Twins

First of all, this is a great read. The book is satisfying on so many different levels. It flows like butter. On a purely soap-opera/voyeur level, it explores the lives of these blond twin adolescent girls, their sex lives, and their ambition-lives. But the way in which the sex and the various ambitions are handled takes this story deeper than a soap. It's a soap and a literary novel rolled into one. The voices are engaging and real. The details about the girls' secret/inner lives ring true, yet also surprise and generally engage you. Marcy Dermansky is an incredible writer. I've read some of her short stories (in journals) and her language is always dead on precise. If you look at the language closely you'll see there's not one wasted word. Each sentence is doing so much work, evoking such subtleties of mind and mood, bringing the story to life. The book is funny and manages to be uplifting at the end, but the writer's vision can also go dark. She's not afraid to examine loneliness, anger and failure. I should also mention how original and quirky the voice is. You definitely won't have read anything quite like it unless you've read her other work. It's the sort of book you read and then give to all your friends and they give to two friends and so on and so on. I'm a woman in my 30's. In case anyone cares.

Twins by Marcy Dermansky is not your usual pop novel. It is peculiarly personal, since the narrative is so cooly set forth and hides any obvious biases held by the author. In other words, there is a remarkable skill here at work, as MD develops her characters, as they go about living between their 12th and 18th birthdays. It is very enjoyable and rewarding to experience how Chloe and Sue go through their changes, or individual processes of maturing in the alotted time span. How can something so keenly observed, yet stripped of unnecessary detail, be so compelling? Because, as any writing professor will aver, less equals more and this writer's ideas about her characters are thoroughly developed before the actual narrative begins. As readers, we are very lucky, because Dermansky chooses wisely to not burden us with unnecessary information. What is revealed is breezily or tersely tossed off, as well as any intelligent standup comedian could do it. The depth and assurance of her writing skill leads me to conclude that Ms Dermansky has quite a bit more to offer us in the future. I eagerly await the results of her upcoming projects.

Marcy Dermansky's debut novel - Twins - is an amazing piece of twin fiction. Although not a twin herself, Dermansky has managed to capture what many other authors don't even bother to try: A real understanding of the complex relationship between identical twins! The story is fast paced, very original and occasionally disturbing while managing to be alternately funny and quite a tear-jerker. (I must admit to using up half a box of tissues crying by the end of the novel - which I read in one day). As an identical twin myself, (and twin-owner of a popular internet site for twins called Twins Realm) I was very pleasantly surprised to find the two main characters (identical twins Chloe and Sue) portrayed with real depth and understanding. Often fiction writers use twin characters only for the convenience of their storylines, while continuing to perpetuate the common stereotypes (like `good' and `evil' twins), but Dermansky's tale is a much more realistic, sympathetic, and in-depth look at the complexity of twin experiences; it offers unique insight into the struggles faced by identical twins with issues of identity and self-determination. A thoroughly enjoyable (and informative) novel, for twins and non-twins alike - definitely worth a read!!!

Beautifully written--engaging and engrossing. I read it in one sitting, and although I neglected errands, work, and some sleep in the process, I considered it well worth it. Dermansky is a writer whose craft is apparent without being in-your-face, and a storyteller whose humor gently surprises you even as her tale takes you through a range of emotions.

Normally I wouldn't think the trials and tribulations of two suburban teenaged girls would have any relevance to my life, but the themes in this fantastic book are universal. Deftly switching between voices, author Marcy Dermansky volleys your sympathy between two individuals starving (often literally) for love, yet going about it in remarkably different ways. A story which could easily have been catty is, in fact, sublime. Side characters are remarkable as well. You'll be unable to put this book down, as the young women, similar in appearance, but quite different in attitude, will somehow both meld together with you and become part of your life.