Her Fearful Symmetry
Niffenegger, AudreyStep into the world of mirror twins, family dysfunction and the supernatural. A highly readable ghost story featuring teenagers Julia and Valentina Poole fulfilling the conditions of their aunt's will by moving into her apartment overlooking Highgate Cemetery in London. This fascinating setting is the backdrop for Niffenegger's investigation of the big questions in life: love, loss, identity and death.
Comments from Groups
Generated plenty of discussion - general feeling was excellent style, descriptive passages, character of Martin sympathetic and appealing But plot very contrived and bizarre: enough to alienate many. Picton 001Wonderful. All a little disappointed in the ending but agreed a strange book. Very lively discussion. Wanganui 005The group thought this book very BIZARRE - so bizarre that one felt it was not to be taken as remotely serious. The writing was beautiful. Auckland 015Really enjoyed the book. One person struggled with the ghosts. Overall really enjoyed the character developemnt and story telling ability. Auckland 248
Pages
390
390
Year
2009
2009
Reviews
16-11-2023
Really enjoyed the writing style and the twists in the story - well received.
16-11-2023
This created a great deal of discussion in regard to the afterlife and the possibilities of its existence. We all felt the book could have been 100 pages shorter and not lost anything.
16-11-2023
About half of the members finished the book; they found the book very interesting, if slightly bizarre!
16-11-2023
Generally felt it was a strange book. Others that had read 'The Time Traveller's Wife' said that it was a much better book - this one wasn't to that standard.
16-11-2023
Well-written book which sparked a lively discussion about 'twinness' and how we react to thoughts of life after death. A challenging read.
16-11-2023
Good discussion. Mixed reviews - either loved it or didn't finish it.
16-11-2023
We all enjoyed the book, but lots of discussion regarding the ending and how it seemed unnecessary.
16-11-2023
Many of us had liked 'The Time Traveller's Wife', but we were not so enamored with this book. Once you accepted the premise of TTW it hung together well, and was even very moving. The author here is trying to cover too many ideas - twins, life-after-death, obsessional disorder. We found there was something repulsive in the idea that someone had a "right" to take the life of another in order to keep existing.
16-11-2023
Wonderful - all enjoyed. Great discussion which led through many areas - marriage, family, mental health, obsession, religion and death!
30-03-2021
We were all drawn in and read the book. It felt like maybe it was taking you some place interesting, but then took a turn and we pretty much all found it unsatisfying.