SUMMARY: Sophia always felt she had a sibling. Dreams of days playing on a rural farm by the mountains with a little girl, laced her mind when she slept. She had been adopted, her parents told her that much. But she only found out on her mother’s deathbed that she had a twin.
The BookViral Review: Genre –Short stories
A short novel with many powerful and meaningful messages strewn throughout very few authors are truly adept at capturing the emotions of their characters but Pisaturo does just that. The overarching theme is that of loss, hope and reconciliation in which prose style and narrative find alternative expression with Pisaturo delivering a complete, engrossing and above all cleverly crafted story that pays due deference to the intricacies of her characters.
In estranged twins Sophia and Sonja she invites us to peer closely at them, to know them as individuals, with each chapter conveying something tangible and notable. Sophia’s carefully constructed and ordered life as a renowned surgeon standing in contrast to that of Sonja’s more frugal life, her unwavering belief in God and the power of prayer.
Through Sonja’s daughters Sophia and Jennie the estranged twins come to know each other again. Standing together in the face of tragedy and reshaping their lives through their newfound connection and their combined love for Sophia and Jennie.
As a novel The Other Half of Me is stylish but the more saccharine elements of the genre which so often drag a story down are nowhere to be seen. Pisaturo’s characters are not only appealing but very believable and for readers looking for a quick read with a deeper subtext, it’s as good as it gets.
A fine introduction to the words of Angela Pisaturo The Other Half of Me is highly recommended.