What do you think?
Rate this book
Symbiose
Talulah und Taliah sind eineiige Zwillinge. Sie machen alles gemeinsam und kommunizieren in ihrer eigenen Geheimsprache. Selbst ihre Eltern können sie kaum auseinanderhalten. Die Welt sieht die beiden nur als zwei Teile eines Ganzen.
Aber niemand ahnt, dass hinter der ruhigen Fassade ein Ringen um die Vorherrschaft begonnen hat.
Eine der beiden wird mehr und mehr von der anderen erdrückt und darf kein eigenes Leben führen ... denn Ebenbilder sind einander nicht unbedingt auch ebenbürtig.
Ein ergreifendes und vor allem ungewöhnliches Buch.
Portman hat die Fähigkeit, seine Welten mit eigenartigen, aber glaubwürdigen Charakteren zu bevölkern.
Mit beeindruckender psychologischer Aufmerksamkeit lässt er Talulah und Taliah außer Kontrolle geraten und schickt sie auf einen Kollisionskurs mit unserer Gesellschaft.
Aber niemand ahnt, dass hinter der ruhigen Fassade ein Ringen um die Vorherrschaft begonnen hat.
Eine der beiden wird mehr und mehr von der anderen erdrückt und darf kein eigenes Leben führen ... denn Ebenbilder sind einander nicht unbedingt auch ebenbürtig.
Ein ergreifendes und vor allem ungewöhnliches Buch.
Portman hat die Fähigkeit, seine Welten mit eigenartigen, aber glaubwürdigen Charakteren zu bevölkern.
Mit beeindruckender psychologischer Aufmerksamkeit lässt er Talulah und Taliah außer Kontrolle geraten und schickt sie auf einen Kollisionskurs mit unserer Gesellschaft.
335 pages, Hardcover
Published July 26, 2021
81 people are currently reading
932 people want to read
About the author
Guy Portman
18 books317 followersAs far back as anyone can remember Guy has been an introverted creature, with an insatiable appetite for knowledge, and a sardonic sense of humour.
Throughout a childhood in London spent watching cold war propaganda gems such as He Man, an adolescence confined in various institutions, and a career that has encompassed stints in academic research and the sports industry, Guy has been a keen if somewhat cynical social observer.
Humour of the sardonic variety is a recurring theme in Guy’s writing. His first novel, 'Charles Middleworth', is an insightful tale of the unexpected. Like the author, the protagonist in 'The Necropolis Series' is a darkly humorous individual – though, unlike the author, he is a sociopath.
Guy is a dedicated blogger and an avid reader. Reviews of the books he has read can be found in the review section of his blog.
Click on my website link below and get 'Mangetout' for FREE.
These shocking and suspenseful stories are a must read.
Throughout a childhood in London spent watching cold war propaganda gems such as He Man, an adolescence confined in various institutions, and a career that has encompassed stints in academic research and the sports industry, Guy has been a keen if somewhat cynical social observer.
Humour of the sardonic variety is a recurring theme in Guy’s writing. His first novel, 'Charles Middleworth', is an insightful tale of the unexpected. Like the author, the protagonist in 'The Necropolis Series' is a darkly humorous individual – though, unlike the author, he is a sociopath.
Guy is a dedicated blogger and an avid reader. Reviews of the books he has read can be found in the review section of his blog.
Click on my website link below and get 'Mangetout' for FREE.
These shocking and suspenseful stories are a must read.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 10, 2018
What's the creepiest thing in a horror movie? Kids that's what! This book has girls, so doubly creepy! They are twins with a special connection so super creepy all round.
The writing is weird, not sure if it is first/second or third person, it's like a documentary and the narrator is telling you what you are looking at, what is being thought and what has happened. For me this style made it very easy to settle down and get in to.
Guy has done a lot of drugs... I mean research into drugs, the twins get put onto a variety of meds and the book describes well the effects they have on them including side effects.
The story is strong, moves along at a steady pace with an interesting conclusion, this reader is still left wondering though, was Dr. Singh's diagnosis correct?
One thing this book needs is a glossary at the end, the twins have their own language which they talk in at lengths sometimes and I found it tough at times to figure out what was going on (especially in the final scene), a glossary would have made translating a bit more fun.
This is definitely Guy's strongest book to date, it really deserves to make a breakthrough and get read by millions, looking forward to what he writes next.
Blog review is here> https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2018...
The writing is weird, not sure if it is first/second or third person, it's like a documentary and the narrator is telling you what you are looking at, what is being thought and what has happened. For me this style made it very easy to settle down and get in to.
Guy has done a lot of drugs... I mean research into drugs, the twins get put onto a variety of meds and the book describes well the effects they have on them including side effects.
The story is strong, moves along at a steady pace with an interesting conclusion, this reader is still left wondering though, was Dr. Singh's diagnosis correct?
One thing this book needs is a glossary at the end, the twins have their own language which they talk in at lengths sometimes and I found it tough at times to figure out what was going on (especially in the final scene), a glossary would have made translating a bit more fun.
This is definitely Guy's strongest book to date, it really deserves to make a breakthrough and get read by millions, looking forward to what he writes next.
Blog review is here> https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2018...
February 25, 2016
I found this book totally absorbing and different to anything I have read previously. The characters are very convincing, and the reader is given an insight into the life of a pair of twins who have a strong but not necessarily healthy connection. This book kept me gripped as I wanted to find out how their unhealthy relationship would influence their actions and, ultimately, the final outcome of their story.
March 22, 2016
This story follows the life’s of identical twins Talulah and Taliah. I must admit I was interested straight away since I myself have twins and always wonder if they will have a “special” connection. After reading the book I certainly still hope they do.. just not to the degree these twins do.
I’ve never read a story like this before and it was very interesting to read about the kind of symbiotic dependency the girls had with each other… at first you just felt the girls were misunderstood but as the story developed I found myself wondering about the mental health of Talulah in particular who seems to have a more parasitic effect on her sister.
The story flows well but I did find myself skim reading when the girls talked in their own language since I had absolutely no idea what they were saying.
I also found as I read the book I just didn’t like the twins but I think this was mainly due to the symbiotic relationship that developed throughout the story..I just wanted to separate the girls myself since as a reader we know what the girls are thinking..i just found Talulah’s dependency frustrating but this does make you think.. these connections people have.. their needs..it would be nice to have this type of connection with someone but as the book draws on you realise it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
One thing the book did really well from my point of view was bringing up the subject of individuality.I know from experience that a lot of people refer to my two girls as “The Girls” or “The Twins”.. buy them the same clothes etc even though they are individuals. Don’t get me wrong.. at times it’s nice but at other times you really do like to see them as separate people. People don’t always get this and add in the fact Taliah & Talulah have major communication issues it’s easy to see how this strong of a connection could be made between them.
The whole tale is very psychological for me..in-depth and it does make you think what would happen if you were in this type of relationship where you didn’t feel you had your free will…
Very interesting indeed, and thank you to the author for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve never read a story like this before and it was very interesting to read about the kind of symbiotic dependency the girls had with each other… at first you just felt the girls were misunderstood but as the story developed I found myself wondering about the mental health of Talulah in particular who seems to have a more parasitic effect on her sister.
The story flows well but I did find myself skim reading when the girls talked in their own language since I had absolutely no idea what they were saying.
I also found as I read the book I just didn’t like the twins but I think this was mainly due to the symbiotic relationship that developed throughout the story..I just wanted to separate the girls myself since as a reader we know what the girls are thinking..i just found Talulah’s dependency frustrating but this does make you think.. these connections people have.. their needs..it would be nice to have this type of connection with someone but as the book draws on you realise it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
One thing the book did really well from my point of view was bringing up the subject of individuality.I know from experience that a lot of people refer to my two girls as “The Girls” or “The Twins”.. buy them the same clothes etc even though they are individuals. Don’t get me wrong.. at times it’s nice but at other times you really do like to see them as separate people. People don’t always get this and add in the fact Taliah & Talulah have major communication issues it’s easy to see how this strong of a connection could be made between them.
The whole tale is very psychological for me..in-depth and it does make you think what would happen if you were in this type of relationship where you didn’t feel you had your free will…
Very interesting indeed, and thank you to the author for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2016
I enjoyed this book. It was totally different from what I expected.
Twins. Identical twins. Creepy identical twins ..... Guaranteed to freak you out.
The writing style is unique - not sure if it's fly-on-the-wall type narration, academic overseeing, or what. But I liked it. It was informative, without overtelling, and descriptive enough to include the reader into seeing what is there.
Guy has obviously done a lot of research into twin behaviour and drugs for mental illness, and the combination of both. And, though I haven't had experience, I think he has done so very well and managed to fantastically fit it all into 200 pages.
One thing I would have liked is a translation of the twins' communications with each other. That's the only issue I really had with the novel.
Overall, I would recommend this to everyone, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Twins. Identical twins. Creepy identical twins ..... Guaranteed to freak you out.
The writing style is unique - not sure if it's fly-on-the-wall type narration, academic overseeing, or what. But I liked it. It was informative, without overtelling, and descriptive enough to include the reader into seeing what is there.
Guy has obviously done a lot of research into twin behaviour and drugs for mental illness, and the combination of both. And, though I haven't had experience, I think he has done so very well and managed to fantastically fit it all into 200 pages.
One thing I would have liked is a translation of the twins' communications with each other. That's the only issue I really had with the novel.
Overall, I would recommend this to everyone, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
January 24, 2016
Twins often grow very close, sharing their own secret language, and Talulah and Taliah are considered by their own mother to be so close as to be two halves of a whole. They are not equal, though. Talulah leads, even walking ahead of her sister, but Taliah is better academically. Their speech continues to be idiosyncratic and they are moved to a special school. While in special education, they come into the orbit of an anarchist student who influences Talulah and, of course, Taliah is drawn along in her wake.
This is compelling stuff. We watch the girls as they grow up and we see Taliah's struggle to become her own person. I found the relationship between the twins with its 'almost mind-reading' closeness utterly convincing. The tension between the girls’ competing and incompatible needs grew as the book progressed and led inexorable to the story’s climax. A great read.
This is compelling stuff. We watch the girls as they grow up and we see Taliah's struggle to become her own person. I found the relationship between the twins with its 'almost mind-reading' closeness utterly convincing. The tension between the girls’ competing and incompatible needs grew as the book progressed and led inexorable to the story’s climax. A great read.
January 28, 2016
Another incredibly clever book. An intriguing topic, which simmers away gently yet drawing you in deeper and deeper. I'm pleased I guessed wrongly with the ending, which caused me to re-evaluate my opinions about the story once again.
January 24, 2016
Not since Heinlein's Time for the Stars did I read a book with such intriguing twins. It's a diffuse sort of a story, with a great English school, institution and cultural feel. And with a breathtakingly potent ending to boot!
January 16, 2016
Symbiosis is the story of young, identical twins, Talulah and Taliah. Most of the story follows them growing up, highlighting the almost supernatural connection, the eerie synchronicity, and the invented language they share with only each other.
First off, I liked how the story was told, though it took me a while to get accustomed to it, and some extra formatting or spacing in places could have made transitions easier to spot. The perspective, though always in third person point of view, shifts its focus from one twin to the other, to their caregivers, parents, and acquaintances, though most of the time it sticks to the twins. There are also a few of the twins’ diary entries, often one after the other regarding the same day to highlight the similarities and differences in the girls over the years.
As the end of the book approaches, the story starts reading a bit more like a typical thriller and begins to focus heavily on one of the twins. Up until that point, I wasn’t sure who the main character was, though I suspect it was supposed to be both twins as the main character.
The cryptophasia (invented twin talk) was interesting to me, though mostly impossible to figure out. By the end of the story, though, I was able to pick out some of it. Saying the words aloud sometimes made them close enough to regular words to make some sense of them. Some readers, though, might not be inclined to bother trying. Luckily, there’s usually enough context to figure out the gist of what they’re saying.
Overall, I thought this was a pretty good read. Different, but in a good way. Folks who like psychological thrillers and the paranormal might like this, but it takes a bit of patience to get to the part where things really start happening.
I received a copy of this book from the author to provide a review for puretextuality.com.
First off, I liked how the story was told, though it took me a while to get accustomed to it, and some extra formatting or spacing in places could have made transitions easier to spot. The perspective, though always in third person point of view, shifts its focus from one twin to the other, to their caregivers, parents, and acquaintances, though most of the time it sticks to the twins. There are also a few of the twins’ diary entries, often one after the other regarding the same day to highlight the similarities and differences in the girls over the years.
As the end of the book approaches, the story starts reading a bit more like a typical thriller and begins to focus heavily on one of the twins. Up until that point, I wasn’t sure who the main character was, though I suspect it was supposed to be both twins as the main character.
The cryptophasia (invented twin talk) was interesting to me, though mostly impossible to figure out. By the end of the story, though, I was able to pick out some of it. Saying the words aloud sometimes made them close enough to regular words to make some sense of them. Some readers, though, might not be inclined to bother trying. Luckily, there’s usually enough context to figure out the gist of what they’re saying.
Overall, I thought this was a pretty good read. Different, but in a good way. Folks who like psychological thrillers and the paranormal might like this, but it takes a bit of patience to get to the part where things really start happening.
I received a copy of this book from the author to provide a review for puretextuality.com.
February 7, 2016
Talulah and Taliah are identical twins. People find it hard to tell them apart. Their teachers, and even their parents, to a certain extent treat them as if they are the same person.
The twins have their own made up language which to be honest I ended up skipping after a while as the words don't make any sense to the reader, only to the twins. I have to say I would have preferred a bit less of their own dialogue as I did find it slightly distracting.
Everyone seems to find the twins relationship hard to deal with. The teachers at the school don't seem to know what to do with them and even the girls parents relationship deteriorates.
The novel certainly brings into question individuality. As the twins start to grow, even though they're very much in touch with each others and their feelings, they start to drift apart as one twin seems to want to do other things and make new friends.
To start with I have to say I envied the twins closeness and thought it was quite lovely, the further into the story though I have to admit to finding it slightly unhealthy. There certainly didn't seem to be anything 'normal' about their lives and if anything, things just seem to go from bad to worse for them.
There are quite a lot of stories involving twins around at the moment and the author has certainly come up with a very different take on the subject. I think due to the secret language and also the girls diary entires, the story didn't flow as well as I would have liked it to for me but over all I found it an enjoyable and interesting story.
Many thanks to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The twins have their own made up language which to be honest I ended up skipping after a while as the words don't make any sense to the reader, only to the twins. I have to say I would have preferred a bit less of their own dialogue as I did find it slightly distracting.
Everyone seems to find the twins relationship hard to deal with. The teachers at the school don't seem to know what to do with them and even the girls parents relationship deteriorates.
The novel certainly brings into question individuality. As the twins start to grow, even though they're very much in touch with each others and their feelings, they start to drift apart as one twin seems to want to do other things and make new friends.
To start with I have to say I envied the twins closeness and thought it was quite lovely, the further into the story though I have to admit to finding it slightly unhealthy. There certainly didn't seem to be anything 'normal' about their lives and if anything, things just seem to go from bad to worse for them.
There are quite a lot of stories involving twins around at the moment and the author has certainly come up with a very different take on the subject. I think due to the secret language and also the girls diary entires, the story didn't flow as well as I would have liked it to for me but over all I found it an enjoyable and interesting story.
Many thanks to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2016
WHEN LOVE TURNS TO HATE...
First I would like to thank author, Guy Portman for my copy of Symbiosis in exchange for a fair and honest review.
My rating is 4.5 stars.
What this book is about
Holy cow, this was good!!!
Identical twins, Talulah and Taliah, share a special bond, they are inseparable, even have their own language that only they can understand. They do everything together, even eat, drink and sleep at the same time...until one day Talulah does something unforgiving...resulting in Taliah pulling away from her sister.
Blurb
"Identical twins Talulah and Taliah have never been apart. Viewed as curiosities by children and adults alike, they coexist in an insular world with their own secret language. But being identical doesn’t necessarily mean being equal…
Soon a series of momentous events will send Talulah and Taliah spiralling out of control, setting them on a collision course with a society that views them as two parts of a whole. Will their symbiotic relationship survive?"
What I liked about this book
The title says it all, love the cover. Brilliantly written. Fast-paced. Read in one sitting.
Twisty tale, keeps you entertained from page one.
First I would like to thank author, Guy Portman for my copy of Symbiosis in exchange for a fair and honest review.
My rating is 4.5 stars.
What this book is about
Holy cow, this was good!!!
Identical twins, Talulah and Taliah, share a special bond, they are inseparable, even have their own language that only they can understand. They do everything together, even eat, drink and sleep at the same time...until one day Talulah does something unforgiving...resulting in Taliah pulling away from her sister.
Blurb
"Identical twins Talulah and Taliah have never been apart. Viewed as curiosities by children and adults alike, they coexist in an insular world with their own secret language. But being identical doesn’t necessarily mean being equal…
Soon a series of momentous events will send Talulah and Taliah spiralling out of control, setting them on a collision course with a society that views them as two parts of a whole. Will their symbiotic relationship survive?"
What I liked about this book
The title says it all, love the cover. Brilliantly written. Fast-paced. Read in one sitting.
Twisty tale, keeps you entertained from page one.
February 15, 2016
**review in progress**
April 20, 2017
*Rating : 3.5/5*
*Note : I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
(Originally posted on bookmyopia/wordpress)
Taliah and Talulah have been close ever since they came into their world, with not just identical looks on account of being twins, but identical mannerisms, mirrored actions and a made-up language of their own. This is the first book I have read dealing with cryptophasia (translates to “secret speech”) and while this isn’t much of a “problem” when the twins are younger, their insistence to continue using it leads to communications issues at their school. They are soon admitted into Royston Park School which takes in kids dealing with various emotional and behavioral disorders. This is where we begin to see the differences between Taliah and Talulah, and from here onwards, it is a continuous internal struggle of one twin to shrug off the influence of the more dominant twin.
It was quite creepy and scary to see just how trapped Taliah felt, though all she wanted, all she has always wanted was to be seen as ONE, not part of a two-person package deal. By the time the twins reach adolescence, she feels stifled from always being with Talulah. We slowly see how theirs has been more of a parasitic relationship rather than a symbiotic, with Taliah helping Talulah cheat through her school tests and assignments, and her not speaking in class but scribbling answers so that Talulah isn’t left feeling inferior because of her inability to stress on the sound “s”. But here’s the thing, Talulah expects Taliah to step back, to stay in her shell, to never have any other close friends or a boyfriend. When a new boy joins Royston, he brings with him crazy, directionless and anarchist rabble-rousing thoughts and Taliah is briefly happy as Talulah seems besotted with him and his ideas. The interlude doesn’t last long enough though, as Talulah forces her to tag along with them, and they are soon breaking laws and snorting up drugs. A series of misfortunes later, they find themselves in a psychiatric facility. Within the confines and regimented routine of this clinic, Taliah finds freedom.. Freedom to be herself, to interact with people, and to dream about a future without her sibling’s shadow looming over her. We also see Talulah, pining for her twin, hating every moment of being separated from her. Taliah’s constant tussle with her mind and gut feeling, to cut off her “psychic” connection from her sister, exhausts her.
This book was unlike anything I have read in the past, and it felt good to come across a book that is quite genre-atypical. I kept rooting for Taliah to break free, and pitied Talulah. Despite everything Taliah loved her sister, and despite the obsessive nature of it, Talulah loved her sister too.. So, it was just so sad they couldn’t have a more healthy relationship. I had mixed feelings about the book’s ending. Without revealing much, let’s just say that I didn’t like it because an alternate ending would have challenged Taliah better to make some actual choices. Another thing which I had a problem with was the made-up language. I really wish there were some occasional translations because it felt like a whole lot of mumbo-jumbo taking up a lot of space in the book. There were some other things I couldn’t connect with, such as a lot of secondary characters with eccentricities (and I am not talking about students or wards here) that didn’t serve any purpose. I am not sure it if was meant for comic relief, but I just didn’t get it.
The book gave me an insight into not just some medical conditions that I had no idea about but also a peek into the treatments and therapies. However, the focus is largely on Taliah and Talulah, and addresses how important it is for individuality to breathe, grow and exhibit.
*Note : I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
(Originally posted on bookmyopia/wordpress)
Taliah and Talulah have been close ever since they came into their world, with not just identical looks on account of being twins, but identical mannerisms, mirrored actions and a made-up language of their own. This is the first book I have read dealing with cryptophasia (translates to “secret speech”) and while this isn’t much of a “problem” when the twins are younger, their insistence to continue using it leads to communications issues at their school. They are soon admitted into Royston Park School which takes in kids dealing with various emotional and behavioral disorders. This is where we begin to see the differences between Taliah and Talulah, and from here onwards, it is a continuous internal struggle of one twin to shrug off the influence of the more dominant twin.
It was quite creepy and scary to see just how trapped Taliah felt, though all she wanted, all she has always wanted was to be seen as ONE, not part of a two-person package deal. By the time the twins reach adolescence, she feels stifled from always being with Talulah. We slowly see how theirs has been more of a parasitic relationship rather than a symbiotic, with Taliah helping Talulah cheat through her school tests and assignments, and her not speaking in class but scribbling answers so that Talulah isn’t left feeling inferior because of her inability to stress on the sound “s”. But here’s the thing, Talulah expects Taliah to step back, to stay in her shell, to never have any other close friends or a boyfriend. When a new boy joins Royston, he brings with him crazy, directionless and anarchist rabble-rousing thoughts and Taliah is briefly happy as Talulah seems besotted with him and his ideas. The interlude doesn’t last long enough though, as Talulah forces her to tag along with them, and they are soon breaking laws and snorting up drugs. A series of misfortunes later, they find themselves in a psychiatric facility. Within the confines and regimented routine of this clinic, Taliah finds freedom.. Freedom to be herself, to interact with people, and to dream about a future without her sibling’s shadow looming over her. We also see Talulah, pining for her twin, hating every moment of being separated from her. Taliah’s constant tussle with her mind and gut feeling, to cut off her “psychic” connection from her sister, exhausts her.
This book was unlike anything I have read in the past, and it felt good to come across a book that is quite genre-atypical. I kept rooting for Taliah to break free, and pitied Talulah. Despite everything Taliah loved her sister, and despite the obsessive nature of it, Talulah loved her sister too.. So, it was just so sad they couldn’t have a more healthy relationship. I had mixed feelings about the book’s ending. Without revealing much, let’s just say that I didn’t like it because an alternate ending would have challenged Taliah better to make some actual choices. Another thing which I had a problem with was the made-up language. I really wish there were some occasional translations because it felt like a whole lot of mumbo-jumbo taking up a lot of space in the book. There were some other things I couldn’t connect with, such as a lot of secondary characters with eccentricities (and I am not talking about students or wards here) that didn’t serve any purpose. I am not sure it if was meant for comic relief, but I just didn’t get it.
The book gave me an insight into not just some medical conditions that I had no idea about but also a peek into the treatments and therapies. However, the focus is largely on Taliah and Talulah, and addresses how important it is for individuality to breathe, grow and exhibit.
February 13, 2016
****** 4.5 Stars *******
I went into this book with an open mind. I really did not know what to expect. The start of this book was a little confusing for me if I was to be honest, I felt it did not flow and it took me a good few pages to pick the story up. However Once it did and I got my bearings I felt this was a wonderful story. We can all try and think what it would be like to be a twin especially identical one's but we will never really know unless you are one. I think how Guy wrote Talulah & Taliah was great, they had this special bond which included the power to know what each other was thinking and came with their own secret language. The story follows the twins from a young age and continues through to their late teens. The book starts with the twins in a special school until they are around 16/17 then after a bad and traumatic event they end up in a psychiatric hospital. One of my favourite films is Girl, Interrupted which is a movie set in a women's psychiatric hospital in the sixties and in parts of this book it reminded me of that. The subject's in this book are quite harrowing and upsetting in a way but it was written with so much realism, you believe every single incident that happens because of this. It was also very interesting to read, Although it is a work of fiction the troubles of mental health are very serious and you learn lots in this book. I also found this book funny in places which helped lighten the mood perfectly.
The characters in this book were all different. The twins were the stars of the show but each child, teacher, doctor & nurse had a great supporting role to play. One of my favourite characters in Symbiosis was Siegfried a teenage German anarchist who was addicted to fire and taking drugs. He starts off very funny but then gets evil as the book goes on.
Did I guess the ending? nope failed again... I must say though that throughout this book I did have a good 10/12 idea's as to what could happen. Each time I changed my mind I crossed it off my imaginary list and went with my new one. I love books like this where it keeps you guessing all the way through, for me there is nothing better.
I scored this book a 4.5 out of 5. I really enjoyed it and it only lost points for me at the beginning where I felt a bit confused. This may have just been me though. I will definitely be investing in Guy Portman's other books Necropolis & Charles Middleworth at some point.
I went into this book with an open mind. I really did not know what to expect. The start of this book was a little confusing for me if I was to be honest, I felt it did not flow and it took me a good few pages to pick the story up. However Once it did and I got my bearings I felt this was a wonderful story. We can all try and think what it would be like to be a twin especially identical one's but we will never really know unless you are one. I think how Guy wrote Talulah & Taliah was great, they had this special bond which included the power to know what each other was thinking and came with their own secret language. The story follows the twins from a young age and continues through to their late teens. The book starts with the twins in a special school until they are around 16/17 then after a bad and traumatic event they end up in a psychiatric hospital. One of my favourite films is Girl, Interrupted which is a movie set in a women's psychiatric hospital in the sixties and in parts of this book it reminded me of that. The subject's in this book are quite harrowing and upsetting in a way but it was written with so much realism, you believe every single incident that happens because of this. It was also very interesting to read, Although it is a work of fiction the troubles of mental health are very serious and you learn lots in this book. I also found this book funny in places which helped lighten the mood perfectly.
The characters in this book were all different. The twins were the stars of the show but each child, teacher, doctor & nurse had a great supporting role to play. One of my favourite characters in Symbiosis was Siegfried a teenage German anarchist who was addicted to fire and taking drugs. He starts off very funny but then gets evil as the book goes on.
Did I guess the ending? nope failed again... I must say though that throughout this book I did have a good 10/12 idea's as to what could happen. Each time I changed my mind I crossed it off my imaginary list and went with my new one. I love books like this where it keeps you guessing all the way through, for me there is nothing better.
I scored this book a 4.5 out of 5. I really enjoyed it and it only lost points for me at the beginning where I felt a bit confused. This may have just been me though. I will definitely be investing in Guy Portman's other books Necropolis & Charles Middleworth at some point.
January 24, 2016
This is an engaging, moving, funny and above all unusual book. I'm a big fan of Portman's Necropolis, a compelling study of a British psycho, but in some ways this is even better. The writing is concise and he is able to create characters in very few words. The twins' secret language gives the whole thing an uncanny quality as you're never quite sure what they're saying. I like the way it takes normal, seminal moments in the life of teenage girls but twists them into deeply traumatic episodes. The twins are like aliens trying to become human against the dehumanising control of society and its institutions, and that power struggle is mirrored in the twins' own internal relationship. As ever with Portman there are plenty of deliciously grotesque characters and sardonic witticisms. But at the same time, it has poignant moments that emotionally invest you in the story, building cumulatively to a powerful climax.
August 17, 2021
“Symbiose ” von Guy Portman hat mich aufgrund des außergewöhnlichen Klappentextes unheimlich angesprochen.
Denn dieser klang unglaublich beklemmend.
Tatsächlich würde ich aber empfehlen, diesen nicht zu lesen, sondern sich einfach von der Geschichte um die Zwillinge Talulah und Taliah überrollen zu lassen.
Denn. Wow. Selten haben mir so die Worte gefehlt wie hier.
Der Schreibstil gefiel mir unglaublich gut, sanft, einnehmend, aber auch fordernd und gewaltig.
Der Autor webt eine sehr düstere und beklemmende Stille, die alles um sich herum aufzehrt, was einfach so unglaublich gut passt.
Obwohl dieser Thriller enorm ruhig beginnt, so hat er mich sofort in den Bann gezogen.
Ich weiß nicht warum, aber diese Geschichte fühlte sich so richtig, so tragend und einfach so überaus gewaltig an.
Man verbringt die ganze Zeit damit die Zwillinge kennenzulernen und es gibt so viele Momente, die klar sehen lassen, man aber dennoch dieses große Ganze in all seinen Facetten und Monstrositäten nicht kommen sieht.
Talulah und Taliah ziehen sofort in den Bann.
Dabei lernt man sie von klein auf kennen und erlebt wie sie sich entwickeln und wie es langsam aber sicher immer mehr außer Kontrolle gerät.
Besonders Taliah mochte ich so unfassbar gern. Ich hab unglaublich mit ihr mitgefühlt und gelitten.
Aber zugleich erlebt man, wie sich beide immer mehr entfalten und sich ihre eigene Persönlichkeit und ihre Bedürfnisse herauskristallisieren.
Dabei geht der Autor mit sehr viel Feingefühl und Eindringlichkeit zu Werke. Und gerade dieser Aspekt ist es, der die Spannung so extrem aufrecht erhält.
Denn die eigentliche Handlung ist für sich genommen nichts besonderes.
Aber erweitert man die Blickwinkel und beginnt tiefer zu graben, so erwartet uns ein grauenhafter Schlund aus Abgründigkeit, Egoismus, Obsession, Gewalt und Manipulation.
Der Autor zieht jeden Aspekt auseinander und geht damit in verschiedene Richtungen.
Er zeigt uns nicht nur Harmonie, Glück und Vertrauen.
Er zeigt uns Schattenseiten, die alles in den Abgrund zerren. Aber zugleich kommt auch sehr viel Einsamkeit, Hilflosigkeit, Angst und Verlorenheit zutage.
Ich empfand die Thematik so unglaublich faszinierend und interessant zugleich.
Denn der Aspekt eines Zwillings erhält hier völlig neue Konturen und Einsichten.
Ich hab mich so hilflos gefühlt, bei dem was hier geschah.
Man spürt diese riesige Bedrohung und Unterdrückung, aber man ist nicht in der Lage, etwas dagegen zutun.
Man kann sich nicht wehren.
Wie soll man sich lösen, wenn das Umfeld es nicht zulässt.
Wie soll man vertrauen, wenn man ständig untergraben wird.
Wie soll man lieben, wenn man jegliche Hoffnung bereits verloren hat.
So viele Emotionen und Gedanken haben mich überflutet.
Das ich kaum Worte dafür finde, was hier überhaupt passiert ist.
Taliah und Talulah sind normale Mädchen, bis sie völlig entgleisen.
Aber warum sieht das Offensichtliche niemand?
Warum hört niemand die Hilferufe und stummen Schreie?
Warum erkennt niemand das Leid, die Qual und Unsicherheit?
Guy Portman sorgt hier vor allem auf der psychologischen Ebene für so unglaublich nervenaufreibende und intensive Spannung, dass man es kaum noch aushält.
Es ist wie ein Sog, dem man einfach nicht entkommen kann.
Guy Portman zeigt auf, dass die Schuld nicht allein bei diesen beiden Menschen zu finden ist.
In Wirklichkeit ist es noch viel schrecklicher ,als man ahnen würde.
Die Gesellschaft, das Umfeld, dass man nicht als das wahrgenommen wird, was man eigentlich ist.
Eine Persönlichkeit, ein Mensch mit Gefühlen und eigenen Antrieben.
Und je mehr Verzweiflung und Wut ich spürte, umso weniger konnte ich damit umgehen.
Dieser Roman glänzt nicht mit unsagbar vielen Wendungen oder Tempo.
Dieser Roman berührt einfach auf einer Ebene, die alles andere verblassen lässt.
Es lässt dich erstarren, erschüttert zutiefst und macht dich einfach so sprachlos und hilflos.
Nicht nur Talulah und Taliah sind wichtig.
Ihre Seelen, die Menschen um sie herum sind es und wie sie mit Ihnen umgehen.
Denn damit haben sie auch Verantwortung und Kontrolle, um es in unterschiedliche Bahnen lenken zu können.
Daneben haben mir einfach Dr.Singh und vor allem die zwischenmenschlichen Aspekte so unglaublich gut gefallen.
Es hat mich tief berührt, es hat mir Tränen in die Augen getrieben.
Das Ganze entwickelt so eine Dramatik und Tragweite, was man in der Form niemals vermuten würde.
Und das Ende. Mein Gott. So von Verzweiflung, Wut und Angst geprägt. Und trotzdem ist da auch so unglaublich viel Stärke und Mut.
Ich bin unglaublich beeindruckt von so viel psychologischem Feingefühl und Empathie.
Ein außergewöhnliches Buch das Spuren hinterlässt und nachklingt.
Ein absolutes Jahreshighlight. Ein Buch, das einfach jeder gelesen haben sollte.
Zu Recht in der Festa Must Read Kategorie.
Fazit:
Guy Portman gelingt mit “Symbiose” ein enorm vielschichtiges, bedrückendes und verstörendes Buch, das emotional völlig außer Kontrolle geraten lässt.
Eine Thematik, die absolute Beklemmung in mir ausgelöst hat. Mich vor allem mit Hilflosigkeit und Wut erfüllt hat.
Ein außergewöhnliches Buch das Spuren hinterlässt und nachklingt.
Talulah und Taliah sind so viel mehr.
Eine Story die mich so unglaublich vereinnahmt und intensiv berührt hat, wie ich es kaum für möglich gehalten hätte.
Denn es zeigt so viel auf.
Es geht um Macht, Obsession, Manipulation, aber auch um Unsicherheit, Angst und Verzweiflung.
Ein absolutes Jahreshighlight.
Zu Recht in der Festa Must Read Kategorie.
Jeder sollte dieses Buch gelesen haben.
Denn dieser klang unglaublich beklemmend.
Tatsächlich würde ich aber empfehlen, diesen nicht zu lesen, sondern sich einfach von der Geschichte um die Zwillinge Talulah und Taliah überrollen zu lassen.
Denn. Wow. Selten haben mir so die Worte gefehlt wie hier.
Der Schreibstil gefiel mir unglaublich gut, sanft, einnehmend, aber auch fordernd und gewaltig.
Der Autor webt eine sehr düstere und beklemmende Stille, die alles um sich herum aufzehrt, was einfach so unglaublich gut passt.
Obwohl dieser Thriller enorm ruhig beginnt, so hat er mich sofort in den Bann gezogen.
Ich weiß nicht warum, aber diese Geschichte fühlte sich so richtig, so tragend und einfach so überaus gewaltig an.
Man verbringt die ganze Zeit damit die Zwillinge kennenzulernen und es gibt so viele Momente, die klar sehen lassen, man aber dennoch dieses große Ganze in all seinen Facetten und Monstrositäten nicht kommen sieht.
Talulah und Taliah ziehen sofort in den Bann.
Dabei lernt man sie von klein auf kennen und erlebt wie sie sich entwickeln und wie es langsam aber sicher immer mehr außer Kontrolle gerät.
Besonders Taliah mochte ich so unfassbar gern. Ich hab unglaublich mit ihr mitgefühlt und gelitten.
Aber zugleich erlebt man, wie sich beide immer mehr entfalten und sich ihre eigene Persönlichkeit und ihre Bedürfnisse herauskristallisieren.
Dabei geht der Autor mit sehr viel Feingefühl und Eindringlichkeit zu Werke. Und gerade dieser Aspekt ist es, der die Spannung so extrem aufrecht erhält.
Denn die eigentliche Handlung ist für sich genommen nichts besonderes.
Aber erweitert man die Blickwinkel und beginnt tiefer zu graben, so erwartet uns ein grauenhafter Schlund aus Abgründigkeit, Egoismus, Obsession, Gewalt und Manipulation.
Der Autor zieht jeden Aspekt auseinander und geht damit in verschiedene Richtungen.
Er zeigt uns nicht nur Harmonie, Glück und Vertrauen.
Er zeigt uns Schattenseiten, die alles in den Abgrund zerren. Aber zugleich kommt auch sehr viel Einsamkeit, Hilflosigkeit, Angst und Verlorenheit zutage.
Ich empfand die Thematik so unglaublich faszinierend und interessant zugleich.
Denn der Aspekt eines Zwillings erhält hier völlig neue Konturen und Einsichten.
Ich hab mich so hilflos gefühlt, bei dem was hier geschah.
Man spürt diese riesige Bedrohung und Unterdrückung, aber man ist nicht in der Lage, etwas dagegen zutun.
Man kann sich nicht wehren.
Wie soll man sich lösen, wenn das Umfeld es nicht zulässt.
Wie soll man vertrauen, wenn man ständig untergraben wird.
Wie soll man lieben, wenn man jegliche Hoffnung bereits verloren hat.
So viele Emotionen und Gedanken haben mich überflutet.
Das ich kaum Worte dafür finde, was hier überhaupt passiert ist.
Taliah und Talulah sind normale Mädchen, bis sie völlig entgleisen.
Aber warum sieht das Offensichtliche niemand?
Warum hört niemand die Hilferufe und stummen Schreie?
Warum erkennt niemand das Leid, die Qual und Unsicherheit?
Guy Portman sorgt hier vor allem auf der psychologischen Ebene für so unglaublich nervenaufreibende und intensive Spannung, dass man es kaum noch aushält.
Es ist wie ein Sog, dem man einfach nicht entkommen kann.
Guy Portman zeigt auf, dass die Schuld nicht allein bei diesen beiden Menschen zu finden ist.
In Wirklichkeit ist es noch viel schrecklicher ,als man ahnen würde.
Die Gesellschaft, das Umfeld, dass man nicht als das wahrgenommen wird, was man eigentlich ist.
Eine Persönlichkeit, ein Mensch mit Gefühlen und eigenen Antrieben.
Und je mehr Verzweiflung und Wut ich spürte, umso weniger konnte ich damit umgehen.
Dieser Roman glänzt nicht mit unsagbar vielen Wendungen oder Tempo.
Dieser Roman berührt einfach auf einer Ebene, die alles andere verblassen lässt.
Es lässt dich erstarren, erschüttert zutiefst und macht dich einfach so sprachlos und hilflos.
Nicht nur Talulah und Taliah sind wichtig.
Ihre Seelen, die Menschen um sie herum sind es und wie sie mit Ihnen umgehen.
Denn damit haben sie auch Verantwortung und Kontrolle, um es in unterschiedliche Bahnen lenken zu können.
Daneben haben mir einfach Dr.Singh und vor allem die zwischenmenschlichen Aspekte so unglaublich gut gefallen.
Es hat mich tief berührt, es hat mir Tränen in die Augen getrieben.
Das Ganze entwickelt so eine Dramatik und Tragweite, was man in der Form niemals vermuten würde.
Und das Ende. Mein Gott. So von Verzweiflung, Wut und Angst geprägt. Und trotzdem ist da auch so unglaublich viel Stärke und Mut.
Ich bin unglaublich beeindruckt von so viel psychologischem Feingefühl und Empathie.
Ein außergewöhnliches Buch das Spuren hinterlässt und nachklingt.
Ein absolutes Jahreshighlight. Ein Buch, das einfach jeder gelesen haben sollte.
Zu Recht in der Festa Must Read Kategorie.
Fazit:
Guy Portman gelingt mit “Symbiose” ein enorm vielschichtiges, bedrückendes und verstörendes Buch, das emotional völlig außer Kontrolle geraten lässt.
Eine Thematik, die absolute Beklemmung in mir ausgelöst hat. Mich vor allem mit Hilflosigkeit und Wut erfüllt hat.
Ein außergewöhnliches Buch das Spuren hinterlässt und nachklingt.
Talulah und Taliah sind so viel mehr.
Eine Story die mich so unglaublich vereinnahmt und intensiv berührt hat, wie ich es kaum für möglich gehalten hätte.
Denn es zeigt so viel auf.
Es geht um Macht, Obsession, Manipulation, aber auch um Unsicherheit, Angst und Verzweiflung.
Ein absolutes Jahreshighlight.
Zu Recht in der Festa Must Read Kategorie.
Jeder sollte dieses Buch gelesen haben.
June 1, 2016
I have always wondered what it would be like in the life of twins. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the adventures of these two female twins. There are some serious twists and turns in the story that I found really progressed the story in all the right places. It was nice to see some solid character development of these two twins and to see them grow independently of each other but together at the same time. A very different but well done story
I received this book from the author for a review.
I received this book from the author for a review.
April 20, 2019
As a society, I think we have an enduring fascination with identical twins. It’s a phenomenon that raises lots of existential questions about identity, the nature of genetics, and even the human soul. On a more primal level, they’re an oddity that fascinates in the same way that anything out of the ordinary does.
Which is all entirely ridiculous if you actually know any identical twins (I’ve known quite a few) because they’re just people like everyone else. Their mystique is entirely around the fact that they look the same, and often behave very similarly. But siblings do that too. I’m nine years older than one of my sisters and we regularly get mistaken for identical twins.
Still, the mystique, and our interest, endures. What I like about Symbiosis is it takes that fascination and plays on it, whilst also exploring some of those deeper questions about identity.
Symbiosis is at its best when taking on the theme of identity. Taliah struggles to forge any sense of self outside the influence of her more dominant twin, Talulah – even when Talulah’s actions start taking her on a path that Taliah doesn’t want to follow. There’s the barest suggestion of something preternatural about Talulah’s influence on Taliah, which is a nice nod to the idea that identical twins have some form of telepathy.
What’s really interesting, though, is how the perception other people have of the twins is centred entirely around their being two parts of the same whole. Taliah is regularly told that it must be awful to be away from her twin, with characters remarking that it’s ‘cruel’ to separate them in any way. Even the twins’ mother is unhappy when the girls aren’t together, forcing Taliah to conform to an idea held about her, rather than allowing her to flourish as her own person.
It’s the central conflict of the story – this tug of war between the two girls. The twins are both protagonist and antagonist, with reader sympathies aligning with one twin more than the other very quickly. Sure, there are outside antagonists – a few obnoxious medical professionals and a charismatic anarchist whose influence has a devastating impact on the sisters – but the real struggle is between sister and sister. It made for compelling and often nail bitingly tense reading.
There were a few niggling annoyances that, for me, prevented this being a solid 4 star read. For one, the characters often ‘exclaim’ or ‘shout’ or do things other than just said. Which your primary school English teacher probably loved, but any reader will tell you is distracting, throwing you out of the narrative. There were also a few moments where the actions of the characters bordered on reprehensible in a way I didn’t feel they’d be able to get away with. They weren’t characters you were meant to like, but I felt in trying to make them horrid, a boundary was crossed into ‘unbelievable’ territory.
The cryptophasia the twins speak also sometimes ran to four or five lines of dialogue – a proper conversation. I didn’t mind it for a one or two liner where you could essentially guess what was being said, but when I felt meaning was being lost in translation, it got a bit frustrating.
Overall, though, this is a decent read with an excellent creeping sense of impending doom throughout that makes you whip through the pages, and thoughtful exploration of themes of identity through the unusual lens of identical twinship.
Which is all entirely ridiculous if you actually know any identical twins (I’ve known quite a few) because they’re just people like everyone else. Their mystique is entirely around the fact that they look the same, and often behave very similarly. But siblings do that too. I’m nine years older than one of my sisters and we regularly get mistaken for identical twins.
Still, the mystique, and our interest, endures. What I like about Symbiosis is it takes that fascination and plays on it, whilst also exploring some of those deeper questions about identity.
Symbiosis is at its best when taking on the theme of identity. Taliah struggles to forge any sense of self outside the influence of her more dominant twin, Talulah – even when Talulah’s actions start taking her on a path that Taliah doesn’t want to follow. There’s the barest suggestion of something preternatural about Talulah’s influence on Taliah, which is a nice nod to the idea that identical twins have some form of telepathy.
What’s really interesting, though, is how the perception other people have of the twins is centred entirely around their being two parts of the same whole. Taliah is regularly told that it must be awful to be away from her twin, with characters remarking that it’s ‘cruel’ to separate them in any way. Even the twins’ mother is unhappy when the girls aren’t together, forcing Taliah to conform to an idea held about her, rather than allowing her to flourish as her own person.
It’s the central conflict of the story – this tug of war between the two girls. The twins are both protagonist and antagonist, with reader sympathies aligning with one twin more than the other very quickly. Sure, there are outside antagonists – a few obnoxious medical professionals and a charismatic anarchist whose influence has a devastating impact on the sisters – but the real struggle is between sister and sister. It made for compelling and often nail bitingly tense reading.
There were a few niggling annoyances that, for me, prevented this being a solid 4 star read. For one, the characters often ‘exclaim’ or ‘shout’ or do things other than just said. Which your primary school English teacher probably loved, but any reader will tell you is distracting, throwing you out of the narrative. There were also a few moments where the actions of the characters bordered on reprehensible in a way I didn’t feel they’d be able to get away with. They weren’t characters you were meant to like, but I felt in trying to make them horrid, a boundary was crossed into ‘unbelievable’ territory.
The cryptophasia the twins speak also sometimes ran to four or five lines of dialogue – a proper conversation. I didn’t mind it for a one or two liner where you could essentially guess what was being said, but when I felt meaning was being lost in translation, it got a bit frustrating.
Overall, though, this is a decent read with an excellent creeping sense of impending doom throughout that makes you whip through the pages, and thoughtful exploration of themes of identity through the unusual lens of identical twinship.
December 20, 2021
Auf dieses Buch freute ich mich seit der Verlagsvorschau. Das Cover finde ich einfach nur Großartig und der Klappentext klang echt mega spannend.
Der Einstieg ins Buch fiel mir hier sehr leicht, denn der Schreibstil des Autoren ist locker und flüssig zugleich. Außerdem schreibt er bildhaft und einnehmend.
An sich beginnt dieses Buch etwas ruhiger. Ich lernte Talulah und Taliah kennen. Diese beiden Mädchen faszinierten mich sehr.
Man merkte deutlich wie sehr sie sich gegenseitig brauchen.
Als die beiden schließlich älter werden merkte man schon dass sich etwas verändert hat.
Der eine Zwilling wird vom anderen unterdrückt.
Erst sind es nur Kleinigkeiten doch das ganze steigert sich zusehends.
Das eine solches Verhalten auf Dauer nicht gut geht ist klar.
Aber was dann noch alles geschieht zog mir schier den Boden unter den Füßen weg.
Alle Charaktere wurden authentisch und greifbar gezeichnet.
Psychologisch gesehen toppt dieses Buch einfach alles! Es ist beinahe erschreckend welche Abgründe sich hier entwickeln.
Was mich aber völlig umgehauen hat war das Ende.
Ich muss gestehen daß ich absolut keine Ahnung hatte wie das Ganze ausgehen würde. Aber so ein Ende?! Das kam echt unerwartet und hat mir persönlich unglaublich gut gefallen.
Hut ab!
Dieses Buch ist ein eher ruhiger Thriller der dennoch tiefgründig, psychologisch komplex und vielschichtig ist.
Klare Empfehlung!
Fazit:
Mit „Symbiose“ gelingt Guy Portman ein außergewöhnliches, komplexes und tiefgründiges Buch welches mich restlos begeistert hat.
Der Einstieg ins Buch fiel mir hier sehr leicht, denn der Schreibstil des Autoren ist locker und flüssig zugleich. Außerdem schreibt er bildhaft und einnehmend.
An sich beginnt dieses Buch etwas ruhiger. Ich lernte Talulah und Taliah kennen. Diese beiden Mädchen faszinierten mich sehr.
Man merkte deutlich wie sehr sie sich gegenseitig brauchen.
Als die beiden schließlich älter werden merkte man schon dass sich etwas verändert hat.
Der eine Zwilling wird vom anderen unterdrückt.
Erst sind es nur Kleinigkeiten doch das ganze steigert sich zusehends.
Das eine solches Verhalten auf Dauer nicht gut geht ist klar.
Aber was dann noch alles geschieht zog mir schier den Boden unter den Füßen weg.
Alle Charaktere wurden authentisch und greifbar gezeichnet.
Psychologisch gesehen toppt dieses Buch einfach alles! Es ist beinahe erschreckend welche Abgründe sich hier entwickeln.
Was mich aber völlig umgehauen hat war das Ende.
Ich muss gestehen daß ich absolut keine Ahnung hatte wie das Ganze ausgehen würde. Aber so ein Ende?! Das kam echt unerwartet und hat mir persönlich unglaublich gut gefallen.
Hut ab!
Dieses Buch ist ein eher ruhiger Thriller der dennoch tiefgründig, psychologisch komplex und vielschichtig ist.
Klare Empfehlung!
Fazit:
Mit „Symbiose“ gelingt Guy Portman ein außergewöhnliches, komplexes und tiefgründiges Buch welches mich restlos begeistert hat.
September 19, 2022
This is a hidden gem of a novel. It’s one of those books you pick up not knowing what to expect and then it surprises you over and over again with just how excellent it is. This is also an extremely dark book, and it’s not going to be for everyone. However, if you like dark, and you also like thoughtful, well-written fiction with a lot of layers, you will definitely like this book quite a bit.
The story is about twins, Tahlia and Talulah, who are extremely attached to each other. They are so attached, in fact, that their relationship is deeply dysfunctional and even poisonous at times. No one can tell them apart unless they check the color of hair bands they wear, and in all aspects they seem to be two halves of one unit. The story has a creepy/weird horror feel to it, which I loved, but as it keeps unfolding, it becomes suspenseful and you see elements of mystery/thriller as it slowly becomes apparent that Taliah and Talulah ARE actually different from each other. The key is to figure out how far the “Bad Seed” influence goes between the two of them.
This novel really had an old-school horror vibe to it, which is one of the reasons I liked it so much. It was a psychological terror thing happening between the twins that made it so eerie and disturbing. And then the ending—wow. I didn’t see it coming, but then when it happened I also saw that it could have been no other way. Excellent way to finish this brilliant book.
The story is about twins, Tahlia and Talulah, who are extremely attached to each other. They are so attached, in fact, that their relationship is deeply dysfunctional and even poisonous at times. No one can tell them apart unless they check the color of hair bands they wear, and in all aspects they seem to be two halves of one unit. The story has a creepy/weird horror feel to it, which I loved, but as it keeps unfolding, it becomes suspenseful and you see elements of mystery/thriller as it slowly becomes apparent that Taliah and Talulah ARE actually different from each other. The key is to figure out how far the “Bad Seed” influence goes between the two of them.
This novel really had an old-school horror vibe to it, which is one of the reasons I liked it so much. It was a psychological terror thing happening between the twins that made it so eerie and disturbing. And then the ending—wow. I didn’t see it coming, but then when it happened I also saw that it could have been no other way. Excellent way to finish this brilliant book.
July 19, 2024
Ⓡⓔⓩⓔⓝⓢⓘⓞⓝ
Puh, ja was soll ich zu diesem Buch sagen. Also vorab muss ich sagen das ich den Klappentext und das Cover gut und spannend fand, weshalb ich es mir auch geholt habe. Vorab habe ich auch keine Rezension dazu gelesen.
Die Grundidee von Guy Portman finde ich sehr gut, hätte aber meines Erachtens besser umgesetzt werden können.
Es ist flüssig geschrieben, weswegen man es schnell lesen kann. Aber, besonders am Anfang und bei den Tagebucheinträgen, sehr verwirrend geschrieben und die Geheimsprache der Zwillinge wird nie erklärt was sie sagen. Man versteht also nie was sie gesagt haben, wenn sie kryptographisch sprechen.
Auch weiss ich nicht genau was daran ein Thriller sein soll, denn für mich passiert hier nichts wirklich spannendes oder düsteres, was einen Thriller ausmacht. Es ist eher eine Geschichte, wie eineiige Zwillinge auf die schiefe Bahn geraten.
Für mich persönlich ist es nicht ein Festa Must-Read. Ja man kann es lesen, aber es ist eher was für zwischendurch.
Puh, ja was soll ich zu diesem Buch sagen. Also vorab muss ich sagen das ich den Klappentext und das Cover gut und spannend fand, weshalb ich es mir auch geholt habe. Vorab habe ich auch keine Rezension dazu gelesen.
Die Grundidee von Guy Portman finde ich sehr gut, hätte aber meines Erachtens besser umgesetzt werden können.
Es ist flüssig geschrieben, weswegen man es schnell lesen kann. Aber, besonders am Anfang und bei den Tagebucheinträgen, sehr verwirrend geschrieben und die Geheimsprache der Zwillinge wird nie erklärt was sie sagen. Man versteht also nie was sie gesagt haben, wenn sie kryptographisch sprechen.
Auch weiss ich nicht genau was daran ein Thriller sein soll, denn für mich passiert hier nichts wirklich spannendes oder düsteres, was einen Thriller ausmacht. Es ist eher eine Geschichte, wie eineiige Zwillinge auf die schiefe Bahn geraten.
Für mich persönlich ist es nicht ein Festa Must-Read. Ja man kann es lesen, aber es ist eher was für zwischendurch.
July 5, 2023
This book is creepy and insightful to the human nuclear symbiotic cellular level. It's interesting the twins were biracial, and the mother was a Caribbean native. I felt really invested in the girls mental health because I understand having a child with severe behavior issues. But that identical twin nepotism and influence is scary s**t! I just couldn't understand it, but really wanted to. I love my siblings, but they can be unbelievable at times. Taliah is such a beautiful character that you just want to hug, protect, and keep safe. Tallulah is a character you want to keep safe, hug more, and discipline more. I'd never raise any of my kids to think it's ok to not have individual feelings and behavior. It starts when they're young to instill this, you can't get results if you're ignoring the problem for so many years and expect change. I felt so empathetic on behalf both twins because of this.
April 12, 2023
What a fabulous insight into the special world of identical twins.
This is a tale of an all consuming relationship between two girls who are identical in looks but different in personality. Talulah and Taliah have their own language and barely converse with anybody else at school. They are sent away to another school and its here that the symbiotic relationship begins to take its toll with one twin thriving while the other fades away.
A sad but not totally unexpected ending to a gripping story.
This is a tale of an all consuming relationship between two girls who are identical in looks but different in personality. Talulah and Taliah have their own language and barely converse with anybody else at school. They are sent away to another school and its here that the symbiotic relationship begins to take its toll with one twin thriving while the other fades away.
A sad but not totally unexpected ending to a gripping story.
May 20, 2023
This story was Unique!!
It is a well written story that kept me intrigued throughout the entire story!!
It is a well written story that kept me intrigued throughout the entire story!!
June 7, 2024
This book was a rollercoaster of emotions! It kicks off with some seriously creepy sibling bonding that will make your skin crawl. Just when you start to wonder if you should even bother finishing the book, BAM! It hits you like a ton of bricks.
It's a quick read with unexpected twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I found it fascinating how the author managed to keep things interesting, even when the story seemed to be veering towards boredom. These sisters go through some crazy stuff and make some major mistakes along the way.
What I found to be really interesting & well written were the parts where we get to observe the duo in action together complemented by their individual personalities. The sort of parasitic relationship that emerges is far from a conventionally understood symbiotic understanding between twins. To me, this delving into human psyche was the best part of the book!
I couldn't help but feel sorry for their poor parents. They must have been pulling their hair out trying to keep up with all the drama. Overall, this book was a wild ride that I won't soon forget.
PLUS THESE GIRLS HAVE A SECRET LANGUAGE that no one in the book nor the reader understands. This added SO MUCH INTRIGUE to the plot.
Crazy, weird, unexpected! I love creepy, horror genre kids😭
It's a quick read with unexpected twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I found it fascinating how the author managed to keep things interesting, even when the story seemed to be veering towards boredom. These sisters go through some crazy stuff and make some major mistakes along the way.
What I found to be really interesting & well written were the parts where we get to observe the duo in action together complemented by their individual personalities. The sort of parasitic relationship that emerges is far from a conventionally understood symbiotic understanding between twins. To me, this delving into human psyche was the best part of the book!
I couldn't help but feel sorry for their poor parents. They must have been pulling their hair out trying to keep up with all the drama. Overall, this book was a wild ride that I won't soon forget.
PLUS THESE GIRLS HAVE A SECRET LANGUAGE that no one in the book nor the reader understands. This added SO MUCH INTRIGUE to the plot.
Crazy, weird, unexpected! I love creepy, horror genre kids😭
February 20, 2016
I received a copy of Symbiosis in return for an honest review.
I am sorry to say that, although initially intrigued by the book, for me, it wound up falling flat. I've always been fascinated with twins, and the book is a tale about two identical twins and one of the twins trying to stand out as an individual. That being said, I found there was little in terms of actual plot, and although I found Taliah to be an interesting character, Talulah I found increasingly frustrating to read about.
I also found the cryptophasia written throughout the book to be detrimental, as the writer didn't bother to explain what any of it meant, so it just seemed like random gibberish. After a while, it became frustrating, since there were pages of dialogue written that way and none of it made any sense to me.
That being said, I really did like Taliah as a character, I thought she was interesting and easy to empathize with. I was also pleased with how the story ended, although I still would only rate it a 2.5 our of 5 stars.
I am sorry to say that, although initially intrigued by the book, for me, it wound up falling flat. I've always been fascinated with twins, and the book is a tale about two identical twins and one of the twins trying to stand out as an individual. That being said, I found there was little in terms of actual plot, and although I found Taliah to be an interesting character, Talulah I found increasingly frustrating to read about.
I also found the cryptophasia written throughout the book to be detrimental, as the writer didn't bother to explain what any of it meant, so it just seemed like random gibberish. After a while, it became frustrating, since there were pages of dialogue written that way and none of it made any sense to me.
That being said, I really did like Taliah as a character, I thought she was interesting and easy to empathize with. I was also pleased with how the story ended, although I still would only rate it a 2.5 our of 5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews