She's Come Undone (1992) (edit title/settings)

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Summary edit see section history

Write a summary of the plot or a synopsis of this book.

Characters/People edit see section history

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• Dolores Elizabeth: Dolores Price remembers that she was four when her family got their first television and that she was frightened by it. Over the course of her lifetime, she would own several televisions and some of them would simply rule her life, as that first one did. She is the protagonist of the story
• Grandma Holland: Dolores grandmother with whom she lives after her parents get a divorce. She has a major impact of Dolores' life
• Kippy Strednicki: Dolores College Roommate, who loved her in her letters before she sees her in person. She uses Dolores as a private servant but secretly bad talks her behind her back. Its Kippys High School Boyfriend Dolores falls in love with, stealing his letters from Kippy.
• Roberta Jaskiewicz: The tatoo artist that Dolores' grandma hates. Dolores' safe haven where she can smoke freely and watch Roberta give tatoos..."from the waist up".
• Dr. Shaw: Dolores Psychologist who finally helps her get better by revisiting her childhood in a pool, pretending to be her mother.
• Jack Speight: Dolores Grandmothers upstairs tenant whom Dolores has a crush on till "that business happens"
• Mr. Pucci: Dolores gay High School counselor and later on close friend
• Dottie: The lesbian, overweight janitor who becomes obsessed with Dolores.
• Larry Rosenfarb: A repair man who helps Dolores realize there is more out there and along with Ruthie (his wife) gives her a first look at real love and sex as pleasure
• Jeanette Nord: Dolores childhood friend.
• Thayer Kitchen: A man, with his own construction company, (notice a theme?) who helps Dolores further understand real love and commitment..."I know it's a crock of shit. I ain't offering you happily ever after. I'm offering you ....happily-maybe-sometimes-after. sort of. you know, with warts and shit!"
• Ruth: Add a description of this character.
• Rita Speight
• Mrs. Masicotte: Dolores's father works for Mrs. Masicotte in the beginning of the novel
• Naomi Slosberg: A skinny hippie who lives in Dolores' dorm at school and went to Woodstock.
• Dante Davis: The first guy Dolores really falls for and has a relationship with.
• Eric
• Marcia
• Gary: Mr. Pucci's partner
• Paula
• Rosalie Pysyk: One of the girls at school when Dolores moves to Easterly; she teases Dolores
• Eddie Ann Lilipop
• Petey: Ma's parakeet
• Vita Marie: Dante and Dolores' baby
• Boomer
• Bernice Marie Price: Dolores' mom. A major influence in Dolores' life and the way she feels about herself and her growing up years.
• Nadine
• Tony Vento
• Mrs. Mumphy
• Sheila: Dante's seventeen year old student
• Fred Burden
• Allyson: A fellow student in night class
• Jemal: Thayer's son
• Stacia Pysyk
• Gracewood
• Father Duptulski
• Mr. Lamoreaux
• Mrs. Wing
• Mrs. Gutwax: Owns a bakery where Dolores works for a while
• Mrs. Bronstein
• Jesus H. Christ
• Grandpa
• Mrs. Davis
• Barbara
• Howard Hancin
• Tammy
• Roy Orbison
• Gladys Swan
• Linda Chester
• Augusto
• Johnny Stompanato
• Ashley
• Bambi
• Rusty
• Dr. Kildare
• Mrs. Buchbinder
• Johnny Wu
• Marguerite
• Kenny
• Mrs. Nord
• Mrs. Nelkin
• Hooten Hall
• Chadley Massey
• Kathy Mahoney
• Art Linkletter
• Domingos
• Little Chuck
• Mike Douglas
• St. Anthony
• Zahra
• Dolores Davis
• Laurie Fox
• Ma
• Daddy
• Samson
• Johnny Boy
• Judy Mumphy
• Nancy Reagan
• Tricia Nixon
• David Fitzpatrick
• Ruthie
• Speights
• Carol Burnett
• Vega
• Dr. Phinny
• Paul McCartney
• Mrs. DePolito
• Thelma
• Mr. Speight
• Mrs. Holland
• Judith Regan
• Jack Frost
• Mary Ann
• Betsy McCall
• Pierce Street
• Fabio
• Dr. Quack-Quack
• Jack Benny
• Lana Turner
• Jackie Kennedy
• Kathleen Turner
• Mrs. Tingley
• Elvis Presley
• Tia
• Mary Woods
• Diane Lennon
• Miss Dolores Price
• Alan Ladd
• Norma French
• Joni Mitchell
• Anne Frank
• Anthony Jr.
• Mother Teresa
• Marilyn Monroe
• Diana Ross
• Mrs. Arthur Music
• Mr. Davis
• Uncle Eddie
• Lisa Dolores
• Dear Dante
• Ed Sullivan
• Christine
• Rafaela
• Margaret Frances
• George Chakiris
• Dolores Del Rio
• Styrofoam
• Mel Brooks
• Mrs. J. J. Fickett
• Mr. Fickett
• Ronnie Gutwax
• Mary Poppins
• Rita I
• George Washington
• Julie Andrews
• William Hurt
• Mr. Buchbinder
• Oprah Winfrey
• Miss Lilly
• John Lennon
• Jared
• Donna
• Merton
• Farrah Fawcett
• God
• Kennedy
• Shiva
• Veronica
• Nixon
• Mim Fisk
• Annette
• Sandra Lilly
• Geneva Sweet
• Iggy Zito
• Tandy
• Rochelle
• Jackie
• Tricia Nixon

Quotes edit see section history

• “The two words felt like a sensitive tooth I'd bitten down hard on, forgotten to favor.”

  Dolores Price

• Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers

• “I’ll give you what I learned from all this,” he said. “Accept what people offer. Drink their milkshakes. Take their love.”

  Highlighted by 11 Kindle customers

• “I know it’s a crock of shit. I ain’t offering you happily-ever-after. I’m offering you … happily-maybe-sometimes-ever-after. Sort of. You know, with warts and shit.”

  Highlighted by 10 Kindle customers

• “If you want to love someone, then go right ahead. I know what love feels like; you and this young man didn’t invent love. But the Lord Almighty doesn’t give out any promises just because you love someone. Love only gets you so far.”

  Highlighted by 10 Kindle customers

• All the dead bolts and pulled shades and hidden knives in the world couldn’t protect you from the truth.

  Highlighted by 9 Kindle customers

• People waste their happiness—that’s what makes me sad. Everyone’s so scared to be happy.”

  Highlighted by 9 Kindle customers

• But I think this: that whatever prices I’ve paid, whatever sorrows I shoulder, well, I have blessings, too.

  Highlighted by 8 Kindle customers

• “She’s Come Undone,” Thayer says, turning up the radio. He sings along with the record. She didn’t know what she was headed for And when she found what she was headed for…

  Highlighted by 7 Kindle customers

• The whole world was crazy; I’d flattered myself by assuming I was a semifinalist.

  Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers

• “‘Your children are not your children,’” he said. “‘They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.’”

  Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers

• “I think … the secret is to just settle for the shape your life takes.” My voice hesitated a little but I kept talking; everyone seemed interested. “Instead of, you know, always waiting and wishing for what might make you happy.”

  Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• St. Anthony's School
• Rhode Island
• New Jersey
• Vermont
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Montpelier
• America
• Woodstock
• Providence
• China Paradise
• Connecticut
• Newport
• California

First Sentence edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Self-discovery: Describe this theme.

Series & Lists edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Wally Lamb (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Publishing Triangle's 100 Best Lesbian and Gay Novels

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: PS3562.A433 S54 1992
• Dewey: 813.54

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Extremely emotional, about depressing subjects. This novel also features some graphic language and heavy sexual content.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary

More Books Like This edit see section history

Books That Cite This Book edit see section history