An interesting read: thought-provoking stuff about conjoined twins and difficult decisions most people never have to make.

I don't know what I'd decide - I'd like to think that I'd consider survival rates, medical complications, and quality of life - with or without surgery. But there are always family & societal pressures as well. This is one of those hard choices I'm glad I've never had to face.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure it mentions somewhere in the book that the title is a reference to Tod Browning's 1932 movie Freaks - which included Violet and Daisy Hilton in the cast (I believe they're shown on the cover of this book). I thought that line was the creepiest one in the film, but it's certainly memorable (as is the film).

I didn't see it, but apparently Nova recently did an episode about separating twins.

I'm guessing the photo that JudySlump612 and quietorchid are referring to is of the Hensel twins, who seem to have their own reality show. I remember the Life Magazine article on them, and they seem happy and relatively healthy as they are. Since they share limbs and major organs, even if they had been successfully separated and both survived, they would not have been "normal"; they would have been disabled. Their parents seem to have made the right decision for them.

Looking for a new reader - going out in JudySlump612's Medicine Chest Bookbox II as re-started by GoryDetails.

Released for my D for December challenge.

Returned in the Medicine Chest Book Box

As hyphen8 says, interesting and thought-provoking, and a good stumbling block to the pro-life factions that see everything as simple black/white, yes/no easy decisions. So what happens when a circulatory system can't possibly sustain two lives, but might be sufficient for one? Or who makes the decision to present two separated twins, that will need continuing expensive medical services for the rest of their lives, back to parents with no ability (and possibly no interest) for providing those services? And how often are we planning separation surgery just so we won't have to see bodies that make us uncomfortable?

I kept flipping back to the picture on page 38 of two happy girls playing at home. The whole book is an eye-opener, and I'm glad I had the chance to read it. Thanks for sharing it, hyphen8.

But that's just one person's opinion. Future readers, what do YOU think of this book?

Given to me by JudySlump612 for possible inclusion in the next Medecine Chest Bookbox. Thanks!

Dreger makes a very good case for looking at conjoined twins, because we are all human and therefore curious, and thinking hard about the value of 'normal'. Normal to who? Who decides? What value does 'normal' have, and why has it become so imperative to perform risky operations that generate headlines announcing "Free at Last!"?

This book struck a chord with me, because the gaze from outside is always there if anything is not 'normal'. We are taught to hide away flaws, problems, differentness. Dreger (and JudySlump612) invites us instead to look at the picture of 2 little girls running and chasing their brother while their mother joins in. The picture is one of wide mouthed delight, one of those precious moments captured in childhood where the children's entire beings are caught up in joy. The girls just happen to be conjoined. How much more normal do you want?

The sad part of the book is the pressure to give these children a 'singleton' life by surgical seperation at all costs. And the costs are high and ethically dubious. A very intersting and thought provoking book.

Put into the Medicine Chest III Bookbox.

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I look forward to reading this book and joining in the lively discussion.

I remember watching some TV programs about conjoined twins. One of them talked about an pair of Indian girls. They only have two upper bodies conjoined, so they walked around with their four hands. The villagers believed them to be the reincarnation of a spider goddess!

This book is a bit different from what I expected. It feels somewhat like a research paper by a Sociology professor. I admit, I picked out this book because, like most people, I find conjoined twins curiously fascinating, and I thought I would read more about their lives. However, this book mostly presents the argument of how people with unusual anatomy - not just conjoined twins, but people who looks outside the norm, as well as intersex - can lead a normal life, and that using surgery and modern technology to force them into someone closer to normal may not be the best choice. The concept is definitely unconventional, but it makes sense, and our society's obsession with a youthful look stems equally from our desire to conform to the good look.

As the book contains few pictures I couldn't help googling some of the twins the author mentioned, plus the movie "Freaks" which I never heard of before. Looking at the pictures of conjoined twins, and reading some articles of how the separated twins soon perished, I couldn't help but think that the author's idea, while radical, makes a lot of sense.

I have set this aside for the Medicine Chest Bookbox, but as the new round hasn't started, I'm taking it to have some fun at the BC Con.

Hi! How wonderful you've found one of my books! Thank you so much for checking out the journal. I would really appreciate if you can take a moment to let me know you have it now. Trust me, it'll totally make my day to hear from one of my "wild" books.

Bookcrossing is a wonderful online community of book lovers dedicated to sharing books with each other and the world at large. We are also curious to see how far and wide our books can travel. I would appreciate if you can make a journal entry on this book so we know where the book has been. You don't have to set up an account.

Feel free to keep this book, return it to where you found it, or pass it on to the next reader. If you sign up as a member, you will hear from the book as it travels and gets journaled. Feel free to explore the BookCrossing site, and visit our forum to meet other booklovers. Membership is confidential, free, and spam-free. Happy reading!

Took to the meetup with local BCers. Only Conte was able to make it so she went home with a big bag of books... (sorry!! but I thought others may be here...)

It was really nice meeting you, thanks so much for coming, I don't know if nonfiction is your type, I hope you will either enjoy the book or have fun sharing it with other BCer or releasing it somewhere...