Comments on: Book Review: Audrey Niffenegger's HER FEARFUL SYMMETRY

By: Andrea Mickelson

Andrea Mickelson — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:57:29 +0000

I loved Her Fearful Symmetry! It is one of my all time favorite books. I couldn’t wait to get home everyday just so I could read it!!

By: arriga

arriga — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 20:13:23 +0000

I have never read TTW, but Her Fearful Symmetry has been honestly one of the best books i’ve ever read. She brings every kind of emotion into the book and the part three in the book is so rewarding. I would recommend this book to anyone, it’s a keeper.

By: Ellen Biancaniello

Ellen Biancaniello — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:11:53 +0000

I just finished the book and have one question – how did Elspeth/Valentina alter her appearance so significantly to persuade Julia that she was NOT Valentina? If that was answered, I missed it entirely – and I reread the ending twice.

As per the comments of others, buying into the paranormal took an enormous leap of faith (and incredible benefit of the doubt, due to loving “The Time Traveler’s Wife”) – but this last bit, in my mind, needed a more rational explanation.

I also found it quite unbelievable that Robert, given his childhood, would abandon his own child.

All in all, will await the third novel and hope for another great read like the first one.

By: sandra

sandra — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:13:58 +0000

I found this book to be a complete and utter waste of time. I made it half way through the book and then just gave up. I never read The Time Traveler’s Wife but I have hard that this author is brilliant. Although her writing style is interesting, I thought this book was boring, lacked compelling characters and hard to read. I was disappointed that an author who is so popular could fail so miserably with a second novel. Sorry to be harsh, but this book is awful.

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:48:36 +0000

Hi Craig, and welcome.

I think there are more disappointed fans than not since the book’s sales are disappointing.

By: Craig McGill

Craig McGill — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:21:54 +0000

Add me to the list of the disappointed (warning spoilers in the comments section but not the review):

http://craig-mcgill.com/2009/11/book-review-her-fearful-symmetry-by-audrey-niffenegger/

By: teabelly

teabelly — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:26:12 +0000

I had pretty much the same response, which made me sad. It didn’t even feel like the same writer as TTTW. The way it was written (as you showed with your examples) was painful at times. I was so disappointed by it.

By: Julien

Julien — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:50:52 +0000

Well, I trust you on this, PCN, but it’s a shame if the book is disappointing.
Yet the plot sound interesting, especially to me (I have a twin sister and we’re quite close to each other).
Then, the right thing to do for those who have not read Niffenegger’s previous novel yet is to focus on that one! ‘Cause yes, “The time traveller’s wife” is a great novel indeed! Thank you again PCN for this much valuable recommendation!

I spent some very nice weeks living with Henry and Clare! I must confess I had some trouble at the beginning with understanding the chronology (I couldn’t get it why Henry and Clare’s age gap was never the same, oops!), but in fact it was more simple than I thought!
Anyway, the story is captivating and you really get attached to the characters. Some scenes are really poetic and touching, and the whole thing is a masterpiece I think!
I lent the book to my roommate and she was thrilled too!

Here in France, the movie adaptation is due to be released in theatres at the end of November (while the book’s title has been translated as “Le temps n’est rien” = “Time is nothing”, the film’s title is “Hors du temps” = “Out of time”). I’ve heard good things and bad things about it, but I will probably go and form my own opinion!

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:21:51 +0000

Hm… thanks for the honest review! I’ve heard great things but I’ve also heard these thoughts as well.

By: Kari

Kari — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:56:42 +0000

See, and I really loved the first three quarters of the book. I found them exceptionally moody and alluring. It was the events leading up to the ending that lost me. I liked it a bit more than you did but I agree that it’s not as amazing as I’d hoped. I fear that she overthought it a tick.