, flash-forwards, and especially the use of well-placed minor characters, readers can understand just how insidious loss and trauma is to a person’s psyche and how one person’s trauma trickles down and impacts so many others. That Annie has psychological issues is not a major surprise given some of the things about which she hints early within the novel. The depths of her issues though does not become apparent until more than halfway through the novel, once readers have had a chance to get multiple versions of a story and are able to flesh out the details Annie conveniently ignores or is incapable of acknowledging. That her behavior, which is a direct result of what occurred to her as a child, impacts her actions towards her children, her husband, and fuels her art is not necessarily a surprise, but the depths of her pain and the damage it causes for others is truly heartbreaking.
Mr. Lamb’s careful word-crafting makes the Oh family come alive. It is easy to sink into the novel and become fully absorbed in their individual and family dramas. A reader feels as if s/he is a member of the Oh family and is learning about the family secrets at the same time as everyone else. The inclusive feel of the narrative makes it simultaneously easier to empathize with each of the characters and yet causes readers to shy away from their roiling emotions caused by their perceived direct involvement in the family.
Exquisitely told, Wally Lamb treats readers to an intricate and vibrant glimpse into a thoroughly modern family during the very dynamic recent past, proving how complex our lives have become and the toll that complexity plays on the family as an organism. The characters are rich in detail and vibrate with vitality, while the unearthed secrets and shared drama bridges the gap between book and reader. We Are Water is a beautifully wrought and timeless story of the ties that bind and break. show less
All of the characters within We Are Water are intricate and fully developed. A reader’s shifting opinions regarding each character emphasize the complex relationships within the Oh family and serve as strong reminders that one can never judge a person on just one situation or scene. The idea of a family having to reconcile not only a divorce scenario but also a gay remarriage is thoroughly modern and wonderfully complex, using the family as a microcosm for each element of the ongoing gay rights arguments. However, Annie’s pending marriage is just a catalyst for the rest of the story, as each character must reconcile the new family dynamic with his or her own inner complications. Even better, as soon as readers become comfortable with each of the characters, their motivations, and their desires, Mr. Lamb complicates matters with two key scenes that literally change everything. To say too much more is to build up expectations and create scenarios where readers are looking for clues to these big events, but suffice it to say that these scenes take a beautiful family story and make it simply extraordinary.
Trauma and loss are two key themes of We Are Water. By flipping back and forth between characters’ points of view as well as the use of flashbacks, flash-forwards, and especially the use of well-placed minor characters, readers can understand just how insidious loss and trauma is to a person’s psyche and how one person’s trauma trickles down and impacts so many others. That Annie has psychological issues is not a major surprise given some of the things about which she hints early within the novel. The depths of her issues though does not become apparent until more than halfway through the novel, once readers have had a chance to get multiple versions of a story and are able to flesh out the details Annie conveniently ignores or is incapable of acknowledging. That her behavior, which is a direct result of what occurred to her as a child, impacts her actions towards her children, her husband, and fuels her art is not necessarily a surprise, but the depths of her pain and the damage it causes for others is truly heartbreaking.
Mr. Lamb’s careful word-crafting makes the Oh family come alive. It is easy to sink into the novel and become fully absorbed in their individual and family dramas. A reader feels as if s/he is a member of the Oh family and is learning about the family secrets at the same time as everyone else. The inclusive feel of the narrative makes it simultaneously easier to empathize with each of the characters and yet causes readers to shy away from their roiling emotions caused by their perceived direct involvement in the family.
Exquisitely told, Wally Lamb treats readers to an intricate and vibrant glimpse into a thoroughly modern family during the very dynamic recent past, proving how complex our lives have become and the toll that complexity plays on the family as an organism. The characters are rich in detail and vibrate with vitality, while the unearthed secrets and shared drama bridges the gap between book and reader. We Are Water is a beautifully wrought and timeless story of the ties that bind and break. show less
Of Wally Lamb's books, I've enjoyed this one the least.
First, it is far longer than it needs to be, mostly because the characters won't stop talking about how they feel about everyone and everything at every possible opportunity. Who talks that much--even to themselves?
Second, the main theme of the book--that abuse carries a terrible legacy--is repeated ad nauseum, and Lamb offers neither forgiveness nor much insight for those caught in the crossfire. They are all bloodied, innocent and guilty alike. Not sure what the message is in that.
Third, and this may be personal, there's too much here that is cringeworthy and outright revolting. It's overplayed and I can't see the justification.
I had hoped for much more than a lukewarm first draft.
First, it is far longer than it needs to be, mostly because the characters won't stop talking about how they feel about everyone and everything at every possible opportunity. Who talks that much--even to themselves?
Second, the main theme of the book--that abuse carries a terrible legacy--is repeated ad nauseum, and Lamb offers neither forgiveness nor much insight for those caught in the crossfire. They are all bloodied, innocent and guilty alike. Not sure what the message is in that.
Third, and this may be personal, there's too much here that is cringeworthy and outright revolting. It's overplayed and I can't see the justification.
I had hoped for much more than a lukewarm first draft.
“We Are Water” was a book I was surprised to find myself liking. The characters in this book are far from perfect – most are very deeply flawed. There are far more shades of black and grey than light. And yet, the way Wally Lamb draws them out, fills in the details of their lives so gradually, the reader cannot help but become invested in their lives. Accept them for who they are. I say that I was surprised because I usually have a difficult time with books about characters that do awful things. UNLESS. The writer is skillful enough to force me to see their humanness. See that they are not simply the actions they take or the words they say – but are also a product of other characters actions and words. “We Are Water” does show more this beautifully.
Lamb creates a web of characters and events that tie into one another in ways the reader only gradually understands. The central character is Annie Oh, an up-and-coming artist during the present time of the book. Her children Andrew, Ariane and Marissa, and her husband/ex-husband Orion are the other most central figures. Their lives, and much of the most powerful imagery is tied to water. The ocean, a flood and its aftermath that had an impact on all of their lives. “Standing beside this dead, devoured seal, I rear back and hurl the bag, as far as I can, into the grey-green water. I watch it sink. Then I jimmy my wedding ring back and forth until it slips over the knuckle and off my finger. I fling it into the sea. Am I crying? Laughing? Both? Who am I, now that I’ve thrown my life into the ocean? Who will I be?”
Throughout the book, references to water are used – sometimes in the more traditional/spiritual sense – the restorative/healing power. But almost more often, the water images are violent and angry. As are many of the actions of the character. Annie, the main character, is revealed to be far more complex and far different than I expected. Especially in the way she treats her son.
“…there’s Mama, armed with our big soup spoon and whacking Andrew on the back of his head and his neck. Once, twice, three times. My brother’s just standing there, shoulders scrunched up, taking it as usual. “Don’t you ever, EVER make your sister feel like a second-class citizen!” she yells.”
Again and again, the actions of the characters, even those who seem auxiliary and from the past, play pivotal roles in what happens in the lives of other characters. Lamb does a masterful job of weaving the whole thing together.
“I look away from him then, look out at the rolling waves and think about umbilical cords, nooses, the skeins of string that tangle and connect us. If he does go to the police, does end up in prison, maybe he’ll save himself from this choked up life he’s been living. Be able to breathe again like he did the morning of his birth when the cord between his mother and him that had sustained him for nine months now was strangling him.”
This book is about family, self, violence and acceptance. Mistakes and redemption. It’s wonderfully written and I enjoyed the experience of reading it more than I thought I would. Even days later, the final image lingers.
“Together – father and son, the atheist and the believer, we enter the churning, mysterious sea.” show less
Lamb creates a web of characters and events that tie into one another in ways the reader only gradually understands. The central character is Annie Oh, an up-and-coming artist during the present time of the book. Her children Andrew, Ariane and Marissa, and her husband/ex-husband Orion are the other most central figures. Their lives, and much of the most powerful imagery is tied to water. The ocean, a flood and its aftermath that had an impact on all of their lives. “Standing beside this dead, devoured seal, I rear back and hurl the bag, as far as I can, into the grey-green water. I watch it sink. Then I jimmy my wedding ring back and forth until it slips over the knuckle and off my finger. I fling it into the sea. Am I crying? Laughing? Both? Who am I, now that I’ve thrown my life into the ocean? Who will I be?”
Throughout the book, references to water are used – sometimes in the more traditional/spiritual sense – the restorative/healing power. But almost more often, the water images are violent and angry. As are many of the actions of the character. Annie, the main character, is revealed to be far more complex and far different than I expected. Especially in the way she treats her son.
“…there’s Mama, armed with our big soup spoon and whacking Andrew on the back of his head and his neck. Once, twice, three times. My brother’s just standing there, shoulders scrunched up, taking it as usual. “Don’t you ever, EVER make your sister feel like a second-class citizen!” she yells.”
Again and again, the actions of the characters, even those who seem auxiliary and from the past, play pivotal roles in what happens in the lives of other characters. Lamb does a masterful job of weaving the whole thing together.
“I look away from him then, look out at the rolling waves and think about umbilical cords, nooses, the skeins of string that tangle and connect us. If he does go to the police, does end up in prison, maybe he’ll save himself from this choked up life he’s been living. Be able to breathe again like he did the morning of his birth when the cord between his mother and him that had sustained him for nine months now was strangling him.”
This book is about family, self, violence and acceptance. Mistakes and redemption. It’s wonderfully written and I enjoyed the experience of reading it more than I thought I would. Even days later, the final image lingers.
“Together – father and son, the atheist and the believer, we enter the churning, mysterious sea.” show less
The Good Stuff
A truly remarkably well written character study - not one character is written in black and white. Characters that you might outwardly hate, have so many layers, that although you might not agree with their actions, you can understand their motives.
A truly gifted writer to keep me enthralled, even-though this is usually the type of book I avoid like the plague.
Each and every character is well developed and realistic
At first I was a little surprised about all the points of view, but it actually enhances the story, so many layers, slowly unraveled
Uncomfortable, yet healing
Deals with the ignorance and malice of intolerance brilliantly
Even-though the child molesters perspective is horrific to read, Lamb's brilliance in show more understanding people and treating them like humans really makes you think. I really had a hard time with this. On one hand I was sickened by the chapters, even put the book down for a while, but at the same time these chapters helped me understand. Again want to convey that Lamb has a true gift in seeing the grey where others can only see black and white
Perfect book for a book club or class discussion
This is another one that I know will win awards and sell like hotcakes at the Chapters I work at
Hope and forgiveness - two things I need to truly enjoy a book
Touches on so much - prejudice, art, family, compassion, forgiveness, child abuse, loss, grief and love in all its wonderful forms
Takes some pretty uncomfortable situations and makes you think and want to discuss - yes my friends this book will lead to long hours of discussion - cannot wait to talk wit my co-workers and staff about
Totally got the part where Anna talks about the frustration of taking care of her kids and all the hard stuff a Mom has to deal with and than as soon as Dad comes home the kids want to play with the "FUN" parent. Totally unfair.
Hard to read about Orion's reaction when one of his students committed suicide. My Dad had a similar experience and he ended up in the psych ward because he thought it was his fault that a kid had killed himself. There was nothing he could have done, but he was the type of man who cared too much.
The Not So Good Stuff
I personally would have cut out about 50 pages, but that is just me. I just think it would have been a tighter book
The perspective of the child molester is a difficult read - I admire Lamb's skill and understand what he was trying to relate, but still made me sick
I understand and admire Lamb's talent and his effort to make Anna someone you can understand and relate too, and I do in a way, but at the same time she disgusted me. My kids drive me absolutely bonkers, and I too have had some difficult times in my life, but I would never ever ever want to hurt my kids
Won't lie, next book I read is going to be totally escapism - this was intense and thought provoking - dammit Wally I am a mom - I want to escape from my world for a while ; )
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"He stops talking after that . It's something I've noticed since the paralysis: you mention depression and it's a conversation killer."
"Which I interpreted as him saying that it was better to have a fight and get things out than to give people the silent treatment and let things keep festering. I could have been wrong though; poetry's hard for me to understand because it never says things plain and simple."
"But as the people of the Old Country say, il destino mischia le carte, ma siamo noi a giocare la partia. Destiny shuffles the cards, but we are the ones who must play the game."
I received a copy of this at the HarperCollins Party at Book Expo America 2013. Thank you Wally about putting me at ease and truly enjoyed chatting with you. show less
A truly remarkably well written character study - not one character is written in black and white. Characters that you might outwardly hate, have so many layers, that although you might not agree with their actions, you can understand their motives.
A truly gifted writer to keep me enthralled, even-though this is usually the type of book I avoid like the plague.
Each and every character is well developed and realistic
At first I was a little surprised about all the points of view, but it actually enhances the story, so many layers, slowly unraveled
Uncomfortable, yet healing
Deals with the ignorance and malice of intolerance brilliantly
Even-though the child molesters perspective is horrific to read, Lamb's brilliance in show more understanding people and treating them like humans really makes you think. I really had a hard time with this. On one hand I was sickened by the chapters, even put the book down for a while, but at the same time these chapters helped me understand. Again want to convey that Lamb has a true gift in seeing the grey where others can only see black and white
Perfect book for a book club or class discussion
This is another one that I know will win awards and sell like hotcakes at the Chapters I work at
Hope and forgiveness - two things I need to truly enjoy a book
Touches on so much - prejudice, art, family, compassion, forgiveness, child abuse, loss, grief and love in all its wonderful forms
Takes some pretty uncomfortable situations and makes you think and want to discuss - yes my friends this book will lead to long hours of discussion - cannot wait to talk wit my co-workers and staff about
Totally got the part where Anna talks about the frustration of taking care of her kids and all the hard stuff a Mom has to deal with and than as soon as Dad comes home the kids want to play with the "FUN" parent. Totally unfair.
Hard to read about Orion's reaction when one of his students committed suicide. My Dad had a similar experience and he ended up in the psych ward because he thought it was his fault that a kid had killed himself. There was nothing he could have done, but he was the type of man who cared too much.
The Not So Good Stuff
I personally would have cut out about 50 pages, but that is just me. I just think it would have been a tighter book
The perspective of the child molester is a difficult read - I admire Lamb's skill and understand what he was trying to relate, but still made me sick
I understand and admire Lamb's talent and his effort to make Anna someone you can understand and relate too, and I do in a way, but at the same time she disgusted me. My kids drive me absolutely bonkers, and I too have had some difficult times in my life, but I would never ever ever want to hurt my kids
Won't lie, next book I read is going to be totally escapism - this was intense and thought provoking - dammit Wally I am a mom - I want to escape from my world for a while ; )
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"He stops talking after that . It's something I've noticed since the paralysis: you mention depression and it's a conversation killer."
"Which I interpreted as him saying that it was better to have a fight and get things out than to give people the silent treatment and let things keep festering. I could have been wrong though; poetry's hard for me to understand because it never says things plain and simple."
"But as the people of the Old Country say, il destino mischia le carte, ma siamo noi a giocare la partia. Destiny shuffles the cards, but we are the ones who must play the game."
I received a copy of this at the HarperCollins Party at Book Expo America 2013. Thank you Wally about putting me at ease and truly enjoyed chatting with you. show less
I didn't even know I was capable of reading a 565 page book in a 24 hour period but couldn't stop despite some of the painfully graphic parts. Wow. Horror, humor, and love story (love among family mainly). The art of character Josephus Jones sounded really intriguing to me and I was able to visualize it well. The art of Annie Oh? Sounded pretty awful.
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Author Information
14+ Works 33,169 Members
Walter (Wally) Lamb was born in Norwich, Connecticut on October 17, 1950. He attended the University of Connecticut, receiving a B.A. in 1972 and an M.A. in 1977; he also earned an M.F.A. from Vermont College in 1984. Lamb has written numerous short stories, most notably "Astronauts", which received both the Pushcart Prize and the University of show more Missouri's William Peden Prize in 1990. He is also the author of the bestselling novels She's Come Undone, I Know This Much Is True, The Hour I First Believed and We Are Water. Lamb writes stories, he says, because he sometimes hears another voice in his head and feels the need to tell that character's story. He made The New York Times Best Seller List with his title We are Water. However, he feels an equally strong calling to teach, and has no plans to become a fulltime writer. He has taught English at the Norwich Free Academy since 1972, and for many years directed the Academy's writing center, which he also played a major role in creating. The idea for it developed as he became more involved in fiction writing himself and realized that the common methods of teaching composition, which involved grading a paper and commenting on it after the student was finished, were not particularly helpful. He set up a program that allowed students to get feedback from both teachers and peers early in the writing process, so that they could incorporate the suggestions into their final work. He currently teaches creative writing at the University of Connecticut. He is also the volunteer facilitator of a writing workshop at the York Correctional Institution. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- We Are Water
- Original publication date
- 2013-10-22
- People/Characters
- Annie Oh; Orion Oh; Ariane Oh; Andrew Oh; Marissa Oh; Vivica (show all 15); Kent Kelly; Donald Oday; Uncle Chick Oday; Aunt Sunny; Mr Guartiero Agnello; Josephus Jones; Minnie; Africa; Hector
- Important places
- Three Rivers, Connecticut, USA
- Epigraph
- Ghost of a Chance: You see a man / trying to think. / You want to say / to everything: / Keep off! Give him room! / But you only watch / terrified / the old consolations / will get him at last / like a fish / half-dead from f... (show all)lopping / and almost crawling / across the shingle, / almost breathing / the raw, agonizing / air / till a wave / pulls it back blind into the triumphant sea. -- Adrienne Rich
- Dedication
- This one is for two strong women: Joan Joffe Hall and Shirley Woodka
- First words
- I understand there was some controversy about the coroner's ruling concerning Josephus Jones's death.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Together -- father and son, the atheist and the believer, we enter the churning, mysterious sea.
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 813.54
- Canonical LCC
- PS3562.A433
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