In this week’s Brooklyn Paper, Paula Bernstein talks about writing “Identical Strangers: A Memoir of Twins
Separated and Reunited” (Random House) with her twin sister, Elyse Schein, which will be released on October 24th. Paula and Elyse interviewed me and my sister for inclusion in the book. They told us that they wanted to meet some twins that weren’t separated at birth to compare notes. It was a fun tea at Sweet Melissa’s and the two writers capture it beautifully in their book. I am honored to be a small part of this fascinating and poignant memoir. Here’s an excerpt from Paula’s P.S. I Love You column in the BP. In it she worries that maybe she was too honest in the book.

I made a concerted effort to
portray myself realistically, warts-and-all. Now I worry that perhaps I
was too realistic. Maybe not everyone — even my longtime Park Slope
neighbors — will find my “character” sympathetic. They might not
understand my initial reluctance to be a twin or my hesitance to seek
out my biological family.

With the memoir about to hit bookstores
— and the requisite reading at the Barnes and Noble on October 24 — I
am trying to reconcile myself to the fact that strangers, acquaintances
and friends will know as much about me and my hang-ups as my therapist.
Of course, I want people to read the book, but I am wary of the
attention my newly gained notoriety will inevitably bring.

Am I
prepared for my favorite waitress at Two Boots to ask if I am still
taking anti-depressants or for the helpful saleswoman at Otto to
analyze my relationship with my sister? I dread the thought of
neighborhood moms shaking their heads and clucking behind my back at
Tea Lounge after reading all about my abandonment issues.