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Her Fearful Symmetry

By: Audrey Niffenegger
Narrated by: Sian Thomas
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Publisher's summary

At last ---another brilliant, original and moving novel from the author of The Time Traveler's Wife.

dearest e,

I told you I would let you know - so here it is - goodbye.

I try to imagine what it would feel like if it was you - but it's impossible to conjure the world without you, even though we've been apart so long.
I didn't leave you anything. You got to live my life. That's enough. Instead I'm experimenting - I've left the whole lot to the twins. I hope they'll enjoy it.

Don't worry, it will be okay.

Say goodbye to Jack for me.

Love, despite everything,

e

Julia and Valentina Poole are normal American teenagers - normal, at least, for identical 'mirror' twins who have no interest in college or jobs or possibly anything outside their cozy suburban home. But everything changes when they receive notice that an aunt whom they didn't know existed has died and left them her flat in an apartment block overlooking Highgate Cemetery in London. They feel that at last their own lives can begin...but have no idea that they've been summoned into a tangle of fraying lives, from the obsessive-compulsive crossword setter who lives above them to their aunt's mysterious and elusive lover who lives below them, and even to their aunt herself, who never got over her estrangement from the twins' mother - and who can't even seem to quite leave her flat....

With Highgate Cemetery itself a character and echoes of Henry James and Charles Dickens, Her Fearful Symmetry is a delicious and deadly 21st-century ghost story about Niffenegger's familiar themes of love, loss, and identity. It is certain to cement her standing as one of the most singular and remarkable novelists of our time.

©2009 Audry Niffenegger (P)2009 Random House Audiobooks
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Critic reviews

"The incomparable Sian Thomas gives Elspeth the husky, sexy voice of Joan Greenwood, and throws in a guttural Dutch accent, several distinct posh English ones, light young American girly tones, a mid-Atlantic middle-aged female and, for good measure, a walk-on part for Nigel, a Brummie. Her reading is irresistible."( Independent on Sunday)

What listeners say about Her Fearful Symmetry

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Worst ending ever!

What disappointed you about Her Fearful Symmetry?

I was left wondering what happened and did not believe the ending. Maybe it was because this was the abridged version.

What was most disappointing about Audrey Niffenegger’s story?

The ending.

Have you listened to any of Sian Thomas’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No but Sian was spectacular! I would happily buy a book just to hear her again.

What character would you cut from Her Fearful Symmetry?

I'm not sure, it was not the characters that were disappointing.

Any additional comments?

I loved the time travelers' wife. It is one of my all time favourite books and I have listened to it about 30 times. I was so looking forward to another of Audrey's books and this one, although quirky (but that is Audrey's style), was going well until that ending.
I will now wait till Audrey's next book to see if I remain a fan of hers. Thanks for the opportunity to rate books.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Loved the Narrator, a perfect choice

If you could sum up Her Fearful Symmetry in three words, what would they be?

A lovely yarn

Which scene was your favorite?

Julia's final scene but I don't want to drop a spoiler

Any additional comments?

Once crucial aspect of the story irritated because of the real world logistical problems but the after life that Audrey Niffenegger created was whimsical and lovely. I loved the characters.

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1 person found this helpful

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Very disappointing, wasted my credit

What disappointed you about Her Fearful Symmetry?

This has to be one of the most silliest and futile works I have come across. After 2 hours I was getting fed up but persisted to listen as I thought this should hopefully better. After 4 hours in just couldn't anymore!

What do you think your next listen will be?

Nothing written by Audrey Niffenegger

Which scene was your favorite?

none

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

disappointment

Any additional comments?

The narrator is excellent! Very talented

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