Reviews
"Niffenegger is an extraordinarily sensitive and accomplished writer, and Her Fearful Symmetry is a work of lovely delicacy."-- Lev Grossman, Time, "A compelling modern-day ghost story set in and around London's atmospheric Highgate cemetery...An engrossing love story that crosses to the 'other side,' Symmetry offers an inventive take on sibling rivalry, personal identity and what it's like to be dead."--People(3 1/2 stars), "The endurance of love animates this gothic story set in and around Highgate Cemetery in London. Niffenegger's prose can be wearyingly overblown, but she has a knack for taking the romantic into the realm of creepiness, and she constructs a taut mystery around the secrets... It's no small achievement that the revelations are both organic and completely unexpected."-- The New Yorker, "[A] gravely buoyant new novel of phantom loves and all-too-tangible fears."-- O , the Oprah magazine, "[A] gravely buoyant new novel of phantom loves and all-too-tangible fears." -- O, the Oprah magazine, "Niffenegger piles on plenty of action... The book's end [is] a genuine surprise... Elspeth's death ... is moving, as is Robert's surprising immediate reaction to it... [Martin] is intricate and fascinating, especially because of Niffenegger's ability to get inside his head.... Niffenegger is especially good on the subject of twins... [She] deftly plumbs the depths of her subject, showing a profound and imaginative understanding."-- Martin Rubin, Los Angeles Times, "Frighteningly smart... Millions of readers who enjoyedThe Time Traveler's Wife... will find a similar theme inHer Fearful Symmetry: romance that transgresses all natural barriers.... Deliciously creepy."-- Ron Charles,Washington Post, "Frighteningly smart... Millions of readers who enjoyed The Time Traveler's Wife ... will find a similar theme in Her Fearful Symmetry : romance that transgresses all natural barriers.... Deliciously creepy." -- Ron Charles, Washington Post, "Entertaining... The reader is pleasantly carried along by the author's ability to create credible characters and her instinctive narrative gifts." -- Michiko Kakutani, New York Times, "Frighteningly smart... Millions of readers who enjoyed The Time Traveler's Wife ... will find a similar theme in Her Fearful Symmetry : romance that transgresses all natural barriers.... Deliciously creepy."-- Ron Charles, Washington Post, "Entertaining... The reader is pleasantly carried along by the author's ability to create credible characters and her instinctive narrative gifts."-- Michiko Kakutani,New York Times, "Niffenegger piles on plenty of action... The book's end [is] a genuine surprise... Elspeth's death ... is moving, as is Robert's surprising immediate reaction to it... [Martin] is intricate and fascinating, especially because of Niffenegger's ability to get inside his head.... Niffenegger is especially good on the subject of twins... [She] deftly plumbs the depths of her subject, showing a profound and imaginative understanding."-- Martin Rubin,Los Angeles Times, "Following up a phenomenal blockbuster is not easy, but Niffenegger rises to the task with Her Fearful Symmetry . Fans will find plenty of rewards in her clever ... [and] unique modern ghost story... Her descriptions transport the reader directly into a moody Victorian landscape of beauty and death... Mesmerizing... A deeply moving story filled with unforgettable characters... A beautiful testament to Niffenegger's fertile imagination and love of storytelling."-- Mary Houlihan, Chicago Sun-Times, "An Intriguing Look at Kinship and the Danger of Getting What You Wished For." -- Good Housekeeping, "Following up a phenomenal blockbuster is not easy, but Niffenegger rises to the task withHer Fearful Symmetry. Fans will find plenty of rewards in her clever ... [and] unique modern ghost story... Her descriptions transport the reader directly into a moody Victorian landscape of beauty and death... Mesmerizing... A deeply moving story filled with unforgettable characters... A beautiful testament to Niffenegger's fertile imagination and love of storytelling."-- Mary Houlihan,Chicago Sun-Times, "Bewitching...Lovers of Niffenegger's past work should rejoice... Her Fearful Symmetry is as atmospheric and beguiling as a walk through Highgate itself." -- Susann Cokal, New York Times Book Review (front page), "A compelling modern-day ghost story set in and around London's atmospheric Highgate cemetery...An engrossing love story that crosses to the 'other side,' Symmetry offers an inventive take on sibling rivalry, personal identity and what it's like to be dead." -- People (3 1/2 stars), "Niffenegger is an extraordinarily sensitive and accomplished writer, andHer Fearful Symmetryis a work of lovely delicacy."-- Lev Grossman,Time, "Bewitching...Lovers of Niffenegger's past work should rejoice... Her Fearful Symmetry is as atmospheric and beguiling as a walk through Highgate itself."-- Susann Cokal, New York Times Book Review (front page), "Following up a phenomenal blockbuster is not easy, but Niffenegger rises to the task with Her Fearful Symmetry . Fans will find plenty of rewards in her clever ... [and] unique modern ghost story... Her descriptions transport the reader directly into a moody Victorian landscape of beauty and death... Mesmerizing... A deeply moving story filled with unforgettable characters... A beautiful testament to Niffenegger's fertile imagination and love of storytelling." -- Mary Houlihan, Chicago Sun-Times, "Entertaining... The reader is pleasantly carried along by the author's ability to create credible characters and her instinctive narrative gifts."-- Michiko Kakutani, New York Times, "[A] gravely buoyant new novel of phantom loves and all-too-tangible fears." -- O , the Oprah magazine, "A compelling modern-day ghost story set in and around London's atmospheric Highgate cemetery...An engrossing love story that crosses to the 'other side,' Symmetry offers an inventive take on sibling rivalry, personal identity and what it's like to be dead."-- People (3 1/2 stars), "Niffenegger piles on plenty of action... The book's end [is] a genuine surprise... Elspeth's death ... is moving, as is Robert's surprising immediate reaction to it... [Martin] is intricate and fascinating, especially because of Niffenegger's ability to get inside his head.... Niffenegger is especially good on the subject of twins... [She] deftly plumbs the depths of her subject, showing a profound and imaginative understanding." -- Martin Rubin, Los Angeles Times, "The endurance of love animates this gothic story set in and around Highgate Cemetery in London. Niffenegger's prose can be wearyingly overblown, but she has a knack for taking the romantic into the realm of creepiness, and she constructs a taut mystery around the secrets... It's no small achievement that the revelations are both organic and completely unexpected." -- The New Yorker, "Niffenegger is an extraordinarily sensitive and accomplished writer, and Her Fearful Symmetry is a work of lovely delicacy." -- Lev Grossman, Time