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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
Disturbing and pretty depressing, but still a great read. Hope to share a review soon!
I almost didn't finish this book. Much of it was relentlessly depressing for me and there was little I could hang my hat on as compelling me to keep going. That said, I'm glad stuck with it and saw how it wrapped up.
The story was not at all what I expected. The idea of twins "switching" and one twin not switching back was really interesting but I didn't anticipate all the mental illness aspects, even though they ultimately fit with the family dynamic and coupling a genetic tendency for mental illness with a switched identity (and not being believed) probably would lead to the extremes described.
I didn't really like Ellie/the real Helen very much until 3/4 of the way through the book. I did feel bad for her, but there was so much self-destruction and external anger that it was difficult. Again, there were a lot of reasons for it. The switch. Not being believed. The rape and not being believed about that either. On and on and on. It's not until she takes on the persona of Trudy that you see hope in her.
The story switches back and forth in time, almost coming together by the end. It could be jarring and I had trouble placing where I was sometimes (on purpose, perhaps?). I was horrified to find out that her selfish but weak mother knew about the switch but let her daughter suffer. I did like that the end is hopeful.
There are a lot of little pieces of the story that were a nice play on the larger story. For instance, Hellie's daughters were Heloise and Emily, the same initials as Helen and Ellie. Emily dies, the true Ellie really did, too, since for many many years there was faux Helen and the real Helen trying to be Helen again.
At the same time there was a lot that I just couldn't buy or get. The real Helen was initially smart and popular and pretty and did everything right. Even with the switch, I couldn't see why she had so much trouble in school. It seemed that some of that intelligence would shine through. Or was she really not that intelligent? (She says once that Ellie will probably spell people with an o which everyone knows is crazy.) And in reverse, the real Ellie had behavioral problems and difficulties in school. Could she just leave that behind by taking on a new persona, even if she was copying the real Helen?
One last question. What happened to Smudge's baby? (And was she the only person who called herself Smudge?)
The story was not at all what I expected. The idea of twins "switching" and one twin not switching back was really interesting but I didn't anticipate all the mental illness aspects, even though they ultimately fit with the family dynamic and coupling a genetic tendency for mental illness with a switched identity (and not being believed) probably would lead to the extremes described.
I didn't really like Ellie/the real Helen very much until 3/4 of the way through the book. I did feel bad for her, but there was so much self-destruction and external anger that it was difficult. Again, there were a lot of reasons for it. The switch. Not being believed. The rape and not being believed about that either. On and on and on. It's not until she takes on the persona of Trudy that you see hope in her.
The story switches back and forth in time, almost coming together by the end. It could be jarring and I had trouble placing where I was sometimes (on purpose, perhaps?). I was horrified to find out that her selfish but weak mother knew about the switch but let her daughter suffer. I did like that the end is hopeful.
There are a lot of little pieces of the story that were a nice play on the larger story. For instance, Hellie's daughters were Heloise and Emily, the same initials as Helen and Ellie. Emily dies, the true Ellie really did, too, since for many many years there was faux Helen and the real Helen trying to be Helen again.
At the same time there was a lot that I just couldn't buy or get. The real Helen was initially smart and popular and pretty and did everything right. Even with the switch, I couldn't see why she had so much trouble in school. It seemed that some of that intelligence would shine through. Or was she really not that intelligent? (She says once that Ellie will probably spell people with an o which everyone knows is crazy.) And in reverse, the real Ellie had behavioral problems and difficulties in school. Could she just leave that behind by taking on a new persona, even if she was copying the real Helen?
One last question. What happened to Smudge's baby? (And was she the only person who called herself Smudge?)
3.5 rounded down.
I only picked this up because I follow the author's blog about reading books from around the world and this happened to be a daily deal on Audible. On the positive side, it met my expectations in terms of the quality and style of writing, which had more of a literary touch than the marketing might suggest. The premise was compelling, the characterizations were mostly convincing, and details were often vivid and fresh. My main complaint was that the emotional turmoil was overdone--I can't speak to whether the portrayal of mental illness was accurate, but I felt like the unrelenting angst got repetitive and weighed down the story. I think the book could have been about 70% the length. I didn't necessarily need a pacy thriller (as was marketed); I like character-driven books. But it was clear where movement happened and where it didn't.
I only picked this up because I follow the author's blog about reading books from around the world and this happened to be a daily deal on Audible. On the positive side, it met my expectations in terms of the quality and style of writing, which had more of a literary touch than the marketing might suggest. The premise was compelling, the characterizations were mostly convincing, and details were often vivid and fresh. My main complaint was that the emotional turmoil was overdone--I can't speak to whether the portrayal of mental illness was accurate, but I felt like the unrelenting angst got repetitive and weighed down the story. I think the book could have been about 70% the length. I didn't necessarily need a pacy thriller (as was marketed); I like character-driven books. But it was clear where movement happened and where it didn't.
Fascinating premise for a book- two very different identical twins swap personalities and then the "problem child" doesn't want to swap back. Unfortunately parts of this book just didn't do it for me. No one was likable- neither twin, no supporting characters, and especially not their awful mother!! So I couldn't cheer for anyone. I couldn't even like to hate someone.
The author's writing--her use of language and emotion and character development--was what kept me moving through the story. But it wasn't enough to make this more than a meh book. Reading about countless cases of diagnosed and undiagnosed mental illness just left me feeling blah, especially since there wasn't any great resolution. Perhaps there was some growth in Ellie by the end... It remains to be seen.
The author's writing--her use of language and emotion and character development--was what kept me moving through the story. But it wasn't enough to make this more than a meh book. Reading about countless cases of diagnosed and undiagnosed mental illness just left me feeling blah, especially since there wasn't any great resolution. Perhaps there was some growth in Ellie by the end... It remains to be seen.
More like 3.5 stars. It was really weird, good-ish, and made me want to figure out what the heck was going on.
I found this book easy to get into and found it hard to put it down. It's our book this month for book club.
The writing style is unique and extremely clever, with Morgan creating fascinating characters and believable scenarios and situations.
The idea of twins and their similarities/differences interests me. I don't want to give too much away, but the twins swap roles with each other but 1 twin, the quieter, slightly one, does not want to switch back. At the time I wondered how their mother failed to notice.
The spiral into a life of failure, misery & poverty of one of the twins makes for poignant reading. I was desperate to know where life would take her and her more fortunate sister.
There are many surprises in the story and considerable bad language, which is not a problem for me and painted a realistic picture of the twin living in destruction very accurately.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I look forward to more from Ann Morgan.
The writing style is unique and extremely clever, with Morgan creating fascinating characters and believable scenarios and situations.
The idea of twins and their similarities/differences interests me. I don't want to give too much away, but the twins swap roles with each other but 1 twin, the quieter, slightly one, does not want to switch back. At the time I wondered how their mother failed to notice.
The spiral into a life of failure, misery & poverty of one of the twins makes for poignant reading. I was desperate to know where life would take her and her more fortunate sister.
There are many surprises in the story and considerable bad language, which is not a problem for me and painted a realistic picture of the twin living in destruction very accurately.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I look forward to more from Ann Morgan.
Thought provoking but ultimately a disappointment.
The writing was very good. Atmospheric, dark, sinister and claustrophobic at times. Really clever use of 1st, 2nd and 3rd person narrator. Beautifully done.
However, two things detracted from my enjoyment of the book.
One: not a single character I wanted to root for. Not one. I mean, I felt sorry for Smudge but she annoyed the crap out of me. And don't get me started on "Mother".
Which brings me to number two:
Then, the twist comes and "Mother" reveals she knew all along but, because she didn't want to look bad for not noticing it sooner, she left it alone?! WTF! Even after Helen starts to unravel and spiral out of control? No mother of the year awards here... Although not completely surprising, given what a horrid, selfish bitch she was all the way through.
The ending was anti climatic and left me dissatisfied but overall, [b:Beside Myself|28266465|Beside Myself|Ann Morgan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1450800052s/28266465.jpg|45299962] was OK.
The writing was very good. Atmospheric, dark, sinister and claustrophobic at times. Really clever use of 1st, 2nd and 3rd person narrator. Beautifully done.
However, two things detracted from my enjoyment of the book.
One: not a single character I wanted to root for. Not one. I mean, I felt sorry for Smudge but she annoyed the crap out of me. And don't get me started on "Mother".
Which brings me to number two:
Spoiler
the sheer unlikelihood of the plot. I just couldn't get past the fact that the mother or people close to the girls didn't noticed the swap. I've known identical twins. My son has had two identical sisters in his class since nursery. After a short while you start to see them as two completely different individuals, because THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE!Then, the twist comes and "Mother" reveals she knew all along but, because she didn't want to look bad for not noticing it sooner, she left it alone?! WTF! Even after Helen starts to unravel and spiral out of control? No mother of the year awards here... Although not completely surprising, given what a horrid, selfish bitch she was all the way through.
The ending was anti climatic and left me dissatisfied but overall, [b:Beside Myself|28266465|Beside Myself|Ann Morgan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1450800052s/28266465.jpg|45299962] was OK.
