Book Review: Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger - Page 2
There are elements of the author's own life interwoven into the story. Niffenegger is from Chicago, and so too are the twins. Niffenegger's own love of Highgate Cemetery compelled her to become a guide, and she uses details of her experiences to color the story with details like the foxes, rundown walls, and interesting tombs. There is also a good deal of talk about how the American twins have a hard time adjusting to life in London and the way the British speak and act. She doesn't mention my favorite bit of Brit Speak aluminum (al-u-min'e-um instead of a-lum-a-num) though she does say A to Zed rather a lot-or maybe that was just reader Biabca Amato using her own South African logic.
Her Fearful Symmetry juggles many balls, and the characters must deal with multiple changes in their lives. I found that I liked most of the characters, with exception of the ghost aunt. Even as she lay dying in the opening scene, she was a nasty bit of business. There is one big shock that really caught me by surprise, and one big shock that I was able to see a couple of miles off. I liked them both.
The ending was not all that I would have wanted. I thought there might have been one or two more twists to be had, and that final scene was a little flat. Overall it was definitely worth the read.
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