Brooke Marie (USA: NE) (2008/04/21): I did not love this book, nor would I ever read it again. I was anticipating being done with it so I could move onto a better book. I felt like more should have been written about Phoebe, David Henry's daughter who had down syndrome. For every two-three passages about David & Norah's life, there was only one of Phoebe's, and not nearly long enough in my opinion. It seemed to me like the author could've written more about her life, and left out some of the less important details from the other's lives she decided to include. This book disappointed me in more ways than one. ♥princessjulia♥ (USA: DE) (2008/09/01): Amazing, amazing, amazing book! Not something I'd normally pick up I don't think but I'd read and heard so many glowing reviews that I had to try it. I'm so happy I did because it's really a great book. I thought the author did a fine job of balancing out what was said about each character- I noticed nothing lacking. The writing isn't the absolute best I've ever seen but still very good. I'd definitely give it a try for yourself because I'm thrilled to have read this and I can't wait to read something again by this author! Marianne (Australia) (2011/06/15): The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is the first novel by Kim Edwards. The story is set in the 1960s and involves a doctor, David Henry, whose wife, Nora, goes into labour during a snowstorm. Unable to get to the hospital, he takes her to his surgery, where his nurse, Caroline Gil, assists with the birth. Nora delivers twins, a boy, Paul, and a girl, Phoebe: the boy is perfect, the girl is obviously mongoloid. Convinced that his wife will be unable to cope with their daughter’s disability, he tells Caroline to take Phoebe to a children’s home, and later tells his wife the baby did not survive. Caroline, unable to bring herself to leave Phoebe as instructed, takes her away to another town and decides to bring her up as her own daughter. The events that flow on from that decision made by Dr Henry, and the one by Caroline Gil, show how a person’s life can truly hinge on one moment. This is a truly moving novel, heartbreaking in places, heartwarming in others. A thought-provoking page-turner. An excellent read.
