Readwine Posted October 9, 2009 Posted October 9, 2009 (edited) Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger Brief Summary from Amazon: Her Fearful Symmetry is a haunting tale about the complications of love, identity, and sibling rivalry. The novel opens with the death of Elspeth Noblin, who bequeaths her London flat and its contents to the twin daughters of her estranged twin sister back in Chicago. These 20-year-old dilettantes, Julie and Valentina, move to London, eager to try on a new experience like one of their obsessively matched outfits. Historic Highgate Cemetery, which borders Elspeth's home, serves as an inspired setting as the twins become entwined in the lives of their neighbors: Elspeth's former lover, Robert; Martin, an agoraphobic, OCD crossword-puzzle creator; and the ethereal Elspeth herself, struggling to adjust to the afterlife. At the beginning, the novel held my interest completely. Niffenegger Edited October 12, 2009 by Michelle enlarged font changed Quote
lexiepiper Posted October 10, 2009 Posted October 10, 2009 Pretty much exactly what I wrote, I was very disappointed with the ending too Quote
Lucybird Posted October 11, 2009 Posted October 11, 2009 Oh dear. I will try not to get my hopes up too high then (as I was already trying to do anyway), I still want to read this though Quote
Scarlette Posted October 11, 2009 Posted October 11, 2009 I badly wanted to read this novel as soon as I learned that Niffenegger has put pen to paper again.... but I think I should rather give it a pass. It doesn't sound very impressive, unfortunately. Quote
MuggleMagic Posted October 12, 2009 Posted October 12, 2009 I have heard a lot of bad things about this novel but I am going to read it (when my library gets it in) with an open mind. Time Traveller's was such a good book... it would be hard to come up with something as good as that. Quote
joe Posted October 12, 2009 Posted October 12, 2009 This is the next book on my to be read pile, I was really looking forward to reading it as i love The Time Travelers Wife, oh well, we wait and see Quote
Chrissy Posted October 12, 2009 Posted October 12, 2009 Fayezie has written a positive review of it here, so like MuggleMagic I'm going to try and read it with an open mind when I get hold of a copy. Quote
lexiepiper Posted October 12, 2009 Posted October 12, 2009 I definitely think it'll be a marmite book, you'll love it or hate it. It's very out there, and I think that's why people find it a bit dislikable perhaps? Quote
DanC_84 Posted October 12, 2009 Posted October 12, 2009 Despite all the bad things I have heard about this book I am still going to buy and read it. TTTW was just too good for me not to. Quote
Nollaig Posted October 13, 2009 Posted October 13, 2009 Despite all the bad things I have heard about this book I am still going to buy and read it. TTTW was just too good for me not to. Yeap. That's exactly how I feel. I can't help but think, 'but what if they're all WRONG? What if it's so epic it's beyond the comprehension of mere mortals?!' I know that's not true but a gal can dream. :eek2: Quote
lexiepiper Posted October 13, 2009 Posted October 13, 2009 Yeap. That's exactly how I feel. I can't help but think, 'but what if they're all WRONG? What if it's so epic it's beyond the comprehension of mere mortals?!' I know that's not true but a gal can dream. :eek2: Pfft, I'm no mere mortal Quote
lexiepiper Posted October 13, 2009 Posted October 13, 2009 I hope you all enjoy it when you read it though :eek2: Quote
Frenzy Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 I was very excited to learn Audrey Niffenegger finally had a new book out, but now I'm also dreading to be dissapointed (Same thing happened to me in the past with Donna Tartt's second book). I probably will wait until our library gets a copy (which unfortunately, because I am living in the Netherlands, probably will take ages) and give it a try then. Quote
MuggleMagic Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 She was on the weekly book podcast that I listen to and nobody sounded very enthused about it and they hardly talked about her book Quote
chesilbeach Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 She was on the weekly book podcast that I listen to and nobody sounded very enthused about it and they hardly talked about her book Is that the Simon Mayo one? I haven't listened to last weeks yet, but I did see they were discussing that book, so I'm interested to see what they make of it. Quote
chesilbeach Posted October 20, 2009 Posted October 20, 2009 You can download it in iTunes, or you can go to this website, and follow the instructions to download it http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/books or you could listen to the whole programme again on the iPlayer http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00n7j1z/Simon_Mayo_15_10_2009/ but the book reviews are usually at least an hour into the programme, sometimes two. Quote
MuggleMagic Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 Is that the Simon Mayo one? I haven't listened to last weeks yet, but I did see they were discussing that book, so I'm interested to see what they make of it. Yes, I only listen to the book review podcast. I don't listen to the whole show. I really love it and have been listening to it for quite a while now I hope I didn't spoil anything for you by mentioning that :s Quote
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