The Girls

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Some books translate so smoothly to audio that they seem meant to be read aloud, and this fictional autobiography of 29-year-old conjoined twins Rose and Ruby Darlen is one such tale. Though joined at the head, "The Girls" have separate bodies and distinct personalities, which come to life through Zimbalist's and Davidovich's narration. Zimbalist takes on the husky voice of Rose, a writer who's intent on penning her life story—in other words, this audio. She has coerced Ruby, voiced to bubbly perfection by Davidovich, into contributing her own chapters, and the combination of their interwoven first-person narratives makes for an illuminating portrait of two extraordinary women, their unshakeable bond and the people who have guided them along the way. Zimbalist does a fine job voicing not only Rose but the girls' uncle Stash, with his heavy Slovakian accent, their levelheaded aunt Lovey and their crotchety Italian neighbor, among others. Further complementing the narration is occasional music, adjusted to match the mood and tempo of the story. This is a masterful production of an unusual and inspiring story.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Audiofile

Narrators Stephanie Zimbalist, and Lolita Davidovich portray the unusual characters of Rose and Ruby Darlen, twins who are conjoined at the head. Born during a tornado in Toronto of an unwed teenaged mother who abandoned them two weeks later, the deformed twins were to be placed in an asylum. Instead, Aunt Lovey, the nurse who cared for their mother during labor, raises them with her husband, Stash, on their rural farm in Ontario. Characterizations are vivid, detailed, warm, and endearing. The soft accents of Slovakia ring true to the character of Grandma. Lyrical piano music introduces the story and is used for chapter breaks. This incredible story seems real because of the outstanding characterizations. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine