Rent The Memory Keeper's Daughter

Read this book while on spring break last week with the family in the Keys...was done with in it in 3 days. I enjoyed the story, although at times it seemed to repeat itself a bit. Evokes sympathy for the men in your life, understanding for those with children who face different challenges and a realization that abnormal families are normal...and fabulous. A good book to pick up when you don't want to have to think too hard about what it is you are ready...

I loved this book. Kim Edward did a great job with the complex minds of the characters.

This is an excelent read. I completely enjoyed it!

The story of The Memory Keepers Daughter hinges on secrets, lies, and loss, and a sense of sadness permeated the central familys story. The portrayal of the characters is honest and deeply rooted in the loss that their family suffers in the early chapters. The characters deep sadness and regret leads to actions that inspire frustration, disgust, empathy, and pity. The storys most substantial moments of happiness occur when the narrative focuses on Caroline, the nurse who raises the titular daughter. Her story feels a bit too tidy at moments, minimizing or glossing over many of the challenges of raising a child with Down syndrome, particularly in the 60s. The stark mood contrast between her story and the Henry familys story is welcome and interesting, but both stories would have done well with more balance. The novel sometimes sags beneath some unnecessary plot lines or twists that appear a little too neatly and out of left field. Edwards use of language is generally strong, although I didnt think I needed to read about the patterns and shapes cast by every occurrence of light. As stated before, the characters often frustrate and are often difficult to like, but they are written honestly. The greatest exceptions to this honesty were in the characters of the twins. Ive never known a 13yearold with the eloquence, sense of self, or passion of Paul, and I wish that Phoebe, the titular character, was developed further. Overall, I found this book to be a very interesting character study, even if the plot doesnt always soar to its early potential.

Usually if a book is one of those best sellers, they aren't good. This one is! A doctor in the 1960s delivers his own twins. The son is born fine, but the daughter has down's syndrome. The mother, as was the practice at the time, was put out, so he just gave away his daughter to his nurse and told her to leave her in an institution. After seeing how that place is, she can't leave her there, and raises the child as her own. It was so sad to see the way people treated this child, even to a nurse suggesting they let her die of a bee sting instead of treating her. The doctor tells his wife the girl is dead, and then we watch all the people in the book grow older. It is amazing to see what just one lie, one action can do to so many people's lives. It changed everything forever - sometimes for better or sometimes for worse. The writing was good… not pretentious or boring, but you could see her skill too. I would recommend this book.