Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #585 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-26
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

Joanna Briscoe, Guardian
'The Memory Keeper's Daughter is gripping from its start. Highly
accomplished, well-written... It's a page-turner'

Easy Living
"The Memory Keeper's Daughter is an enthralling novel about the
deepest secrets that can never stay hidden."

Daily Mail
"A strong and moving story. It's easy to see how it gained its
place on the U.S. besteller lists."

Customer Reviews

Disappointing
The read-up on the back of this book promised the sort of novel that you can really sink your teeth into. However I found myself skim reading the bulk of it. The characters spent too much time gazing out of windows at daffodils and the book was overly sentimental. I felt that not enough time was spent on the actual storyline.

"Families have secrets they hide even from themselves..."
How appropriate I found this phrase printed on the back cover. As soon as I started the first chapter, my attention was held as if of by a spell, enthralling. Page after page, the story transcendently drowns you into a captivating and emotional whirlwind and there is no going back.

1964. Doctor David Henry and his wife Norah are happily married and expecting their first child. At the clinic after the labour pains begin, it is only after their healthy boy is born that they realise that another baby is on the way. A little girl with Down's syndrome. Norah is drifting in and out of consciousness due to the fatigue of labour and the anaesthetic she has been given. In the split second that follows this second delivery, David decides to secretly give his daughter away, asking nurse Caroline, who assisted on both births, to place the baby in an institution. To Norah, he tells her that their daughter was born dead.

This secret, shattering decision by David, together with the grief brought along by this "death" and despite the joy that their newly born son represents, slowly but irrefutably has consequences that will forever be haunting. It lacerates the family.
Leaving aside the historically-speaking-moment (middle 1960's), when David's despicable decision was taken, somewhat aligned, shall we say, with the ignorance and lack of knowledge about certain issues back then -not a justification, certainly-, something else led him to act as he did, something with deeper roots than one can imagine, buried in his soul.
And what about the little girl? What happens to her? What will Caroline the nurse do?

This is the beginning of the story. Nothing more can be said without spoiling what follows. A gentle yet piercingly moving narrative, together with the need to know, to understand, and reach an epilogue, make this book a page-turner. Flaws and qualities of each character are accurately and distinguishingly described. Some physical, emotional and surroundings-related descriptions could have been shortened a bit, and it is the only reason for my 4 (and ½) stars rather than 5. I especially appreciated the way the author, Ms. Edwards, approaches the Down's syndrome subject, never too superficial, sentimental or patronizing and it is unavoidable not to compare this particular side of the book with nowadays, how things have changed for the better. People with disabilities are so much more understood and integrated, it is uplifting.

On the whole, a lovely, lovely book, highly recommendable.

Very Moving
I found this a very moving book. Poor Nora, all those wasted years. I felt her pain and grief.Very tastefully written,thank goodness the ending was a happy one when brother and sister met. Caz