Diary of a Lone Twin

by David Loftus

More than thirty years ago, David Loftus’s cherished identical twin, John, passed away. Ever since, a day hasn’t passed without David feeling the loss.

In 1987, after recovering from a brain tumour, John contracted meningitis and found himself back in hospital for treatment. David, as always, was by his side. They were opening their twenty-fourth birthday presents when a fatally miscalculated routine injection forced John into a coma. He died within two weeks.

Over the past year, David has spent an hour every day remembering John and recording his story by hand. Diary of a Lone Twin is the product of that daily ritual – a powerful and deeply personal account that covers everything from enchanting and charmingly evoked childhood vignettes to the acute loneliness and raw pain that followed John’s death.

In sharing this beautifully written diary, award-winning and internationally acclaimed photographer David Loftus provides a rare insight for anyone who wishes to understand the bond between identical twins, and the unique bereavement of a lone twin that few people will ever experience.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

Published September 10, 2019

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t know Loftus’s name, but I’ve surely seen his work: his food photography appears everywhere from Fortnum & Mason catalogues to Jamie Oliver cookbooks. His identical twin brother, John, died of meningitis (after battling brain cancer) in 1987. Nearly 30 years on, Loftus decided to spend most of a year thinking about his brother and writing an entry per day on whatever came to mind, whether it was memories of their travels together in Scotland and Greece or an account of the time leading up to John’s death. He learns that 50% of bereaved identical twins die within two years of their sibling. It’s an awfully long book to read if you aren’t interested in the author or don’t share his experience, so I just skimmed it.

[Re Mcd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very personal and poignant read for me. An incredible book, very moving. Makes me very grateful for both my amazing siblings ❤️

[Bernadette Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book on BorrowBox the digital lending side of my local Library.

I gave this a 4 stars or 8/10.

I have found recently that I am reading more non fiction books than I used to do. I was drawn to this one by the fact that I have cousins that are twins, in their case they are non identical but one of them was diagnosed with Kidney failure and was on dialysis for a number of years before a compatible organ donor was found. He missed his 21st Birthday celebrations as he had his Kidney transplant around that time. What greater gift could he have received? He is now 53. He was one of the lucky ones and his life could so easily have taken a turn for the worse at any time due to his Kidney failure. The loss of any sibling is hard, but the bond between twins and especially the bond between identical twins must be that much greater. This shines through in this diary, David Loftus has shared his experiences of life as a lone twin, his thoughts and life since losing his twin brother.

I found this an enlightening look at life as a surviving twin and how being a twin in general has impacted on him. The suffering that his twin brother went through as a result of his illness and the impact on the family.

Sadly, one of my brothers died as a result of a benign Meningioma. So I have some idea of the impact that such an illness has on a family and can empathise with what David and his family went through

If you get chance to read this book, then please do as it's not all doom and gloom at all.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a shocking story of medical incompetence. It has some weird but interesting coincidences. I can't believe that the rogue doctor partly at the centre of the story was later made a professor of medicine. A good book but I wonder if he ignored any editorial advice given him, the way the story jumps around was hard to follow, especially when diary entries don't give the year, only day and month. Perhaps it's just me - and perhaps it's an 'artistic' thing to do - but using photos without any captions was very irritating. Glad to see, though, that the author continues to thrive to this day.

[phil Bentley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept of a book, well written, certainly conveyed in parts very well the feeling s and events.
But by the end of it I’m still with the same impression that it has had a profound damaging effect on the author with him abd his relationship with his family and the addiction to pain killers and rose it’s only going to get worse. Bit depressing really.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a poignant and person account of learning to ‘life’ without your partner in crime. Thank you for sharing your heartbreaking experience

[Lisa of Hopewell]

I learned of this book via this tweet: https://twitter.com/stuck_inabook/sta...

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really well written and emotional book about the loss of a twin brother, equally compelling and difficult to read due to the sadness of the story. That his grief can still be as intense as it is after 30 years is shocking.

[Pol B · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is a beautiful diary, it took me longer to read than expected. I think because I didn’t want to get to the end. It is sometimes tragic and harrowing but yet beautifully written.
His love for his family shines through and he gives us an understanding to what it is like to be a twin.

[Jane Bramhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written in a diary style, heartbreaking throughout. Definitely worth a read.