SOLVED. Little sister dies in first chapter..was suppose to bring along to bday party [s]

[Jen]

I saw a subway poster for this book about 5 years ago. I'm not sure if I am getting two books mixed up into one. I think the main character was suppose to take care of his little sister who had a mental illness or something and left her in the park and she died while he or she...was at a birthday party. (s)He carried the shame with him all their life..and the second rest of the book I think, unless confused with another book ... becomes a photographer for weddings.. and ruins the photos of a wedding of some girl the main character hated.. or was jealous of. I just remember I like this book(s). It (they) were really good! :)

[Ficie]

The first part reminds me a lot of The Solitude of Prime Numbers: the male protagonist, Mattia, leaves his mentally retarded twin sister at the park while going to a birthday party (he was supposed to bring her along but was embarrassed by her); when he comes back (view spoiler)[ she has disappeared forever (hide spoiler)].
The second part of the book, however, has to be from another book; in Giordano's novel the main character goes to high school and befriends a girl who, like him, has gone through some trauma. Their friendship is at the center of the novel. Later in life (view spoiler)[ he becomes a PhD student of mathematics and moves to Sweden (or Germany?) (hide spoiler)]. Hope this is one of the books you are looking for :-)

[Jen]

Yes! The first half is for sure The Solitude of Prime numbers! Thank you. Yeah, I thought maybe I confused two books as one because my memory mix-up doesn't make sense..must have read them around the same time. Thanks Ficie :)

[Ficie]

Happy to help! You know what, I realized that you might actually be thinking about the same book - I looked through it last night, and Alice (the female co-protagonist) does become a photographer (which I had forgotten), and she does indeed voluntarily ruin her "friend"'s Viola's wedding pictures (Viola (view spoiler)[ was one of the girls who bullied her at school, you might remember the incident with Alice being forced to eat a disgusting piece of candy). (hide spoiler)] Wow, I had completely forgotten that part!

[Jen]

You know what, I think that is why I felt to confused, because I could have sworn the main character was a guy... but then I remembered that the photographer was a female. No wonder I was so confused! Thanks! :)

[Ficie]

You are very welcome! :-)