The Memory Keeper's Daughter

By Kim Edwards

Average Rating: (See all 23 reviews) Format: Paperback, 401 pages Published In: United States, June 2006 Quantity Available: 8 24 hour shipping (Order in the next 9 hours, we'll ship it today) Add to Cart Please wait, the system is processing. Dr. David Henry is forced by a blizzard to deliver his own twins. His son is perfectly healthy, but his daughter has Down's syndrome. Rationalizing it as a need to protect his wife, he asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution. Instead, the nurse disappears into another city to raise the child herself. From The Publisher: Kim Edwardss stunning family drama evokes the spirit of Sue Miller and Alice Sebold, articulating every mothers silent fear: what would happen if you lost your child and she grew up without you? In 1964, when a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins, he immediately recognizes that one of them has Down Syndrome and makes a split-second decision that will haunt all their lives forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and to keep her birth a secret. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child as her own. Compulsively readable and deeply moving, "The Memory Keepers Daughter" is an astonishing tale of redemptive love. BACKCOVER: Edwards is a born novelist. . . . Rich with psychological detail and the nuances of human connection. "Chicago Tribune" Unfolds from an absolutely gripping premise, drawing you deeply and irrevocably into the entangled lives of two families and the devastating secret that shaped them both. I loved this riveting story. Sue Monk Kidd Anyone would be struck by the extraordinary power and sympathy of "The Memory Keepers Daughter." "The Washington Post" Kim Edwards has written a novel so mesmerizing that I devoured it. . . . "The Memory Keepers Daughter" has it all. Sena Jeter Naslund Kim Edwards has created a tale of regret and redemption, of honest emotion, of characters haunted by their past. This is simply a beautiful book. Jodi Picoult Publisher: Penguin Books ISBN: 0143037145 EAN: 9780143037149 Dimensions: 20.73 x 12.9 x 1.88 centimeters (0.30 kg)

The book had great potential and I looked forward to reading it. However, if you cut half the book, you could retain all the story without the repetition. It seemed as though the author was trying to drag out the story to fill a book. Maybe it would make a good short story, but there is not enough in it for a whole novel and I just ended up irritated with the characters and wanting them to get on with their lives!

A disappointing and annoying book. The story is so contrived that it loses all credibility and becomes intensely irritating. The same can be said for the characters: the doctor is the only believable character and he has to be conveniently killed off as the author applies modern day morals to a story set over 40 years ago. No doubt it will become a soppy movie - it certainly seems to have been written with that intent. Don't bother.

This is one of the most overrated books ever. In fact, I could hardly bring myself to finish reading it. Annoying, over-written, overly emotional and awful. It has a great cover and the premise of the plot is all this book (in my opinion) has going for it. Disappointing and corny.

This book was a wonderful story about love and the (sometimes horrible) things it evokes people to do. The story is set in motion by love--a doctor sends away his Down Syndrome daughter to protect his wife from the pain of having a disabled child, and it is the love the nurse present at the birth has for this doctor that prompts her to take the child away secretly and raise it as her own. Contrary to the doctor's expectations, this horrible secret creates an ever-widening barrier between him and his new family and the very thing that was supposed to protect his wife from pain becomes the cause of it.

Definetely worth a read.

I have really enjoyed this book as it gives you a perspective of life in the 60's, what expectations were and the thoughts on babies with down syndrome, but when one woman recognizes that when you erase the timeline, someone with down syndrome can still accomplish so much. An inspirational story that leaves you reflecting on life in a new way. Written beautifully and an easy read. Im glad to own this book

This book is enticing in moments and dragging on in others with its repetition, the story line and plot is good and if you enjoy a story with a moral to it then you'll probably enjoy this one.

I enjoyed this book very much and could'nt stop reading it. I don't agree with the other reviews that it was a waste of time. However everyone gets something different out what they read, so I think this is one book that is worthy of reading. Afterall, it is a best seller and with good reason. I recommend you read it yourself and make up your own mind.

Their sad lives revolved around one lie. I enjoyed the book and couldnt put it down. But I couldnt quiet beleive that the fater didnt come clean sooner. Maybe that was the whole point once he started the lie he didnt know how to take it back but when weighed up against everyones lives and jsut didnt quite beleive it. But it was a different time..............

A total waste of time, disappointing, contrived predictable and pointless. Follows the typical formula that irrutates me, this writer has NO real talent....they just got very lucky. This is one of the most ridiculous books I have ever read.

I really loved the Memory Keeper's Daughter, and found it a well crafted book with page turning impetus. Although it was slightly contrived I believed in the characters as the psychological effects are a possibility if something like this happened in real life. I loved the twist about the doctor's real identity and his obsession with pictures. The poor mother was a reality of someone working through depression and I love her little rebellious outbursts here and there. The whole family had connections and disconnections mingled together because of mistrust and lack of good heart to heart discussion. I think people can learn from Kim not to keep vital information from their loved ones. It is better to take a slap in the face than to lose everything you work for.
I love the way this book ended and the real life of the disappearing daughter. I think this writer has a real gift for a great story and I can't wait for her next book.