Who Would Like This Book:
If you’re a lover of language, grammar quirks, or find yourself charmed by eccentric, intellectual characters, "The Grammarians" was practically made for you! This witty novel follows identical twin sisters whose obsession with words - and each other - shapes their entire lives. With clever wordplay and plenty of literary in-jokes, it’s a treat for grammar nerds, linguists, and anyone who delights in the oddities of family relationships, especially sister (or twin) bonds.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you’re not keen on novels that dive deep into the minutiae of language, or if you prefer fast-moving plots over introspection and quirky characterization, this book may test your patience. Some readers found the sisters hard to like, felt bogged down by the constant linguistic tangents, or were left wanting more emotional depth and story resolution. The second half, in particular, can feel slow or unfocused for anyone craving straightforward storytelling.
About:
Identical twin sisters, Laurel and Daphne, are the central characters in 'The Grammarians' by Cathleen Schine. Growing up with a shared love for words and language, their bond is tested as they navigate adulthood, careers, and relationships. The story delves into the complexities of their relationship, from creating their own secret language as children to grappling with differing views on grammar as adults. The novel explores themes of sisterhood, family dynamics, and the impact of language on personal identity, all while showcasing the author's light touch and playful exploration of linguistic concepts.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings for The Grammarians include themes of familial conflict, sibling rivalry, emotional distress, and discussions of personal grievances, particularly regarding the characters' relationships.
Has Romance?
The book contains elements of romance, though it is not the central focus. It portrays relationships in a nuanced way, primarily revolving around the twin sisters.
From The Publisher:
An enchanting, comic love letter to sibling rivalry and the English language. From the author compared to Nora Ephron and Nancy Mitford, not to mention Jane Austen, comes a new novel celebrating the beauty, mischief, and occasional treachery of language.
The Grammarians are Laurel and Daphne Wolfe, identical, inseparable redheaded twins who share an obsession with words. They speak a secret “twin” tongue of their own as toddlers; as adults making their way in 1980s Manhattan, their verbal infatuation continues, but this love, which has always bound them together, begins instead to push them apart.
Daphne, copy editor and grammar columnist, devotes herself to preserving the dignity and elegance of Standard English. Laurel, who gives up teaching kindergarten to write poetry, is drawn, instead, to the polymorphous, chameleon nature of the written and spoken word. Their fraying twinship finally shreds completely when the sisters go to war, absurdly but passionately, over custody of their most prized family heirloom: Merriam Webster’s New International Dictionary, Second Edition.
Cathleen Schine has written a playful and joyful celebration of the interplay of language and life. A dazzling comedy of sisterly and linguistic manners, a revelation of the delights and stresses of intimacy, The Grammarians is the work of one of our great comic novelists at her very best.
Ratings (1)
It Was OK (1) |
Reader Stats (6):
Read It (2) | |
Want To Read (4) |
1 comment(s)
“The Grammarians” presents the story of identical twins Laurel and Daphne Wolfe, their obsessive love of words, their secret language and how their two ship is severed over custody of the most cherished family heirloom: Webster’s New International Dictionary of the English Language, Second Edition.
When the girls are born, Laurel arrives first and the seventeen minute difference leads Daphne to feel like she needs to spend her life trying to catch up to Laurel.
As babies and toddlers, the girls speak in a secret language and this frightens their mother who struggles to connect with her daughters. Their father Arthur finds their language just baby talk and nothing to worry about. As the girls get older, they each find jobs which involve words (Laurel as a kindergarten teacher then a poet and Daphne as a copy editor.)
Although the girls are identical twins, Laurel is the first to make a change to separate herself from Daphne. Daphne feels hurt and betrayed by Laurel cosmetic alteration. When Laurel gets engaged, Daphne rushes to find a man in order to insure that they will have a double wedding. Unbeknownst to them, while their sisterhood will eventually falter and dissolve, the friendship that is created between their husbands, Larry and Michael, will last a lifetime.
As the years pass, Laurel and Daphne’s lives as twins separate as the become wives and mothers as well as living away from each other. They soon begin to view each other with scorn and disdain but are brought back together at their father’s funeral. Although the sisters grieve the death of their beloved father, they push their grief aside when it comes to determining who will get their father’s dictionary.
The fact that neither sister gets the dictionary leads to years of not talking. It is only through their mother’s death that the women finally reconcile.
This was an okay read. As someone who loves words and their definitions, I guess I expected more witty wordplay.
What can you read after
The Grammarians?
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