The Memory Keeper's Daughter: A Novel
by Kim Edwards
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Book Reviews of The Memory Keeper's Daughter: A Novel
Book Review: Delicately, Profoundly Beautiful
Summary: 5 Stars
It takes Kim Edwards a little longer than some others would have taken to tell the same tale, but it is in the delicate details of this novel that lies the true beauty of The Memory Keeper's Daughter. Utterly beautiful descriptions of emotion and art and pain and love made me savor the story through to the very last words.
The decisions we make affect other people- some we know intimately and some who will always remain strangers. Some readers will see David as having made a terrible, unforgivable decision when he sends away the baby girl. Thank you Ms. Edwards for shining light on how our choices affect others, and how the decisions we make when we are younger may not be completely realized until many many years later.
This novel also shows that being different is beautiful, and that Phoebe was so much more than what the doctors predicted she would be. Bravo for bravely shining light on how choices of abortion or "getting rid" of a predicted burden can cause so much more loss and pain than giving a child a chance to live... and how those who embrace life for all persons with gifts share in an unexpected bounty of love. The life or death choices we make for the unborn or those with disabilities are not our decisions to make. Ask Caroline, ask David, ask Paul, ask Norah, ask Phoebe.
Seizing the day, claiming your life and what Truths you believe in... and pursuing those things are what matter. For David and Norah, their intimacy and connection suffers immeasurably because of the things left unsaid and unexplored. Though all is not lost and both find happiness and personal fulfillment; it is impossible not to wonder what graces they might have shared had their decisions been different, their communication more open. This story is about love that crosses borders, love that is misdirected and mistaken, love that remains lost, and love that blossoms. Kim's book brings to mind the word "delicate," touching in soft ways that you don't necessarily realize, but when taking a step back are profound and unexpected, like a beautiful photograph or admiring fine piece of china. This goes on my list of really well written fiction I've read recently- a book that is thought provoking, rich in emotion, and written with beautiful language by a talented author who speaks directly to the heart.
Book Review: Editor Wanted!
Summary: 3 Stars
The Memory Keeper's Daughter is 401 pages long, and it could have been written in 150 pages. Kim Edward's is a descriptive author----she likes to describe everything, and her personal writing style really contributes to the word count, making the book somewhat tedious. I liked it enough to finish it, but I definitely didn't have a problem putting it down for a while.
The story is interesting, but it is not unique or that original.
It begins in 1964, when a blizzard forces one of the main characters (Dr. David Henry) to deliver his own twins. His first twin, a boy, is perfectly healthy, but when David delivers the second twin, he discovers that she has Down's Syndrome. David asks his nurse, Caroline, to take his daughter away to an institution, and he tells his wife that their child died. Instead of following David's instruction, Caroline disappears into another city and decides to raise the child as her own.
The Memory Keeper's Daughter is a study of the human condition----how a single decision can alter your life and the lives of others. David's decision haunts him and cripples his ability to form and maintain a meaningful relationship with his wife and son. Caroline's brings both joy and an unbelievable (and somewhat life consuming) responsibility.
It demonstrates the debilitating nature of the secrets we keep from those we love. The lies we tell. And, it has an interesting perspective on how we view ourselves, how our loved ones view us, and how strangers view us. David had this all-consuming and horrific secret. He gave his daughter away and told his wife that she was dead, but he also volunteered at a free clinic, providing medical care for the poor and needy. With Phoebe, the daughter, you observe how she is treated by those who love her, how the world treats her, and how she considers herself. Its an interesting study in characterization.
The temporal leaps and the way the book jumps from one story (David & Norah) to another (Caroline & Phoebe) can be confusing, particularly at the beginning of the book.
If you enjoy reading about families and all of their glorious dysfunctions I would put this on your "to read list." Otherwise, I wouldn't be in a rush to read it. Its one of those books that you can eventually get to as the wind takes you.
Book Review: skip it
Summary: 1 Stars
Despite the 630 reviews already posted regarding this book, I can't help but weigh in because I simply don't understand its popularity. I was extremely interested in its theme, having spent a 20-year career working with people with developmental disabilites. I was deeply disappointed.
While the story starts out strong, it becomes very repetitive, the writer continuously expounding on the feelings of the characters, as if the reader wasn't smart enough to catch it the first 2 or 3 times. There's far to much "tell" here, and not enough "show."
And speaking of characters ... I found none of them to be sympathetic. As the book starts out, they're very interesting, but then they simply become annoying. A character-driven novel -- which this is -- should develop characters, but this does not happen. The foibles and psychological issues of the characters change little, and truly becomes boring. There is simply not a lot to like about any of them (perhaps, with the exception of Caroline, but her act doesn't change much, either), and for me, this makes for a disappointing read. I couldn't wait 'til the end so I could be finished.
Worse of all, the character of Phoebe is never really considered; she's window-dressing, no more, the mute axis upon which the story turns. The reader is given little opportunity to know her; Kim Edwards renders her as invisible as people with developmental disabilities in "real life." The writer also indulges in far too many stereotypes about developmental disabilities; to list them would make this review too long.
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
My last gripe with this book that I will share is that certain events happen a but too conveniently, seemingly to advance the story. As soon as David decides to come clean about what he did with Phoebe, he drops dead. When Caroline and her husband Al might come to a dispute over his desire for her to travel with him in his 18-wheeler, he drives off the road, thereby ending his confidence for long-hauls; he gives up his career as a trucker and becomes a bus driver.
END OF SPOILER.
Unless you absolutely need to know what the buzz has been about this book, skip it. There are far better reads.
Book Review: Was this a secret or deception?
Summary: 3 Stars
The members of Turning Pages book club all agree that to keep a secret of this magnitude from those you love is deception.
The memory haunted Dr. David Henry, until his death,even though at the time he thought it was the right thing to do since during the 60's era there was not tolerance for "special needs children", but what about "love", "kinship"...if you were rich or considered higher echelon as Dr. David Henry, then you had a so called reputation to uphold in your community (although the community was not mentioned in the book), I imagine there was one.
The decision to make life and death decisions always have a profound affect on the heart...so yes, I think he(Dr. Henry) should have told his wife about Phoebe and let the decision be a joint one instead of taking it upon himself.
The storyline is a little drawn out and not as personable as it could have been, but none the less a very good story about society,people and the decisions they make that cost them their happiness...
Caroline on the other hand is to be applauded for being brave and taking on such a heroic task against the wishes of Dr. Henry.
The story takes you through the trials and turbulence of a family which is disconnected from grief,loss and lacks love; to the missing link which is Phoebe, who on the other hand has been raised by Caroline and Al who truly love her and built their lives around her and as a result you have a "special needs" child who has grown to a health,happy child who has been nurtured, loved and taught to discover her likes such as basketball,music and developed into a beautiful young woman, while her twin brother who was privileged by having money, attended the best schools, but lacked love, being nurtured and still doubts himself and his talents.
Finally the secret is revealed and they get to meet Phoebe who is the star of this drawn out story and she is so much more than they expected...
I would have liked the author to focus more on Phoebe and her connection with her twin brother and her birth mother (Norah),since,this part was kind of rushed at the end of the book.
However, we enjoyed the storyline and the characters tremendously, especially "Phoebe".
Book Review: The Memory Keepers Daughter
Summary: 5 Stars
Reviewer's Name: Nicoole Ropey
Book Title: The Memory Keepers Daughter
Author: Kim Edwards
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Copywrite Date: 2005
Total Number of Pages: 401
The Memory Keepers Daughter
It's said that one of your happiest days is when your child is born. But is it? What if he/she doesn't have ten toes or the doctor tells you it's mentally ill, and will never pursue life as a normal kid?
Throughout most of the book it takes place in Lexington, Kentucky. Beginning in 1964, during a snow storm. The main characters include; David Henry, a doctor and father, Norah Henry, David's wife, Caroline Gill, David's nurse/secretary, Phoebe and Paul Henry, David and Norah's twins. It all began when David delivered his own set of twins and found one healthy (Paul) and one with Down syndrome (Phoebe). Not thinking, David sends Caroline to give Phoebe to an institution before Norah notices, and tells Norah the baby girl died. This eventually gets out of hand toward the middle to end of David's life. After David dies Caroline tells Norah and Paul about Phoebe, and if they'd like to meet her, of which they ended up doing.
My favorite part of The Memory Keepers Daughter is when; Paul and Phoebe finally meet (Phoebe not knowing/understanding). And Paul being relieved to find how much more normal Phoebe was then what he originally inferred. This made him instantly want to get to know her, eventually. Overall, it gave me a sense of relief and was quite uplifting.
I think the main idea or theme of this book is, to not make up a huge decision too fast where you don't have enough time to think it over twice...give it time/give it a try first(attempt to make it non-regrettable).
The Memory Keepers Daughter is especially good with describing "all", the characters emotions/feelings. And transitioning into the next scene or time period. Something I'd change about this book is the amount of times Norah and Henry argue and fight. And how it doesn't say how Phoebe ends up in the end, for instance who she ended up with and where she lived after Caroline Gill died.