The life story - more of a biography than a novel really- of conjoined Russian twins, Masha and Dasha Krivoshlyapova. Whisked away shortly after birth (the mother told they had died) they were a fascinating subject for Soviet medicine and spent their first six years in a grim institute as human lab rats. Moved on to a disabled hospital, they begin to see how 'normal' Russians are traumatized at the sight of them; rare trips to the outside world must be taken in secret, so as not to offend the 'Healthies'
After a comparatively happy few years in school, where they do well in their studies- and where Dasha finds her one and only romance- hopes for the future are cut short when the medical board discount their success and sentence them to an institution for rest of their lives.
And thus the twins spend decades in a grim, jail-like home, where nothing is their own and any disobedience may end in punishment....
There are a few friends along the way; but the main focus is the two very different personalities of the girls- fiercem violent, dominant Masha and the much more docile, academic and romantic Dasha. What must it be like when your desires to go somewhere, meet someone are rejected by your literal other half? When you getting drunk impacts physically on her? When the knowledge that the death of one of you will soon cause that of the other?
A very sobering read- the author spent much time with them, so this is based on interviews and official documentation. Makes you realise how the world has changed when it comes to treating the disabled as human beings. ( )