Her Fearful Symmetry: A Novel

by Audrey Niffenegger | Mystery & Thrillers |
ISBN: 9781439165393 Global Overview for this book
Registered by Stacers1973 of Gladstone, Oregon USA on 10/6/2009
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6 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Stacers1973 from Gladstone, Oregon USA on Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Currently reading ... and loving it, doing a smallish, US based ring when I am finished.

Ring members:


dvg (NJ)
dg7500 (PA)
istop4books (MN)
valpete (CA)
patrickc <~~ hubby of stacers1973 (OR) (if he doesn't PM just mail it back to me.)

My plan is to mail it out on Monday: October 12, 2009

I enjoyed the duality aspects of all things in this read and there were some strange twists, turns and eerie details I liked in the story. So hard NOT to compare it to The Time Traveller's Wife in some ways but the story and style are so drastically different at first it felt like she was missing the mark, but once I let go of the fact that these were not Henry and Clare, I was good to go. The story was a bit draggy here and there (not too much) but I much enjoyed Robert's perspective and knowledge of Highgate Cemetery, and the ghostly photos throughout. I think I had the hardest time with Julia and Valentina, identifying that intensely with another human, I almost thought of them as one being. Martin was as loveable as he was frustrating and I wonder if he was the bravest in the end. And Elspeth, ohhh I think I will not write more so I don't spoil the story. The story was creepishly delicious and put forth in such lovely prose that I am still thinking about some of the fun details. The desk drawer for one and The Little Kitten of Death another. Definitely one for the reread pile :)

Journal Entry 2 by Stacers1973 at Gladstone, Oregon USA on Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (10/13/2009 UTC) at Gladstone, Oregon USA

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Mailed off to the first on the list. I hope it gets there soon :)

Journal Entry 3 by dvg from Toms River, New Jersey USA on Monday, October 26, 2009
Arrived safely today! Thank you so much Stacers1973 for sharing this with me. I am looking forward to reading this book; read many good reviews about it. Arrived with perfect timing as I am finishing another book which I've promised to dg7500! =)

I should have it on its way to the next reader toward the end of this week.

Journal Entry 4 by dvg from Toms River, New Jersey USA on Saturday, November 7, 2009
I don’t want to be a spoiler to this story. It is the first novel I have read by this author and found it to be an amazing read. This book has so many twists and turns up to the very last sentence. And while there was a moment here and there where the story lingers a little, it still was a wonderful, unique story that is so well written that I believe it is worth recommending.

This is a story about twins. The main characters are Valentina and Julia. Edie and Elspeth are also important players to this story being their mother and aunt. As you read this story, I am certain you will see similarities between them all. I found them fascinating.

The aunt passes away leaving the twins her flat in London which eriely borders Highgate Cemetery. The twins are trying to begin their adult life, find themselves yet their life is given many surprises. They have very odd neighbors aside from the cemetery! Martin is a charming and loveable character who you find yourself hoping the best for him quirks and all. Robert, Elspeth’s friend, is a bit strange initially and there were moments I wanted to say, “Really Robert?” But my opinion changed slightly at the end.

You will quickly find yourself immersed in this book and I must admit that the last 150 pages, I would not put it down. Enjoy my BookCrossing friends!

Journal Entry 5 by dvg at next participant in bookring, Bookring-Postal Release -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, November 7, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (11/9/2009 UTC) at next participant in bookring, Bookring-Postal Release -- Controlled Releases

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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES: Thank you, Stacers1973, for sharing this with me! Book is making its journey to dg7500 where I know it will be enjoyed. =D

Journal Entry 6 by wingdg7500wing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, November 16, 2009
Arrived safely! I'm finishing up another book, but should be able to start this within the next few days. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Time Traveler's Wife, and I've heard great things about this book as well...can't wait to get started on it. Thanks for sharing it, Stacers1973!

Update 11/25/09:

This was an amazing book, and I think I can safely say that as much as I enjoyed Time Traveler's Wife, this one was even better!! Actually, I think this has been my favorite read of 2009 so far!! Not many books surprise me anymore, but this one had twists & turns around every corner, and just when I thought things had tamed down and I knew what was coming, yet another twist presented itself.

I've got mailing info for istop4books, and will be getting this moving again shortly.

Journal Entry 7 by wingdg7500wing at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (12/2/2009 UTC) at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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On the move again! Shipped via media mail with d/c#: 0308 1400 0000 5452 7012
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To the finder of this book:

What you have in your hands is an honest-to-goodness gift, no strings attached. You may keep it forever and ever, pass it on to a friend, or release it back "into the wild" for someone else to find. I know it may seem a little odd to find this lying around--it's my way of touching the lives of others in a positive way, with the hope that it made your day. :)

If you are new to BookCrossing, and find this book and this site, welcome! Enjoy the site, the book, and hopefully the BookCrossing community. I hope you'll join BookCrossing (doesn't cost anything to join!) and if you do, please consider using any previous reader of this book ... or me, dg7500 ... as the member who referred you. Or you may remain anonymous!

If you are an old hand at BookCrossing, thanks for picking up the book! Either way, I hope you'll make a brief journal entry so all the previous and future readers can track this book's journey. Thanks, and Happy Crossing! :)

"Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens ..."

Carlos Ruiz Zafon (The Shadow of the Wind)

Journal Entry 8 by istop4books from Castle Rock, Colorado USA on Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Writing this away from home, but the book is safe and sound and waiting for my return on Sunday. From the previous journal entries, I and getting excited and looking forward to reading this book! Thanks Stacers for organizing the bookring, and dg7500 for passing it along!

Journal Entry 9 by istop4books from Castle Rock, Colorado USA on Friday, January 8, 2010
This book was interesting in parts and in others, not so much.

The good stuff first:
The relationship between identical twins was handled very well in 90% of the aspects.
The character of Martin, OCD to the max, was lovingly written and his wife, credible
The locations were interesting, twins from Lake Forest IL (about 3 miles east of where I lived for 13 years) go to London and take it all in -- well done, well described, the British cemetery bits were also fascinating and the behind the scenes of the tours were amusing
The Kitten of Death was excellent, as were the scenes in the desk drawer (and pardon me for being so cryptic, but otherwise I'd reveal too much)

The Not So Good Stuff: SPOILER ALERT FROM HERE DOWN (to read it you need to highlight it, but don't read until after you've read the book and made up your own mind!)


The lack of an autopsy when a 21 year old asthmatic woman dies - that would be a given and therefore the rest of the plot goes to hell in a handbasket. You just can't make that up and pretend that an autopsy wouldn't be performed just to suit your plot, not in this day and age of drugs and obscure murders.
The lack of sensitivity to the feelings of a) her sister whom she didn't really hate, she just wanted to have the gumption to stand up to her, and more importantly, to her parents and the grief they would feel at her death. I found that ridiculous. Who would want to put someone they love through that kind of grief, knowing they think you are dead, while you are actually living a secret life away from everything and everyone you know?
Thinking that a good possibility of death would be preferable to moving to another continent to get away from your sister, or just maybe ummm, telling her to F off. Silly.Go to therapy, go to assertiveness training, kill your twin… all would have made better alternatives. Well, maybe not the kill your twin part, but you get the idea. Also what kind of a man was Robert? If he hadn’t agreed to the idea in the first place,
Valentina couldn’t have pulled it off. If he had just said, “if you die, don’t come looking to me to help you.” that would have been the end of it.


So in the end, it just didn't do it for me. It was a page turner with plenty of twists and turns all the way to the end, but it left a bit of a sour note.

Thank you Stacers for including me, for a really did want to read this and I'm glad I did (even if I liked TTW way better !!!) It will be on its way to Valpete this afternoon.

Journal Entry 10 by istop4books from Castle Rock, Colorado USA on Friday, January 8, 2010
Mailed to Valpete today.

Journal Entry 11 by valpete from Walnut Creek, California USA on Thursday, January 14, 2010
I look forward to reading this one. However, I do have several before this, including 2 big books, so it'll be a while before I get to it.

Please let me know if you want it back soon.

Journal Entry 12 by valpete from Walnut Creek, California USA on Monday, February 22, 2010
The story was captivating and different, unique in a way I might not have even thought possible.
Twins Julia and Valentina (aka Mouse) are quirky and lovable and hatable and normal all at the same time, if this is possible. They are incredibly different with glaring similarities, and each of the girls has their own very distinct voice. As do all of the lesser characters. There was not a single one that I didn't find charming and intriguing in his own way; they were all quirky and wonderful and slightly troubled. What was most important, though, was that they were all so present, so there.
Julia and Valentina's lives are turned completely upside down when they move to London, and watching them discover themselves and their differences, discover love, I couldn't help but wish that I was living in their building, watching them grown and develop.
When we got to the twist, the complicated, confusing, beautifully amazing, totally unexpected (at least to me) twist, I was really just awe-struck. It shouldn't have come up at me out of nowhere, but it did. And then the twist twisted even more, and once again I didn't expect it.

While, in the end, it's a little too wierd, it stands on its own as an utterly enjoyable and fascinating read.







Journal Entry 13 by valpete at Walnut Creek, California USA on Monday, February 22, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (2/23/2010 UTC) at Walnut Creek, California USA

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Heading back to Patrick and Stacey. Thanks for your patience!

Journal Entry 14 by patrickc from Gladstone, Oregon USA on Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Thanks valpete for sending it back, made it back home in great condition, thank you to everybody for keeping it in such fine shape!

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