"I have never looked into my sister's eyes. I have never bathed alone. I have never stood in the grass at night and raised my arms to a beguiling moon. I've never used an airplane bathroom. Or worn a hat. Or been kissed like that."
So begins the story of Rose and Ruby Darlen, conjoined twins born in a small farming community in Ontario in 1974. As they are approaching their 30th birthday and will become the oldest living craniopagus (joined at the head) twins, Rose decides to write a memoir and recount the story of their birth, their adoption and their fairly normal life filled with desires, wishes and struggles.
Though they can never be separated, Rose and Ruby are very different individuals. Rose, has a love of baseball and wants to be a writer, while Ruby, the pretty one, is interested in archeology. They hold their own jobs at the library and they have their own thoughts and perspectives on the events in their lives. And, yes they each fall in love.
Rose is the primary narrator but she allows Ruby to contribute to her memoir, after all how can the telling of their life story be complete without Ruby's voice. Through these stories we see how the firm yet gentle guidance of Aunt Lovey helped mold them. Growing up wasn't easy but Aunt Lovey made sure they never felt sorry for themselves.
Lori Lansens manages to create a world and characters so vivid that while reading the book it was easy to forget that it was indeed a novel and not a real memoir. This story makes you care for the characters and as it progresses it does becomes a bit more melancholy and sentimental but it never becomes sappy. This was a fantastic read.
Added 01/07