What do we think of Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger then?

[deaconblue]

I thought was crazily brilliant. Read in two days. Reminded me a bit of Kate Atkinson stuff.

Hadn't realised she had a new one out (rubbish aren't i?) BUT have now ordered it. hurrah! So thanks for that! :)

I liked the first half but thought the final few chapters were ridiculous.

I liked it a lot. Just reading the new Kate Atkinson now (think I have a crush on Jackson Brodie ).

I really couldn't get into it and gave up tbh, might try again with it though cos I read The Time Travelers Wife in a couple of days and loved it.

I agree with Belligerent, I enjoyed the first half, but found the last few chapters annoying. Non of the characters were the least bit likeable, so I didn't care what happened to them and I resented the time I spent reading the book.

Its a pity really, because I think she can write beautifully - she just needs to think of a good story.

I found some of the writing really moving - she's very strong on death and grieving - but overall found the plot and characters ridiculous. It was also a fantastically cliched view of London life: no one works a 9-5 job, everyone is delightfully eccentric, and the twins get to live in beautiful leafy Highgate. Because of course everyone's life is like that in London.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. It absolutely sucked me in - I found it entirely believable/credible.

I liked it, thought it was entertaining. Thought it was totally unbeliveable but I'm happy to suspend any notion of reality in order to enjoy a book.

I just read this on hols - didn't like it at all although read it in 24 hours. But, I am not very good at suspending reality so just found it too ridiculous.

I mostly enjoyed it, but the cat ghost thing was wierd and just annoyed me. I agree that it tailed off and the second half was not nearly as good as the first half.

I found it a pleasant read mostly, but was severely disconcerted when the silly bugger stuff started at the end.

It really made me cross that I spent 3 days of my holiday reading this unpleasant, distasteful, cold-hearted nonsensical story that totally petered out at the end.

I quite liked the main characters to start with (some more than others, although I probably liked the twins least of all), but when it all panned out there just wasn't a reason even to empathise with them, let alone like them.

I know it's not necessary to like all the characters in order to enjoy a book, but great literature this definitely wasn't.

The only redeeming feature for me is that it made me want to visit Highgate - such a vivid, compelling picture, just a shame the book read as a rush-job elsewhere.

Need I go on?

I'm half way through at the moment and enjoying it although I'm not sure why IYSWIM as I don't particularly empathise with any of the characters and think the plot is a bit blah. Not encouraged by the comments about the second half being rubbish - but will persevere and see! Pity as I think Time Travellers Wife was supremely excellent and one of the best books I've read.

I thought it was poor, tbh. Not a patch on Time Travellers Wife. It started well but the ending was awful and spoiled the rest of the book. It seemed as though she ran out of steam and ideas in the penultimate chapter so just wrote anything.

I thought the sub-plot about the OCD neighbour and his wife was much more interesting than the main story which I thought was unconvincing. I really didn't like the twins as characters (a right pair of weirdos) and the ending was just plain silly.

I think she had a whole novel in the sub-plot and should have focused on that.

I agree about the sub-plot - looking back, that's what kept me going and the descriptions of Martin's(?) behaviours were funny and touching.

And I quickly veered from feeling sorry for the younger twin to finding her even more repulsive than the older one.

I liked it, found it very quirky and original... and while the story did not stay with me afterwards (like 'The time traveller's wife') the atmosphere of it did. I thought it was a great book for autumn!

I really liked the first part, and as everyone seems to agree, by the end I was utterly fed up with them all. I hate when that happens as well, I knew where I wanted the characters to go but was prepared for twists and turns, just not the dross it ended up being.

Why do people assume twins, by their very nature, are freaky? If it were a true depiction they would be bickering one minute, best friends the next.

I didnt like any of the characters so I couldnt care what happened to any of them.

Preferred TTW.

Disappointing. Agree with wanting to go to Highgate through!

Have not read TTW but enjoyed HFS, though the ending was a bit daft. I really wanted to like the twins but got bored with their characters towards the end.

The motivation for the main plot line incident was so weak that I couldn't suspend my disbelief. I just did not get the sense that the one twin needed to go that far in order to escape, the dominant twin was not that dominant.

I have forgottent their names already, I only read it the other day.

odd but god - think it needs a second go but can't find the time to.

I also enjoyed the sub-plot more than the main story.
Agree with others who have said that the last couple of chapters were disappointing.
After a reading frenzy over the summer, this has left me a bit empty and I don't know if I want to start another book yet.

I bought "The Help" at the same time but now can't think what I have done with it. Looking forward to reading that when I find it.