The Memory Keeper's Daughter | 
 enlarge | Author: Kim Edwards
Publisher: Amazon Remainders Account
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $10.50
You Save: $14.45 (58%)
New (7) Used (15) Collectible (1) from $3.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  865 reviews
Sales Rank: 329828
Format: Bargain Price
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 416
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6 x 1.3
ASIN: B000EHRN2M
Publication Date: June 23, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
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 the fateful decision made that long-ago winter night. A brilliantly crafted, stunning debut, The Memory Keeper's Daughter explores 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. Performed by Martha Plimpton
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| Customer Reviews: Read 45 more reviews...
 Definitely Disappointing October 14, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The first half of the book was interesting enough. The story was page turning, leaving the reader wondering how this was going to turn out and appreciating the writing style of the author. About 2/3 of the way in, I realized that I didn't care for any of the characters and thus didn't mind if someone was hurt. That is what made this a disapointment.
 Not a book for action/adventure lovers October 13, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
It seems like people either love or hate this book. I thought it was beautifully written and the story idea was fairly unique. It's not a "happy" book, but it really does make you think and I think Edwards does a good job of illustrating how secrets can tear a family apart.
The Memory Keeper's Daughter October 11, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is about a doctor named David Henry, he delivers his own twins. His first child, Paul, is healthy. But his second child, Phoebe, has down syndrome. So David makes a decision that will haunt him forever, he hands Phoebe to his nurse, Caroline, and tells her to take Phoebe to an institution (I think thats what it is?) but instead Caroline takes Phoebe away to raise as her own. David tells Norah (his wife, mother of Paul and Phoebe) that Phoebe died at birth.
So David lives with this secret.
Its a pretty good book, it travels through the years as Paul and Phoebe grow and shows the importance of that moment. It's well written, very powerful. But the ending, I don't know. I guess it just doesn't tie everything up. It's not an ending where you think about it all night (like I regularly do) you just kind of read the last page and it feels like you still have to finish the book. And you think the book could end well at a certain point, but you look and theres still 2 or 3 more pages. Edwards keeps dragging the ending out (not through the whole book, just the last few chapters) like she doesn't want to let go of writing this book. And another thing about the book, it feels like some of the characters are just dropped.
But don't read this and not want to read the book, its worth reading just be prepared for a little less than perfect ending.
 Had high hopes, but couldn't finish it. October 6, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Like many other people, I truly was excited about picking up this book. The premise touched my heart and I couldn't wait to get it. Unfortunately, once I dug in the book became tedious and I couldn't relate to the characters. Once I realized that I didn't care what happened to them, I had to stop reading. I'm a very soft hearted person (which means I cry at movies often) so if this book didn't touch me, it may not touch you either.
 A real page turner September 23, 2008
I am so stunned by all of the negative reviews on this book! I think I tend to be very critical of books, and have a very short list of favorites. I absolutely loved this book. I thought the characters were very well-developed, and the author's writing positively flowed. The relationships portrayed were so realistic and believable that I was not surprised to read the interview with the author at the end of the book that said it was based on a true story. I usually dislike books that jump from year to year, as I feel some of the story can be missed and unanswered questions will remain. Although this was true in some cases, Edwards did a nice job of providing a synopsis of what happened with the characters during the years the readers weren't "with" them. I will say that I enjoyed the beginning and middle of the book more so than the end, which I felt was maybe a tad neatly tied up. However, I would strongly recommend this book to anyone.
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