“...examines the complex relationship between the practical and the passionate self, the realist and the dreamer, and the importance of those moments in life that make you feel 'airborne.'”
—Erin Kodicek
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Feb 2010
17th
Generous review from Tater Twins
"I expected to enjoy it...but I found it hard to put down."
-Jayme on Tatertwins.com
This past week while in Philly I read a book called One and the Same: My Life As an Identical Twin and What I’ve Learned about Everyone’s Struggle to be Singular by Abigail Pogrebin. The subject matter intrigued me as a new parent to twin boys, even though mine are not identical. I wasn’t sure what kind of read it would be- whether it would be full of stats and numbers and quotes from studies or would it be an easy read, with a story line. While I was interested in the subject matter, I didn’t know if it was something that a person who was not a twin or a parent of twins would find engaging.
What I found was a book full of fascinating actual stories from countless twins that Abigail Pogrebin interviewed. I read her recaps of interviews with fertility specialists, psychologists, and other experts- where they discussed their studies of twins, theories, and more. She managed to thread her own story of being an identical twin among all of the information she shares flawlessly. While I did not undergo fertility treatments to conceive my twins, I found that section very informative. As a mother who has had babies die, I also found her coverage of the loss of one twin excellent.
This book surprised me in that it was such a riveting read. I expected to enjoy it, as I have always been enthralled by twins, but I found it hard to put down. I was gripped by the stories of the twins- such as the twin men who each lost a child and the set in which one had gender reassignment surgery. I thought the details on the studies of genetics and other research very interesting, especially since one of my twins has cancer and the other does not.
In addition to the book One and the Same, Abigail Pogrebin also maintains a website in which she uses her expertise to answer questions on twins. On the same site, you can find her blog and other writing. For me, as an only child, learning about sibling relationships- especially twinship- is crucial for me to be the best parent I can to my children. Reading her writing has given me great insight to how twins feel.
I would recommend this book not solely to anyone who is a twin or has twins, but additionally anyone curious about the amazing phenomenon of two people sharing the same DNA. You won’t just learn a considerable amount of information about twins, but you will also enjoy the heartfelt stories. Abigail Pogrebin shares not only her life, but the captivating lives of so many other sets of twins in One and the Same.
Read more: http://www.tatertwins.com/2010/02/one-and-same.html#ixzz0fnX6r03r
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