| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Book Description
'A remarkable (and finally tragic) story which, in its depth, penetration and detail, no less than its extraordinary subject matter, must be seen as outstanding, a testimony to something extraordinary in the author herself' Oliver Sacks, New York Times Review of Books
Product Description
This is the astonishing tale of June and Jennifer Gibbons, identical twins whose silent, antisocial exterior hid a rich, vast, creative life. From their early childhood through their twenties, they spoke only to each other in a secret language, building an elaborated fantasy life. From their self-imposed isolation, they were catapuled into the hormonal havoc of adolescence - plunging into a wild spree that ultimately led to their incarceration in a hospital for the criminally insane.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I bought this for my mother in law and she enjoyed reading it immensely. Thanks for keeping my mother in law quiet for a short time whilst we were on holiday with them!!
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book as it had been the inspiration behind Nicky Wires' lyrics for 'Tsunami' - which was a massive hit for Manic Street Preachers. In the past I've been disappointed with some recommended books, but this one by Marjorie Wallace is truly brilliant.
It gives a vivid insight into the lives of June & Jennifer Gibbons, identical twins from South Wales who were sent to Broadmoor at the age of 19. Their crime really was that they chose not to speak. They were clever girls who could not face the tedious boredom of real life and so made up their own little fantasy world.
Unfortunately they were drawn into a life of petty crime and eventually ended up in prison for their crimes.
The author gives an extraordinary insight into the lives of the twins and the way in which society treats people who are "different" from the norm. It is graphic and shocking in parts but honest. I couldn't put the book down and I would highly recommend it highly.
One of those books that stays with you long after you've finished reading it.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a brilliant book and like most others I couldn't put it down. It has been fully updated and so the ending for both twins is now in place.
I thought it was very well written, easy to follow and very well laid out. As a twin myself I found the story fascinating though of course very sad in many ways. You can certainly understand why patients became institutionalised under the old mental health system?
There's no doubt that the twins went off the rails big time in their teens. They were very immature and in a fantasy world of their own. They were heading for prison for sure, one of their fires caused £100,000 worth of damage! However, as has been said before, there seemed little to no supervision from their parents through that period? There are so many unanswered questions in this story. They undeniably had a lot expertise / money thrown at them to try and cure their traits but the truth is that they didn't want it? Crucially, when they needed it the most it seems it was not available or simply that they were totally misunderstood and therefore misdiagnosed and then entered into a system that couldn't cater for them. You would have to say though that they had umpteenth opportunities to get out had they chosen to do so. They simply seemed unwilling or unable to do so.
This book is full of interest and seemingly very factual. It'll make you wonder, worry, laugh and cry but most of all it's a great read and of course a true story.
I thought it was very well written, easy to follow and very well laid out. As a twin myself I found the story fascinating though of course very sad in many ways. You can certainly understand why patients became institutionalised under the old mental health system?
There's no doubt that the twins went off the rails big time in their teens. They were very immature and in a fantasy world of their own. They were heading for prison for sure, one of their fires caused £100,000 worth of damage! However, as has been said before, there seemed little to no supervision from their parents through that period? There are so many unanswered questions in this story. They undeniably had a lot expertise / money thrown at them to try and cure their traits but the truth is that they didn't want it? Crucially, when they needed it the most it seems it was not available or simply that they were totally misunderstood and therefore misdiagnosed and then entered into a system that couldn't cater for them. You would have to say though that they had umpteenth opportunities to get out had they chosen to do so. They simply seemed unwilling or unable to do so.
This book is full of interest and seemingly very factual. It'll make you wonder, worry, laugh and cry but most of all it's a great read and of course a true story.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Funny Peculiar and (unfortunately) HaHa
If Emily Bronte had written the Secret Diary of Adrian Mole then I suspect it would have read something like this. Read more
Published on 26 May 2008 by Catblack_uk
Poignant, sad story; beautifully written.
Marjorie Wallace has done a wonderful job of telling such a difficult and at times heart-breaking story. Like many other readers I could not put this book down. Read more
Published on 26 July 2007 by C. Donnelly
the social point of view
As far as I'm a student of sociology I`ve read this book from a social point of view,an I think that's a very strange case which can happen in every family of today unless the... Read more
Published on 4 May 2000
Incredible story!
I just couln't put this book done. I would like to know how they are doing today.
Published on 23 Oct 1999
Captivating Story
Once I picked up the book I could not stop reading. I became a part of the suffering of these two amazing sisters. Twins trapped by a biological predicament. Read more
Published on 4 Aug 1999
Remarkable story - well told
This is an amazing story of two twins totally absorbed in their own world. The story is very well told and charts their lives from childhood through to the events that led to... Read more
Published on 6 Feb 1999
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Biography > Medical, Legal & Social Sciences > Psychology
- Books > Biography > True Crime
- Books > Health, Family & Lifestyle > Medical & Healthcare Practitioners > Other Branches of Medicine > Psychiatry
- Books > Science & Nature > Medicine > Medical Sciences A-Z > Mental Health Services
- Books > Scientific, Technical & Medical
- Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Social Sciences > Sociology > Family & Social Groups > Age Groups > Children
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
