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The Girls by Lori Lansens (view source)
Revision as of 15:39, 28 September 2020
, 15:39, 28 September 2020no edit summary
{{infoboxsortinfobox1
|title=The Girls
|sort=Girls
|author=Lori Lansens
|reviewer=Zoe PageMorris
|genre=Literary Fiction
|summary=A fascinating account of a world few readers would ever normally come across. "The Girls" is a touching, engaging and inspiring read about the life of a conjoined twin as articulated by the girls themselves.
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=352
|publisher=Virago Press Ltd
|date=January 2007
|isbn=978-1844083664
|amazonukcover=<amazonuk>1844083667</amazonuk>|amazonusaznuk=1844083667|aznus=<amazonus>1844083667</amazonus>
}}
Rose is dying, and she's taking her sister with her. Not because she thinks her twin doesn't deserve to live on without her, but because she has no choice. As the oldest surviving craniopagus twins in history, Rose and Ruby are both a single being and two separate people at the same time. Where one goes, the other is right behind, and when one ceases to live, the other begins to die. Joined at the head, abandoned by their birth mother, and the subject of constant fascination, the two have managed to live a remarkably normal life despite the soap opera that surrounds them. Now approaching their 30th birthdays, and with a death sentence hanging over their conjoined heads, Rose has decided to tell the story of their life, from the girls' point of view for the first time.
I really wanted to like this book. When I first picked it up and started reading I was hooked, and desperately wanted to know what happened next. But, maybe three quarters of the way through I found myself skimming a few pages, annoyed by the level of detail, especially about the trip to Slovakia that took place a decade before the book was written. Some pages had me engaged much more than others, and though I'd say that on the whole I found 95% of the book brilliant, the remaining 5% did drag at times.
I think those who enjoyed [[My Sister's Keeper]] would like this, as it is similar in many ways. I would also recommend [[''The Abortionist's Daughter]]''. These were, incidentally, both Richard and Judy Book Club picks, as indeed this book is. For another book about the state of being a twin, you might enjoy Diane Setterfield's [[The Thirteenth Tale]]. ''The Girls'' is a book which not only prompts you to think about serious issues, but also makes you feel like you're reading a proper story rather than some flitty, superficial chick lit. It's a meaty read, both in length and in content, but I would definitely recommend it.
We also have a review of [[The Mountain Story by Lori Lansens]]. You might also enjoy [[The Incendiary's Trail by James McCreet]]. {{amazontext|amazon=1844083667}} {{waterstonestextamazonUStext|waterstonesamazon=56179491844083667}}
{{commenthead}}
|name=Magda
|verb=said
|comment= I can certainly imagine only being able to do what you want half of the time (or less) - I am married and have 2 children.
But I am sure the fact that if I really, really, really wanted not to I could (regardless of consequences) just walk off is a bigger consolation that I can possibly imagine...
}}