Her Fearful Symmetry

by

eBook

English language

Published May 2, 2009 by Random House Group Limited.

ISBN:
978-1-4090-7691-9
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OCLC Number:
503436964

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3 stars (7 reviews)

At last: another brilliant, original and moving novel from the author of THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE. Julia and Valentina Poole are normal American teenagers — normal, at least, for identical 'mirror' twins who have no interest in college or jobs or possibly anything outside their cozy suburban home. But everything changes when they receive notice that an aunt whom they didn't know existed has died and left them her flat in an apartment block overlooking Highgate Cemetery in London. They feel that at last their own lives can begin . . . but have no idea that they've been summoned into a tangle of fraying lives, from the obsessive-compulsive crossword setter who lives above them to their aunt's mysterious and elusive lover who lives below them, and even to their aunt herself, who never got over her estrangement from the twins' mother — and who can't even seem to quite …

6 editions

reviewed Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

Disappointing

2 stars

Having loved Audrey Niffenegger's first novel, The Time Traveler's Wife, I had looked forward to her second offering, Her Fearful Symmetry. Having now finished that book though, I am struggling to accept that the two were written by the same author. I really didn't enjoy the mish-mash of half-baked plotlines, flat characters and ridiculously convenient coincidences. And was I the only to feel uncomfortable at Robert's transference of his affections from Elspeth to her young niece?

On the plus side, Highgate Cemetery comes out of the book well - perhaps all that does - and I am now keen to take one of the frequently mentioned guided tours. This and the fact that I did struggle through to the final pages has merited a two-star rating, but I can't honestly recommend Her Fearful Symmetry to anyone.

reviewed Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Neffenegger

Review of 'Her Fearful Symmetry' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Book Review: Her Awful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

Niffenegger blew me away with her debut novel, [b:The Time Traveler's Wife|18619684|The Time Traveler's Wife|Audrey Niffenegger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1380660571l/18619684.SX50.jpg|2153746] and so I was anxious to get started with her followup novel, Her Awful Symmetry. It starts of with a bang, but then just kind of wanders around, telling the story of twins in London. In the end, while a reasonably interesting read, it didn't tell a very interesting story.

The book is mostly centered on Julia and Valentina, twin daughters of Edie. The girls inherit the London flat of their Aunt Elspeth, who is Edie's twin. There is a strange set of characters there, as well as living across the street from the famous Highgate Cemetery. The girls struggle to stay together and somehow work apart. There are some strange (and usually sad) things happening, including ghosts and stories untold.

While the …

reviewed Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Neffenegger

Review of 'Her Fearful Symmetry' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Lovely, charming, sad. A little more subdued than [b:The Time Traveler's Wife|14050|The Time Traveler's Wife|Audrey Niffenegger|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1274656075s/14050.jpg|2153746], but just as involving. I feel I won't want to read it again, but can't exactly express why. Maybe just because of the killing of the kitten and Valentina faking her own death, which were both triggery for me, in different ways. Maybe just because it makes me sad that nothing comes out quite right in the end.

A bit amused I happened to read this on the heels of [b:Never Let Me Go|6334|Never Let Me Go|Kazuo Ishiguro|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165592008s/6334.jpg|1499998]. Apparently I am on a "regretful sad stories where people are kind of jerks to each other, that take place in present-day England but with some magical realism" kick.

reviewed Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Neffenegger

Review of 'Her Fearful Symmetry' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

It's written well and I like how the author tell stories.

I love The Time Traveler's Wife - it's one of my favourite books. But this one is disappointing, the end is absolutely unsatisfying. I don't want to tell too much about it, just that you should not hope for a love story or a happily ever after.

Nevertheless, I hope for a new book by Audrey Niffender which hopefully will be again a love story with a (maybe this time) perfect happy end ;)

avatar for samtastic

rated it

3 stars
avatar for cygnoir

rated it

4 stars