Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

I have read The Time Traveller's Wife and found it a good read but somehow rather sad. Was doubtful whether to buy this book, Her Fearful Symmetry, by the same author or not. But then since it's only RM8 from The Big Bad Wolf Sale, I might as well take a chance.

The story is about Julia and Valentina Poole, a set of mirror image twins. They are 20 years old when they received a letter from their aunt Espleth's solicitor informing them that their estranged aunt had left them an apartment in London. The condition is that they are to stay in the apartment minimum one year before they are allowed to sell the apartment and that their parents are not allowed into the apartment at all. Curious?

They have no idea what they are getting into when they decided to go ahead and stay in the apartment. Living upstairs of them is Martin who have OCD. Living below them is Robert, their late aunt's lover. "Living" with them is their Aunt's ghost/spirit who is trapped in the apartment.


Frankly, this is my 2nd attempt to read this book. The first round, I kept getting stuck at page 1. The mood just wasn't there.

Finally decided to try again last evening. I find that I like this book more than The Time Traveller's Wife.  It's more straight forward and without much of the flash back/forward like in the former book.

The plot is very captivating. There is just so many questions to be answered.Yes, it is intriguing to know why their aunt and their mother do not speak to each other anymore. Love the way the story unfolds.

But one thing I don't understand is at page 127, why Martin took and smoked the cigarette which Julia had put onto her lip. I thought he had this fear about germs and bacteria??

A slight spoiler here...I think in the end, everyone got what they just deserved.  I am equally delighted that the ending was not sloppily done. It's has the grace.