Page Thirty-Four

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

This book begins with the death of Elspeth Noblin, estranged sister of Edie, aunt to Valentina and Julia, whom she has never met, and lover of Robert. Robert and Elspeth lived in separate flats which border the famous Highgate Cemetary, a fitting setting for a book that deals primarily with death and ghosts. In Elspeth's will she leaves her flat to her two nieces, provided they live there for one year and their parents do not enter the flat. The two girls, twins themselves, decide to indulge Elspeth's wishes and move to London. Once there, they are aware of a presence among them, which turns out to be the ghost of Elspeth, which hasn't managed to escape the confines of the flat. Valentina, desperate to find her own confidence and self away from the suffocating presence of her twin, establishes a closeness with Elspeth's ghost and with Robert, who has begun to fall for Valentina, much to Elspeth's dismay. Julia, bewildered by Valentina's sudden desire for freedom from her twin, befriends the peculiar upstairs neighbour Martin. Elspeth's desperation to return to Robert and life in general, and Valentina's desperation to relinquish Julia's grip on her life collide in an eerie plan the two concoct with Robert's help. However, just as the book begins with a death, it ends with one as well, as the plan takes a very wrong turn.

Having read and adored Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife, I was very eager to read this newest book of hers. And while it was definately different and held my interest, it did not have the same effect as her previous book. It was eerie, and peculiar, and sad - but ultimately did not fully resonate with me.