The Girls: Summary and book reviews of The Girls by Lori Lansens, plus links to an excerpt from The Girls and a biography of Lori Lansens.

Meet Rose and Ruby: sisters, best friends, confidantes, and conjoined twins. Since their birth, Rose and Ruby Darlen have been known simply as "the girls." They make friends, fall in love, have jobs, love their parents, and follow their dreams. But the Darlens are special. Now nearing their 30th birthday, they are history's oldest craniopagus twins, joined at the head by a spot the size of a bread plate. When Rose, the bookish sister, sets out to write her autobiography, it inevitably becomes the story of her short but extraordinary life with Ruby, the beautiful one. From their awkward first steps--Ruby's arm curled around Rose's neck, her foreshortened legs wrapped around Rose's hips-- to the friendships they gradually build for themselves in the small town of Leaford, this is the profoundly affecting chronicle of an incomparable life journey. As Rose and Ruby's story builds to an unforgettable conclusion, Lansens aims at the heart of human experience--the hardship of loss and struggles for independence, and the fundamental joy of simply living a life. This is a breath taking novel, one that no reader will soon forget, a heartrending story of love between sisters.

BookBrowse

If you've enjoyed books such as The Time Traveler's Wife, you are likely to find that Lansen's blend of tragic-comedy will draw you in and leave you well satisfied.  (Reviewed by BookBrowse Review Team).

Full Review (494 words).

Media Reviews

Time Magazine Extraordinary…a masterful and sophisticated duet…a multidimensional vision of the sisters' lives.   Isabel Allende Lori Lansens's blend of tragedy and comedy will touch you deeply.   Publisher's Weekly Lansens captures a contradictory longing for independence and togetherness that transcends the book's enormous conceit.   Booklist - Kristine Huntley Her biggest achievement in the novel is bringing to life these two truly extraordinary characters to such a degree that readers may forget they are reading fiction.   Library Journal This novel...speaks volumes about solitude, loneliness, and enormous personal courage.   Kirkus Reviews An unsentimental, heartwarming page-turner. Quite an achievement.   NOW magazine The Girls, the year's best book to come out of Canada, possibly the world.   Toronto Star Not just a sophisticated literary accomplishment but a darned good read.

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated of 5 by River
OMG
Omg I wanted to cry, laugh, and just smile at the same time. If I did my face would have cracked in half.

Rated of 5 by Marilyn
a good read
I enjoyed reading this book. It was sad at times, going off in unnecessary directions with too many details at times and stereotyped when discussing the trip to Slovakia. But I kept reading. The writer was able to create a realistic description...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Elina
a little miffed
While I did enjoy this book, and would recommend it to others, I was a little miffed at the way the author portrayed the people in Slovakia. Being from a neighboring eastern European country myself, I have visited a few of the countries (not...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Stacey
The girls
I have just finished reading this book and i can honestly say that it bought a few tears to my eyes. From start to finish i found it hard to put down. I forgot at times that these two girls were conjoined. Its an amazing book about the reality...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Marianna
I feel deeply hurt
I was enjoying this book till I found wrong informations about the country of my origin, Slovakia. I feel deeply hurt, disappointed and sad. The first of all, Grozovo is not even in Slovakia. The author seems to be just ignorant and capable of...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Selene Booklover
Complex and Intriguing
This was an intriguing story and a very, fast read. It seemed almost non-fiction. If you have seen the Schappell twins on TV, you almost believe this story is about them. Lori and Reba Schappell are craniopagus twins, just as Ruby and Rose in...   Read More

...2 More Reader Reviews

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