Reading with Style discussion

The Double and The Double both deal with Doppelgangers. Read a book with twin characters. See task specific thread for further examples.

Some suggestions/places to look:

Best Books About Twins

Books tagged as "twin": https://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/twin

Doppelgangers List

Alright I am going to expose myself as totally out of the current culture. A Game of Thrones appears on the twin list. The book description doesn’t call out twins. Are there twins or doppelgängers in the book?

Yes, Cersei and Jamie Lannister are twins.

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "Yes, Cersei and Jamie Lannister are twins." They are major characters in the book.

OK, since we are getting jumbo points and I’ll bet that there is a Russian edition, on the list it goes!

itpdx wrote: "OK, since we are getting jumbo points and I’ll bet that there is a Russian edition, on the list it goes!"

There is a Russian edition

Conjoined twins - would they fit this twins/doppelgangers task too?

Am thinking of re-reading One by Sarah Crossan (890L)

Thanks, Jayme. I would not have been able to answer itpdx.

And do both twins have to be alive?

Regina's Song by David Eddings

Twin Loss Fiction

Tien wrote: "Conjoined twins - would they fit this twins/doppelgangers task too?

Am thinking of re-reading One by Sarah Crossan (890L)"

Pretty much any book that deals with twinship and/or mistaken identity because of doubles will work. (I say "pretty much", but it's hard to think of something on that theme that would *not* work.)

No, both twins do not have to be living.

Thanks, Elizabeth. I was just wondering if the spirit of the task was focused mostly on 'doppelganger' or it could just be 'twins' hence the queries :)

Tien wrote: "Thanks, Elizabeth. I was just wondering if the spirit of the task was focused mostly on 'doppelganger' or it could just be 'twins' hence the queries :)"

No problem. Sometimes the idea behind a task seems too narrow so we have to expand it a bit.

How big of a role do the twins (or twin) have to play in the novel? I am asking specifically about Atonement for combo points only.

Valerie wrote: "How big of a role do the twins (or twin) have to play in the novel? I am asking specifically about Atonement for combo points only."

They should have, as a minimum, a significant role and/or be the cause of a major plot turning point. They may not be actual twins in the genetic sense, but doubles.

Having not read this, and only seeing the description, I would be skeptical, but as descriptions shouldn't provide spoilers, I'll keep an open mind.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Valerie wrote: "How big of a role do the twins (or twin) have to play in the novel? I am asking specifically about Atonement for combo points only."

They should have, as a minimum, ..."

Ok, Thanks. That is what I thought. I haven't read it yet either (obviously), but will update when I have.

Valerie wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Valerie wrote: "How big of a role do the twins (or twin) have to play in the novel? I am asking specifically about Atonement for combo points only."

They ..."

I've just finished the book. I don't think it qualifies here. The twins are important (the MC wants to atone to one of them) but ultimately the story is about the MC not them.

Valerie wrote: "The twins are important (the MC wants to atone to one of them) but ultimately the story is about the MC not them. "

Thanks for the update, Valerie!

Do clones work?

Would a clockwork man work if it looked enough like the MC to be mistaken for him?

Coralie wrote: "Do clones work?

Would a clockwork man work if it looked enough like the MC to be mistaken for him?"

Yes - this task is as much (if not more) about mistaken identity as actual twins.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Coralie wrote: "Do clones work?

Would a clockwork man work if it looked enough like the MC to be mistaken for him?"

Yes - this task is as much (if not more) about mistaken identity as actual twins."

And often identical twins are clones (but apparently, not always https://www.scientificamerican.com/ar... f, plus there are people who have absorbed a twin and have two different sets of DNA https://www.scientificamerican.com/ar..., but of course THAT isn't what we're reading, but very interesting indeed.

Here's a model who is her own fraternal twin https://www.google.com/search?q=taylo... , Taylor Muhl.

Slade House - the description mentions a brother and sister. They are in fact twins, as mentioned in the first paragraph (and several others) here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slade_H...
I'd say they are the main characters, although not the narrators. Each part or episode has a different narrator. The twins are the only characters who appear in all five episodes (which happen at 9-year intervals) and they are the driving force behind the events of the story.

Is that enough for combo points on this one?

Rosemary wrote: "Slade House - the description mentions a brother and sister. They are in fact twins, as mentioned in the first paragraph (and several others) here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sla..."

yes.

So.... I'm reading The Duchess of Malfi and discover 70% of the way in (on Kindle) that the Duchess' brother Ferdinand is her twin.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Duc... : "Ferdinand. The Duke of Calabria and twin brother of the Duchess."

Ed wrote: "So.... I'm reading The Duchess of Malfi and discover 70% of the way in (on Kindle) that the Duchess' brother Ferdinand is her twin.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Duc......"

Noted!

I’ve seen reviews that mention twin characters in The Night Circus. Could anyone who has read it tell me if they play a big enough role to work for this task? Thank you.

Bryony wrote: "I’ve seen reviews that mention twin characters in The Night Circus. Could anyone who has read it tell me if they play a big enough role to work for this task? Thank you."

I would say no. Sorry :(. Granted, it has been 3 years since I read it - maybe a more recent reader will comment.

Thanks for replying Valerie, I’ll see if it fits into a different task instead. :-)

Bryony wrote: "Thanks for replying Valerie, I’ll see if it fits into a different task instead. :-)"

Or, maybe you'll find out I was incorrect once you read it! It does fit 20.6

Valerie wrote: "Bryony wrote: "Thanks for replying Valerie, I’ll see if it fits into a different task instead. :-)"

Or, maybe you'll find out I was incorrect once you read it! It does fit 20.6"

It also fits 10.9 and 20.4!

Thank you both for the suggestions, I’m glad it looks like I’ll be able to fit it in as I’ve had the book on hold at my library for a while and finally got it this week.

I'm wondering if I can claim A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens for this task?

My argument below is really spoilerific, so I would rather lose out on the points, than spoil the book for someone else. But maybe someone else who has read it, can weigh in?

(view spoiler)[Two central characters, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, are able to pass for each other at two crucial points in the book. Once in the beginning where Charles Darnay avoids being sentenced to jail, because he bears such a striking resemblance to Carton, that the prosecutor's argument falls apart. And once at the end, where Carton is able to save Darnay from the guillotine, by placing himself in Darnays stead, because they look so much alike. Towards the end it is revealed that they look so much alike because they are half brothers. (hide spoiler)]

Louise Bro wrote: "I'm wondering if I can claim A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens for this task?

My argument below is really spoilerific, so I would rather lose out on the points, t..."

It's been a great number of years since I read this, but as I recall a "double" is central. Yes, this fits this task.

Bryony wrote: "I’ve seen reviews that mention twin characters in The Night Circus. Could anyone who has read it tell me if they play a big enough role to work for this task? Thank you."

Bryony, did you see Deedee's post 429? She read the book and determined the twins play a large enough role. I don't know if you've claimed for this task yet, but apparently The Night Circus will fulfill it.

Thanks so much Valerie, great that I’ll be able to count The Night Circus for this task. (And, sorry to reply so long after your original message.)