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The Memory Keeper's Daughter
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
Author: Kim Edwards
On a winter night in 1964, Dr. David Henry is forced by a blizzard to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy. Yet when his daughter is born, he sees immediately that she has Down's Syndrome. Rationalizing it as a need to protect Norah, his wife, he makes a split-second decision that will alter all of their lives for...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780143037149
ISBN-10: 0143037145
Publication Date: 5/30/2006
Pages: 432
Rating:
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 5428

3.6 stars, based on 5428 ratings
Publisher: Penguin
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

Denise547 avatar reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on + 13 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 88
This book is a difficult read for those that don't remember times before we "mainstreamed" children with developmental and physical handicaps. The Memory Keeper's Daughter was a selection for my book club, and those younger than 40 found the storyline unbelievable.
Since I am 50+, I gave birth to my first child much like Norah did, drugged and delirious, although it was in a hospital. Someone could have told my my child died, and I couldn't have proven differently. I also remember as a child, friends and neighbors of my mothers who went to the hospital to have babies, and told people that they had stillborns, but there weren't funerals, and the whispers.
This is a well-written book about courage, and love, pain, grief and guilt and how different all that was in 1960.
reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 85
I found this book, trite, predictable and overly wrought with sentimental platitudes. The story isn't that original or exciting, and the characters are shallow and easy to dislike. Although many others really enjoy this book-as it has been on the best sellers list, i just couldn't stand it. If you like the Hallmark channel and Little House on the Prairie, you'll probably like this.
lilynlilac avatar reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on
Helpful Score: 58
This book started out fantastic and then abuptly slid downhill without hope for recovery. Don't read if the synopsis on the back cover intrigues you because it hints that the book it something it isn't. Not what I was expecting at all. Characters are two dimensional, prose is long and carried out. I had to force myself to finish this book. I rarely ever read a book I don't like, this just happens to fall into that minute category.
reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 44
I had to force myself to keep picking this one up to finish it. I wanted to know what happened in the end, but I felt like it took forever to get there.
reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 42
Although well received, I did not find this book very compelling. Full of predictable cliches, the book was a disappointment.
Read All 733 Book Reviews of "The Memory Keepers Daughter"

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kendrawarstler avatar reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on + 11 more book reviews
One of my favorite books I've ever read. I couldn't put it down once I started. Five stars for this one.
robinferguson avatar reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on + 54 more book reviews
Bittersweet! Captivated me so I did not want to put it down!
Madelene avatar reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on + 19 more book reviews
This books has many twist and turns. Some you could never think of having happened. It was wonderful, suspenseful, yet sad. I did keep this copy because I loved it so much for the depth it goes into. Grand Reading.
confuzzledbooks avatar reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on + 482 more book reviews
Dr. Henry and his wife are expecting their first child. Little do they know that they are going to have twins. The doctor ends up delivering his own children, one baby boy and one baby girl with downs syndrome. He gives up the girl to be raised in a special hospital where they can take care of her better, but tells his wife her daughter died. The nurse he puts in charge of the baby ends up falling in love with the little bundle and keeps her. Throughout the years, each family deals with the decisions they made.

This was only OK for me. I feel like I have seen this on the Lifetime Movie Network, and it was hard to find characters to relate with. Everyone seemed to be holding grudges against each other.
reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on + 9 more book reviews
I thought id enjoy this book since i have twins one being special needs, it started out well but went downhill within the first few chapters. I forced my self to finish it hoping it would get better
SteveTheDM avatar reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on + 204 more book reviews
This novel has hit me oddly. The scene descriptions and settings I thought were quite artistic and lovely to read. The plotting felt shallow, with a few scenes coming in out of nowhere and with little impact. Characters were both engaging and then unchanging, with very little growth happening.

Does that sound inconsistent? The novel really wasn't; rather there were some aspects that worked well, and some that didn't, and the range between what worked and what didn't was large.

A solid, middle-of-the-road novel. 3 of 5 stars.
BlueFox avatar reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on + 20 more book reviews
What a thought provoking, soul searching, deeply emotional work. 4 lives that would have been profoundly different if not for one lie. A sample of what we allow our brains to do to our lives.
Will probably read this again and again as I am sure there are depths I have not reached yet with the lessons to be learned here.
Would recommend to one and all. Especially those I know are dealing with a secret too big to share. 5 Stars!!!!
reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on + 3 more book reviews
I don't know how to give a rating, but it would be 5 stars. This book had so much human compassion. All the characters pulled at my heart. I loved the book so much it's one of the few paperbacks I won't list to share!!
reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on + 88 more book reviews
Couldn't put this one down!
reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on + 50 more book reviews
Award-winning writer Kim Edwardss The Memory Keepers Daughter is a beautiful drama with characters that will haunt your memory long after you have finished reading the book.
Bootsie avatar reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on + 34 more book reviews
A Doctor sends his Down's Syndrome daughter off with his nurse, who raises her. His decision alters the lives of his unknowing wife and the twin son who was normal when born.
reviewed The Memory Keeper's Daughter on + 7 more book reviews
Different kind of story...a little too sad for me. Easy read.

Book Wiki

Original Publication Date (YYYY-MM-DD)
People/Characters
Dr. David Henry (Primary Character)
Caroline Gill, nurse (Major Character)

Genres: