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Search - The Memory Keeper's Daughter
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The Memory Keeper's Daughter Author: |
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Book Information
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Other Versions of this Book: Audio CD (Abridged), Hardcover
Book Description:
Award-winning writer Kim Edwards's The Memory Keeper's Daughter is a brilliantly crafted family drama that explores every mother's silent fear: what would happen if you lost your child and she grew up without you?
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 forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and never to reveal the secret. But Caroline, the nurse, cannot leave the infant. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child herself. So begins this beautifully told story that unfolds over a quarter of a century in which these two families, ignorant of each other, are yet bound by David Henry's fateful decision that long-ago winter night.
A rich and deeply moving page-turner, The Memory Keeper's Daughter captures the way life takes unexpected turns and how the mysterious ties that hold a family together help us survive the heartache that occurs when long-buried secrets burst into the open. It is an astonishing tale of redemptive love.
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 forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and never to reveal the secret. But Caroline, the nurse, cannot leave the infant. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child herself. So begins this beautifully told story that unfolds over a quarter of a century in which these two families, ignorant of each other, are yet bound by David Henry's fateful decision that long-ago winter night.
A rich and deeply moving page-turner, The Memory Keeper's Daughter captures the way life takes unexpected turns and how the mysterious ties that hold a family together help us survive the heartache that occurs when long-buried secrets burst into the open. It is an astonishing tale of redemptive love.
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Top Member Book Reviews
Amy C. (
7 member(s) found this review helpful.
I was really looking forward to reading this book as the theme of the story was really interesting to me, but I did not enjoy this as much as I would have liked to. There were too many "rabbit trails." Too many trips into David and Norah's past. I know the author was trying to tie the events of the past to those of the character's present, but it was too much. I found myself thinking, "Would you please just get on with it." Once I FINALLY got to the end I was actually really pleased with the way the story ended. I don't like the sappy everything is suddenly perfect "happily ever after endings." So the fact that it had a very realistic ending was pleasing to me! If you have the time and a strong enough interest it isn't a bad story it just takes so long to get through it!
Alejandro C. (
5 member(s) found this review helpful.
Kim Edwards’ novel, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, proved to be an excellent choice. It is a wonderful debut for this promising writer. The story is compelling and the telling well crafted. Fascinating account of a man’s choice one wintry evening, and the unfolding consequences through the rest of his life, and that of his family.
Cindy B. (
3 member(s) found this review helpful.
OH My! I can't say enough about this book! It is superb. I picked it up and read every spare moment I got! The story line is without a doubt one of the best. It is one of those books that as you read, you feel like you personally know the characters. They are just that vivid. I wont go into what it is about because you can read that for yourself but just know it would be worth it if you paid full price for it. I almost kept it but saw that there were ppl waiting on the wish list and keeping would be so selfish! I know I am rambling on but you won't be disappointed in this book. It is one you will stay up late reading and go to work sleepy cause you stayed up! Enjoy!
3 member(s) found this review helpful.
To me this book wasn't/isn't plausible.
i read it but didn't buy into it.
3 member(s) found this review helpful.
One of those books you think about long after you've finished it.
Elizabeth S. (
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I read this book back in October of 2007 and absolutely loved it. The writing to me was at times like poetry.
I really thought the premise of the book was very unique. I was surprised to find myself more interested in the Caroline/Phoebe part of the story than David and Norah. It was hard to warm up to them. I suppose one of the messages in this story is how lives can be changed with a lie. I got the impression that the author wanted us to imagine how different things would have turned out had David not made the decision that he did. Honestly, in my opinion I am still dubious as to what the outcome of David and Norah's marriage would have been had he not lied about Phoebe. Would Phoebe really have had a "better" life? I am certainly not condoning what David did but Phoebe was raised by a truly wonderful and loving mother who fought for her rights. I just somehow don't get the feeling that David and Norah had the same strength that Caroline did. But I am one that likes to play Devil's advocate.
It is definitely a novel you won't long forget.
Jeanette R. (
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
so unfortunately i succumbed to all of the hullabaloo about this book. ugh! i watched the movie when it was on tv and i didnt like it, but id hoped the book was better. i was wrong.
the story is this- a doctor's wife gives birth to a boy and a girl. the girl is born with downs. the doctor has a bad history with downs in his family so he tells his wife their daughter died at birth and passes their daughter on to his nurse who chooses to raise her.
the book takes course over 25 or so years and pretty much no one gets over the past. the dad is weak and cant get over the lie hes lived with. the mother (who didnt even know she was pregnant with twins) cant get over the death of her daughter, and their son is pretty much ignored.
the characters are so incredibly weak its annoying. you just want to say grow a pair and move on. deal with your grief in a healthy way. its such a depressing book and i forced myself to get through it.
one of the main characters randomly dies and its like- huh? its just casually mentioned in a sentence and it really didnt flow.
sorry i wasted my time on the movie and the book. oh well.
L. G. (
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is possibly one of *the* worst books I have ever read. Great premise - terrible storyline and execution. Not only is the writing marginal, but the author re-uses the same hokey imagery over and over "quicksilver child", "thin hair, held back with barettes". There is little redeeming about the characters, and the subplots are simply unbelievable. Don't waste a credit or your time on this one. If I were the publisher, I'd be embarrassed.
Sarah D. (
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I splurged and bought this full price, because I wanted something good to read. It was very slow in the beginning....but it was intriguing enough that I wanted to keep reading more and more, and when I put it down, I was anticipating what was yet to happen. It wasn't until about 3/4 of the way through the book that it got really interesting, and the ending was kind of a surprise. Overall, the book was good - not worth paying full price, but not a waste of your time either.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
After much hesitation, I started this book and amazingly I finished it in 4 days. Good Book!
Please Rate these Book Reviews
This book was just okay for me. It started out really good but then just became a lot of lies and heartache. Too much for my taste. Sorry.
I overall enjoyed this book. The relationships between the characters was complex and made for a great discussion at our bookclub meeting.
this book made me laugh and cry and get angry and mad it was an awesome book and i could not put it down i finished reading it in 1 day!
Great read, baised on a true story which blew my mind away!! Tons of details in book. Lifetime movie was really good as well.
Christine S. (I loved this book - read it in two days - couldn't put it down.
An amazing book! This book will make you angry and cry all at the same time. Kim Edwards is an amazing author!
This was a wonderful but sad book. I really enjoyed it....it kept me glued to the pages.
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