The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker is a poignant story, set in the Netherlands. Helmer is running his family farm which was meant for his twin brother Henk, who died young 40 years ago. Helmer's father is now dying and Helmer looks back on a life that might have been had he been able to escape the farm. The reader feels the bleak atmosphere that pervades Helmer's life as he lives through each day, not doing what he wanted to do. A teenage boy is sent to "find himself" at Helmer's farm by a former girlfriend of his twin brother and this changes the dynamic of the household. A finely written and moving story but filled with a sadness for a life of regret. 31/2/5
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