Survival & Beyond: “The Surviving Twin: A Memoir of Asperger’s, Anorexia, and Loss” by Diana Lockwood Review by Mariam Ahmed

The Surviving Twin: A Memoir of Asperger’s, Anorexia, and Loss 

by Diana Lockwood

Review by Mariam Ahmed

ISBN: 9781476681900

Published by McFarland & Company

Publication Date: 10/16/20

Pages: 262

In The Surviving Twin: A Memoir of Asperger’s, Anorexia, and Loss, a pair of twin sisters reveal a genuinely profound story about their struggles, triumphs, and heartbreaks. Diana and Julia engage their readers with a powerful tale about two sisters whose spirits prevail, even after one twin departs from this world. Readers will undoubtedly connect viscerally to the grief of losing a sibling while they explore the rich inner lives of the twins.

As an avid fiction reader, I initially felt hesitant reading a memoir, but I had the full range of emotions that I’d usually experience from my fiction picks. The book reminds me of my favorite short story collections, and that’s what it feels like: a compilation of stories and moments that transcend any superficial impressions.

The Surviving Twin is innovative in its form. Dual narration provides readers with a view inside the complex and charming thoughts of Julia and Diana, two smart and sometimes serious young girls. Since this memoir was published posthumously in the case of Julia, the journal entries and letters hold intimacy tinged with loss and nostalgia. Each stylistic decision Diana employs enhances the reading experience. Even the numbers and names of chapters seemed deliberate and carefully chosen; some were witty puns while others presented a possibility for symbolic interpretation. Additionally, photographs placed throughout the memoir complement the storytelling:

Here, the twins mirror one another in nature. The picture has a split effect – as if the girls are a reflection of one another. For me, this emphasizes the tragic loss of one of the twins.

Sections of this memoir take the epistolary form. The letters written between Diana and Julia have charming inside jokes and their own special language. I found myself taking on life’s challenges with the twins, like navigating social situations and friendships. Dynamic references — music, books, and movies — accompany each experience, which act like threads weaving the stories together. This effect is achieved in part because the chapters contain both journal entries and narration depicting the sweetness of sisterhood and friendship. The sisters wrote to one another about everything, from their battles with anorexia to their love lives. The rawness and honesty of their perspectives evoke a sense of intimacy that the audience shares when they read these letters.

Throughout the memoir, intense situations portray raw emotions. This happens especially during Diana & Julia’s experiences with insensitivity from those whom they only wanted to show love. In one of my favorite chapters, entitled “Romantically Asexual,” Julia describes how the man who called himself a nihilist, Larry, responded to Diana when she told him that routine was an important aspect for people with Asperger’s. He replied:

“Are you sure you’re not using Asperger’s as an excuse to be so rigid?” (147)

This blunt response from a supposedly open-minded person only scratches the surface of the dark — and oftentimes hurtful and damaging — impacts of living with Asperger’s and anorexia. The twins often felt misunderstood and forlorn, and their conversations with men showcase the challenges of navigating social interactions. Diana mentions feelings of deep loneliness and confusion throughout her life. These interactions made a stirring impact when she loses the only person who understands her experiences: her twin, Julia. 

The dialogue and inner monologues soften the grief-laden events that occur throughout the story. During one particularly tense scene describing screaming patients during a hospital stay, I laughed unexpectedly at this line about an approaching institution staff:

“He continued shouting reproaches at her until Powerpuff Scrubs came in and told him to go to his room” (132). 

The instance of levity balances the impassioned narrative. Throughout the memoir, a fervent writing style demonstrates the authors’ sardonic flair. Although much of the work contains triggering content, the humor and playfulness often cut through the tragic moments.

Diana weaves a tale of precious childhood connection interspersed with playful references. She and her twin create a dream-like memoir filled with fanciful narration and evocative imagery. All 22 chapters and the Afterword provide the audience with introspection for life and the unknown beyond.

Diana Lockwood is 32 years old and lives in Wisconsin with her fiancé, Daniel. She enjoys playing the guitar and spoiling her cat. 

Mariam Ahmed is a 31-year-old Californian poet & author. She loves listening to music and dreaming. Mariam currently lives in San Diego. 

29 June 2022