La Vita Sessuale Delle Gemelle Siamesi (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
The Sex Lives of Siamese Twins revolves around the relationship between two women - Lucy Brennan and Lena Sorenson. Lucy is a personal trainer who found herself in a position one night that brought out some bravery. She was stopped in the middle of the road at night with two men running at her, then past her, trying to get away from a third man chasing them with a gun. Lucy takes down the armed man and holds him until the police arrive. Lena was present that night, as a bystander, and filmed Lucy’s heroic act. Lena provides the video to the news networks and Lucy becomes an instant local celebrity. The next day, while Lucy is reeling from media attention, Lena tracks her down in the guise of becoming Lucy’s client. Lucy, has a terrible resentment towards Lena. The reason seems only that Lena is overweight. As much as Lena is seduced by Lucy’s personality and strength, Lucy is repulsed by Lena’s weakness and physical appearance. What follows is a dramatic turn of events due to their obsession with each other. The book is a solid three stars. Interesting, fast-paced read. I absolutely cannot stand Lucy. At first I thought the author was unable to voice a female character, but then when we get more inside Lena’s mind, that hypothesis is squashed. I didn’t feel that the ending was true to the story, but otherwise an interesting book. In this depraved tale, a personal trainer saves two men from a gunman. The media embraces her as a savior. Then, a few days later, it vilifies her. Turns out that the two men she’d rescued were pedophiles, and the gunman was a vigilante. An overweight woman who caught the thwarted attack on video goes to the trainer for sessions. As the trainer’s life crumbles, she becomes obsessed with her new client’s body. To the point where the trainer locks the overweight woman in an abandoned apartment building. The trainer forces her to exercise and diet to her specifications. The title of the book — and an adjoining subplot — is about the other major news item running along the trainer’s. A pair of Siamese twins are fighting over the right to their body. One wants to date a boy; the other isn’t interested. If one sister has sex, is the other one being raped? If they live alone forever, are they being held back? The trainer’s domination of the trainee parallels the twins’ battle. Who gets to control bodies? Are shows like The Biggest Loser (specifically mentioned in the novel several times) morally reprehensible? Signs point to yes, as various interviews by former contestants have stated. The Losers (for lack of a better word) are treated like cattle. They're forced to exercise to the point of exhaustion. They’re screamed at, dehumanized, and broken. Being in the point of view of the psychotic trainer is addictive. Her point of view, including her rampant hatred of fat people, is horrible. She’s one of the most dreadful, shallow people alive. Potty-mouthed, oversexed, celebrity-obsessed, troubled, and enraged: she’s compelling. I read this book in two days flat. It’s just as salty and addictive as the food the protagonist doesn’t want me eating.
What do You think about La Vita Sessuale Delle Gemelle Siamesi (2014)?
Gets 2 stars for the las 100 odd pages. Hellish experience up until that point.
—Lindsey
Well, I'm exhasuted. What a fantastic read!
—honorbubbles
Irvine Welsh never fails to amaze!
—aaronjohnsonfan1011
