About The Book:
When Elspeth Noblin dies of cancer, she leaves her London apartment to her twin nieces, Julia and Valentina. These two American girls never met their English aunt, only knew that their mother, too, was a twin, and Elspeth her sister. Julia and Valentina are semi-normal American teenagers--with seemingly little interest in college, finding jobs, or anything outside their cozy home in the suburbs of Chicago, and with an abnormally intense attachment to one another.
The girls move to Elspeth's flat, which borders Highgate Cemetery in London. They come to know the building's other residents. There is Martin, a brilliant and charming crossword puzzle setter suffering from crippling Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; Marjike, Martin's devoted but trapped wife; and Robert, Elspeth's elusive lover, a scholar of the cemetery. As the girls become embroiled in the fraying lives of their aunt's neighbors, they also discover that much is still alive in Highgate, including--perhaps--their aunt, who can't seem to leave her old apartment and life behind.
Niffenegger weaves a captivating story in Her Fearful Symmetry about love and identity, about secrets and sisterhood, and about the tenacity of life--even after death.
My Thoughts:
My sister in law lent me this book, so again I had to expectations. I had read the time travelers wife by the same author and liked it, but a second novel from the same author isn't always the same expectations.
This book started out really interesting. The plot and characters and very well developed and the multiple character view points are VERY well written and informative.
I am not sure if it was because I was pregnant and feeling very emotional but this book was dark and it made me feel dark inside. I am not sure I finished this book with a good feeling and because of that I would not read it again. I would hovever recommend it to a friend!
