Identical Strangers

A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited

By: Elyse Schein, Paula Bernstein

Narrated by: Alma Cuervo, Effie Johnson

Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

This is the astonishing true story of Elyse Schein and Paula Bernstein, who shared a personal history for more than three decades - and didn't know it. In her mid-30s, Schein finally decided to call an adoption agency to learn about her biological mother. Not expecting much, she instead got the surprise of her life. Her identical twin sister, Bernstein, lived just minutes away.

©2007 Paula Bernstein; 2007 Elyse Schein (P)2007 Recorded Books LLC

Critic reviews

"A transfixing memoir." ( Publishers Weekly)

What if you are a twin and don't know it?

There were many things about this book I enjoyed. Narration was excellent - having two separate voices made it easier to distiguish who was who. I found this book inforatively factual when it came to the details of this adoption case. Being a fellow adoptee I really enjoyed the twins personal insight into their reunion thoughts and feelings.

Heartwarming story

I LOVE this book!
This book is completely fascinating, with many surprises that will make you gasp out loud.
I loved how the writing intertwined facts, statistics, stories of other twins, along with the story of how Paula & Elyse grew up & found each other "again".
Like another reviewer, I also felt like I got to know Paula and Elyse and Googled them and so I finished the book to get any updates in their lives.
Please give this book a listen, it is a truly wonderful story.

Very Enjoyable

What an interesting listen! I really enjoyed the subject, content and the way in which Elyse and Paula chose to craft their story. Ok, that's doesn't tell you much. How about this? These two women in their mid thirties find out that they have a sister, but not just a sister...in fact, one with whom they shared a womb for 9 months!After they locate and meet one another, they "join forces" to track down the circumstances around their separation. The story is told from each twin's perspective in alternating segments. You will learn about them, other separated twins (& triplets), the adoption process, and other very interesting biological and psychological facts. Believe me, this could have been a very boring subject...but it is NOT. I'm still thinking about them and have checked out their web site to see how they are because I feel as though I know them. The narrators are excellent..I thought perhaps the girls had read their own parts, but they had not. The narrators are very convincing though and it doesn't take long to know who is who by the voicing. If you're interested in twins and want a good story, listen to this.

Interesting story; Irritating narrator

I thought the story was fascinating and well-written and would have given it more than 3 stars, but I found it so difficult to tolerate the narrator for Elyse that I almost didn't finish the book. She had a way of emphasizing words that made her sound on the verge of hysteria much of the time, and her frequent sniffing as she read was distracting and irritating. I will definitely avoid buying another book read by this narrator.

Wake up one day to find you have a twin?!

That's what these sisters did--they unravel the bizarre story of their separation and reunion in this compelling story.

One story, two perspectives

I loved how this book flipped between the twins perspectives! Seeing how they each dealt with their "discovery" didn't merely discuss "nature v. nurture," it played it out, in action. At times it was so riveting it was painful for me, as I felt horrible for the judgement and scrutiny they gave each other (being both siblings and identicals). In the end, however, they saw their way through that...to the ultimate love, self-love. Wonderfully told, riveting, and thought-provoking.

Twin Stories

The book centers around the personal recollections of Elyse and Paula, twins separated at birth who met and forged a bond in their 30s.

Having not been a twin separated at birth (as far as I know! Ha!) I can’t imagine what kind of impact such a discovery would have on me – but I didn’t care much for the ladies. I found them so troubled and angst-ridden that it did not elicit any sympathy in me. I just wanted to shake them and tell them to stop whining, cut the drama, quit over-analysing everything and move on with your life!

I was far more interested in the science of twins and by the various case studies on other separated and reunited twins. I think I would have preferred that kind of book instead, as opposed to a memoir format.

Their investigation into the Louise Wise adoption agency and Peter Neubauer’s secret twin study did hold my interest however, and I am curious to know more about the study’s findings and conclusion.

I hope I remember this book in 2066 at the ripe old age of 93 when the records of the study are unsealed.

An astonishing book

An astonishing book with a compelling story that rewired my thinking about nature vs. nurture.

Fascinating and Honest

If you look past the low production quality and the annoying narrator for Elyse, this is a fascinating journey about twins that meet later in life. The authors reveal a lot: research about twins, the unethical behavior of certain psychologists/researchers and, most importantly, their true feelings about their reunion. It's not all rosy -- believe it or not. I am not a twin, but this book gave me a glimpse into what it might be like.

Loved it

Having been adopted myself, I thoroughly enjoyed being taken through this process, along with Elyse & Paula.