The Memory Keepers Daughter
Book Review

The Memory Keepers Daughter BOOK SYNOPSIS

Dr. David Henry delivers his own fraternal twins on a snowy night with the help of Caroline, a nurse in his office. Paul and Phoebe are born but Phoebe has Down Syndrome. Dr. Henry makes a decision on the spot to send her away to a home for children with this disease and tell his wife Norah that she died at birth. Caroline is supposed to take Phoebe but ends up deciding to keep her and disappears from town. Dr. Henry, Norah, and Paul can never quite achieve happiness all due to the estrangement Dr. Henry creates from his family because he lives with his horrible secret.

QUEENIE D SAYS

This book is slow at times but the story is good. I just had a baby which may make this situation one hundred times worse to me. I cannot even fathom my husband deciding to give our child away without my knowledge because he'd rather not deal with the disease. Fortunately we have a healthy young boy but, as this book shows us, children with Downs are not doomed to a life of misery. Phoebe grows into a wonderful, delightful young woman who lights up Caroline's life.

I guessed that Caroline was going to keep her and run away, I guessed that Norah and David would never truly be okay after this and I guessed that one day the secret would be revealed in some form. *Spoiler alert* I did not like that David was dead by the time the secret was found out and the family reunited. I wanted him to be held more accountable for his actions. I guess his life of lost love was punishment enough but Norah never got the chance to say how what he did changed, and for a time ruined, her life. I thought Edwards did a fantastic job of writing Norah and Paul's feelings of loss and displacement in their lives as a result of the daughter/sister they never knew.

Caroline and Al are by far my favorite characters. Thank God for Caroline otherwise who knows what may have happened to sweet Phoebe. The ending is a little too neat for me but at the same time I guess these characters deserved some happiness or a chance at it after a lifetime of regret.

The Memory Keepers Daughter is a good read. Not the fastest-paced or thrilling storyline but the characters are true and real.

The Memory Keepers Daughter DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Is what David did forgivable? How about Caroline?
2. Do you think that Norah let herself fall apart too completely? Could she have recovered and lived a better life if she had tried harder?
3. Were you angry when David died before the secret came out? Why do you think Edwards did this?

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