Sometimes the choices we make in the name of protecting someone we love can cause the object of our love more harm than good. So it is with Dr. David Henry.
When twins, a boy and a girl, are born to his wife, and the girl has Downs Syndrome, he decides it would be better for his wife to think the child died at birth. He puts the infant in the hands of his nurse to take to an institution. Instead, she keeps the girl and the child becomes a blessing to her and her husband. In the doctor's family, the wife cannot come to terms with her loss and her husband cannot forget the child he abandoned and both contribute to the breakdown of their marriage. The Memory Keeper's Daughter is an excellent story of both heartbreak and happiness and the validation of Downs Syndrome children as loving, happy individuals and, although they may need extra care, they can be as much a blessing to a family as any child.
Eunice Boeve, author of Ride a Shadowed Trail

I had high hopes for this book and was disappointed from the beginning. Although descriptive, it failed to evoke emotion. I found myself wanting to be finished with the book. I love books of all types, but I want them to entertain me. This one didn't.

I found the story to be beautiful and sad, but fell short of depressing. Instead, I was fascinated as Edwards deftly explored so many themes. She accurately, yet with a graceful subtely, reflected the epochal decades the characters pass through in the book. The disappointment for couples of finding it so difficult to remain in love, or even simply to communicate, after marriage. The long stretches of emotionally numbing day-to-day life in a marriage. The very real and little undstood depression mothers often experience when their children are very young, when they are beautiful yet so emotionally and physically draining. The challange to so many people who, like David, left poor, rural communities post WWII, getting an education, yet still feeling a keen sense of inadequacy or embarrassment about their origins. The transition afoot in the 60s and 70s, and the disorientation often involved for both wives and husbands, in finding, feeling that it was not necessarily a given that women must stay at home rearing children. How do couples maintain their individuality within a relationship, without erecting walls between them that can't be crossed. The stunning dislocation for parents of trying to cope with volatile teenage children, and often not surviving unscathed.

Hence, the story treats so much more than the effect of guilt over the dark secret of the twin sister. The delicate personal and societal issues of dealing with handicapped persons are, like the other themes, handled tenderly and openly, yet without being forced on the reader. Nevertheless, much of what Edwards describes could happen in any relationship, to any couple trying to master the complexities of making marriage and family work, particularly in that era. It's almost as if the secret of Phoebe's existence serves to accentuate, accelerate and heighten the tensions that would have have existed, in any event, in the lives of Norah and David. This secret gives what might otherwise be mundane themes an added edge and poignancy, a reason to be written about.

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This is a beautifully written, thought-provoking book that explores love, lies, and the spiritual poverty that stems from shame. I loved every page.

Normally I eschew the "IT" novels - usually they bore me with their lack of imagination and are two dimensional and written for the "beach book" type of readers. I had no intention of reading this book but it seemed to creep up everywhere - on the front tables at Barnes & Nobles and Borders, to every thrift store I found - so I finally gave in to read it.

It wasn't as horribly romance-novel like as I expected but it didn't turn me on my head with the wonders of its use of language. It was fine for what it was and somewhat sweet. It was, however, incredibly predictable. It was obvious that the wife would feel lost, the husband would grow distant and the son would feel the stress of that kind of home. Would anyone find out that the daughter was brought up by the nurse? Would everyone bond together in the end? Sure, we all knew it was coming.

For a first novel, it was adequate. Some of the phrases were well turned but it did feel a bit like mind candy - nothing to provoke a lot of thought, no characterizations that weren't twinged with stereotype. The depth I was hoping for never arrived.

Would I recommend it? Sure, if you just want something of fluff to keep you occupied for a while. But as great literature, no.

some of the things I liked were also some of the things that bothered me. Edwards is a descriptive writer; if you like that kind of writing, you will like her style. However, you still may not like the book. I like her writing, but it works better in short stories or shorter novels.

I liked how Nora began to grow career-wise throughout the novel, but thought her character could have been fleshed out more. I did not find her a sympathetic character, particular as the novel wore on, and I think it would have been better if she had been.

Also, I thought the plot unfolded a little too neatly in some aspects. To be sure, the characters had difficult lives, but sometimes things did not ring true. For example, Caroline didn't struggle as I thought she would have: Doro, her gift, just not very realistic. Also Davis's photography career, as opposed to a hobby, was hard to swallow. It just took off a little too well.

Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and I'm glad I did. It just wasn't a great book.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter takes place during a snowstorm in 1964. An orthopedic doctor and his wife are surprised when she goes into labor three weeks early. Because of the snow, they cannot get to the hospital, but they can get as far as the doctor's clinic, then wait for the arrival of an OB in his practice to deliver the baby. The baby is coming quickly, though, and the OB has a car accident and can't make it on time. With the assistance of one of the clinic's nurses, the husband/doctor must deliver the baby himself. Only...it's not just one baby. After bringing a beautiful, healthy boy into the world, the husband realizes his wife is actually pregnant with twins. He stays to deliver the second child - a girl, with Down's syndrome. Fearing a terrible prognosis for the life she will lead, the husband gives the baby to the nurse to take away. His initial instructions are for the nurse to take the baby to an institution outside of town. Though he plans to tell his wife the truth, when she comes back to clarity after the births, he tells her the baby girl has died. When the wife asks to see the baby, he says she is already gone, to the cemetery.

The nurse follows the doctor's instructions, and takes the baby to the group home. Seeing the terrible conditions there, she cannot bring herself to leave the child. Instead, she moves to a different city and raises the girl as her own daughter.

The book follows the story of these two worlds - the grieving parents and their son, the nurse and her adopted daughter - as they orbit around the decisions made and lies told on this one night in 1964. It's true that there is a lot of sadness in this book, but strangely, there's a lot of honesty, too. Edwards makes a close examination into how it is to love others, or try to, despite the things we keep from each other and the walls we build to keep ourselves protected. I could never relate to the specific situation in this story, but I could relate to a lot of the intricacies of family relationships - as a child, as a parent, as a spouse. I also found it interesting how Edwards explored why each of the characters did what they did - are our motivations always so clear? Are they always as innocent as we want to believe they are?

There is so much meat to this book; I am eager to discuss it at my book club's meeting in October. As I said, though, this book may certainly not be for everyone. It is thought-provoking and well-written, but a pretty heavy piece of work.

This book had so much promise, but it seems the author got lost in the same blizzard the night that David Henry delievered his twins. Lack of character development, too many descriptions (every. single. detail. must. be. included.) and a disappointing ending contributed to a boring, misguided novel. One star for the cover and one star for the ability to fool so many people into buying this book.

I liked the book very much. We discussed this book in our reading group and there was a lot of polemics regarding to what David did with his daughter. The decision that he made that winter night had devastating consequences especially in the life of his wife and son. The author is very narrative, maybe that is why other people did not like the book, but it's nicely structured. Our discussion was converted into a courtroom because we did a lot of judging of the characters. I will highly recommend this book if you don't mind a lot of narrative in a good reading.

On a snowy winter night in 1964, Dr. David Henry is forced to deliver his twins and makes a split-second decision that forever alters theh lives of everyone involved. When it is apparent to him that his daughter has Down's Syndrome, he asks the nurse to take her to an institution, without telling his wife. The nurse, Caroline Gil, complies, but upon arriving at the institution, she does not have the heart to leave the girl there and winds up raising her on her own. Meanwhile, David has told his wife that their daughter died at birth, a lie that grows between them as the years progress.

"The Memory Keeper's Daughter" is episodic in nature, moving through spans of years from the 1960s to the 1980s, with four main characters acting as narrators: Caroline, David, his wife Norah, and their son Paul. Each character is forever affected by that one snowy night. Norah cannot get over the loss of her daughter and Paul wonders what his sister would have been like, at times feeling himself to blame for the loss. David knows that he can never share this secret and set things right, as he desperately longs to do, further building the wall that grows between his family members. Caroline wonders what her place in all this is, and whether or not she should reveal the secret or even allow David to be a part of his daughter's life.

Edwars is a gifted storyteller, sketching each character completely, making the time and story come to life. Yet sometimes her prose is a little too heavy-handed in all its detail; certain attempts at being poetic are too dense, and some images are repeated causing them to lose their effect. After a tremendous buildup, the ending feels slightly rushed. While it may be hard to imagine a proper ending for a story of this magnitude, almost too little was done to wrap up some loose ends that remained. All in all, "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" is quick-paced and engaging, a vividly drawn and truly enjoyable read.

Haunting novel filled with so many "what if's". I love first novels of authors, and this is one. Though I cannot imagine how someone could act as David did when his twins were born, I have to accept that he did it out of deep love and wanting to protect Hannah and Paul. Yet that very act shattered the very love he was trying to save. As the author so often says, it built a wall that no one in the Henry family could scale. I feel a little disconcerted about how events with David progressed, a little cheated, though I don't want to say more because of spoilers, etc. David's actions to keep Hanna safe turned her into a very different woman than she might have been...

As for Caroline and Phoebe, I can appreciate what Caroline did, but the whole thing of keeping a baby secret from her mother is not exactly something I can wrap my head around. There is resolution in this book, but still a lot of questions, open ends and a mystery. It only deepens my beliefs that not all secrets meant to protect or help do.

I have a number of friends with children with trisomy 21 (aka Down or Down's syndrome) and see the struggle parents and family go through as the children grow into adulthood. I felt that much of Caroline's thoughts were right on the money.

David's photography was an interesting vehicle to separate him yet keep him an observer of life.

The choices we make, the truth or lies that we cling to are like invisible threads running through the whole fabric of our lives. These threads connect with the threads of the people we know and love to form webs of influence.

The author skillfully spins a tale that highlights these threads. She does so by balancing the perspectives of the all the participants, allowing the reader to see with sadness and compassion the contradictions.

If this book has a somewhat melancholy tone, it is nonetheless compelling for its accuracy in describing how the inner workings of hearts and minds affect our relationships. It raises some questions very pointedly that the reader can hardly avoid reflecting on: questions about intimacy, trust, what gives a life value and meaning.

If you are looking for a mindless, escapist, fun read, this is not the book for you. However, if you want a book to engage your soul, I recommend it.

I couldn't put this book down, but in the end, I felt incredibly down on life. The books is dark, dark, dark. There are many passages about each character's past--as if they're trapped in their memories, which conveys this sense of helplessness about life.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I should probably start my reviews by letting the reader understand my reading style -- basically, I like a good, entertaining book that will allow me to escape for a little while. Books with great imagery and compelling stories suck me in. Nothing better than a good page turner!

With that said, I had been eyeing The Memory Keeper's Daughter for a while at my local bookstore. I found the idea of the story interesting. After a few months, I finally purchased on Amazon. The story outline is good: A doctor delivers his twin children in the middle of a snowstorm. The boy is normal but the girl is born with Down's Syndrome. He asks his devoted nurse to take the child to the local institution but tells his wife that there were 2 children and the girl died. The story continues to depict how that one decision changes so many lives.

Really great idea! The problem with this book was in the execution. I did not find the way it was written to be all that engaging. Part of what drew me to the book was the complimentary review from Sue Monk Kidd, author of one of my most recent favorite reads "The Secret Life of Bees." Kidd's book is written in a style that draws you into the story, into the characters and is written with such vivid language that I could actually see the house where her characters lived. I expected the same of "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" and found little of that kind of language in there. Sure, I wanted to get to the end of the story to see how it was all resolved, but I found getting there to be a bit tedious. I think the author tried to make what was in essence a novella or short story into something longer.

So, not the worst book I've ever read, but not the most engaging. If you're looking for something you can read a chapter or 2 before you go to bed at night and not have to worry about staying up all night because you can't put it down, then this is your book.

First, let me say that I understand how some readers were unable to finish the book, as quite a few readers really appreciate something that is a quick read and all story. For me personally, I loved the beautiful passages in this book, the descriptions, they are poetic and moving. I can certainly understand how it turns some readers off as it isn't particularly important to the actual story. I appreciate their comments.

Second, the story; it is indeed a fantastic premise for a book and I will assume that you already know what that premise is and if you don't you can read the synopsis on the back cover. As far as the telling of the story goes, on this point, I agree with some of the readers who have already commented that the characters themselves were frustrating. I tried to care about these people, I tried very much to like them and to understand them, but I could not. The husband, David, is so detached from his emotions, before and after, he decides to give his daughter away that I could not relate to him, even in his recollections of his sister, who he professes to love dearly, there is resentment there. He was difficult to love, however, I do believe he loved his family, he just did not know how to show them that he did, the frustrating part of it, is that he never made the effort.

As far as Norah, I could not stand her from the beginning and then she only got worse. She is extremely narcissistic, spoiled and unhappy, and instead of trying to make herself happy, she puts all the blame on her husband. She married a man she barely knew and spent the rest of her life envying everyone around her because she felt trapped and she had no freedom and her life wasn't fun, so she starts sleeping with any man that will have her, even after she finds out that her teenaged son knows this. She was so incredibly selfish...I found myself really annoyed with her. I never found myself caring about her at all. It was too difficult. So in that aspect, I agree with what some of the other readers have said in regards to the characters. As far her finding out that her daughter lived, by the end of the book, I didn't really care. I truly believe that it wouldn't' have changed things at all for this woman. And I think that is where the difficulty comes in as far as the resolution of this conflict is concerned.

And then there is Paul, the son. To me, the most obvious love David was ever able to show was for Paul, and Paul ends up feeling as if he's had this horrible childhood and his father never loved him and he can't even bother to show up for David's funeral. David was a good father to him, he wasn't perfect by any means, but if wanting your son to do more with his life than pursue a career in music is bad parenting, than shame on the world, that is a natural albeit wrong thing for parents to do, impose their own dreams on their children it certainly isn't child abuse. Considering all three of them, especially Norah and Paul who spent their lives feeling sorry for themselves and blaming it all on David (even before they knew of the "secret), for me personally, I felt more pity for David himself, having to spend his life loving (although not knowing how to show it) these two people, who could have ever cared less about him.

Now, the good points...Caroline Gill, who takes the twin sister and raises her is someone you can care about, someone you can get behind and you root for her and Al...and of course Phoebe. But these people are not in the book as nearly as much as the other three.

That being said, I believe this book deserves to be read, if only for its incredibly beautiful language. Edwards was born to be a writer, she has an incredible natural story telling talent. It's not by any means a terrible book and I don't think it deserves a one, but I can understand those reader's frustrations.

Hope this helps.

"The Memory Keeper's Daughter" opens in March 1964, with Dr David Henry and his wife, Norah, soon to become parents. The couple, who live in Kentucky, had only met about a year previously - but were married within three months and quite clearly didn't hang about when it came to starting a family. Unfortunately, with a blizzard raging outside, Norah goes into labour - three weeks ahead of schedule. The couple manage to make it as far as David's own clinic - where David and one of his nurses, Caroline Gill, look after the delivery. However, where one child had been expected, two arrive - Paul, a perfectly healthy son, and Phoebe, who has Down's Syndrome. David's sister, June, had died when she was twelve due to a heart problem, and he is convinced his daughter's life will also be short. Remembering how June's death had broken his mother's heart, he decides to try and spare Norah the same grief. He hands his daughter to Caroline, and instructs her to bring Phoebe to an institution he knows of. She sets out to do as she's asked - but, on seeing the institution, she can't leave the newborn girl there. Instead, she does a runner to Pittsburgh and decides to raise Phoebe as her own daughter. "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" tells the story of both families - alternating between David, Norah and Paul on one side and Caroline and Phoebe on the other.

I have never had so much difficulty in getting through a book - but, if only I had read the blurb, I'd have known to avoid it like the plague. "A tale of regret and redemption...so lovely you have to re-read", Jodi Picoult comments, while Sue Monk Kidd warbles about "the entangled lives to two families and the devastating secret that shapes them both". The writing inside is even worse - page after page of nauseating froth. Handled properly, the story could well have been worth reading...but Edwards could only come up with genuinely awful cliches. If lines like "it was a moment real to only the two of them...an instant of communion" and "he says he's most alive when he's playing the guitar" sound like your idea of good time, you're in for a ball - otherwise, keep well away.

This book was a book club choice, so unfortunately all 700 times I wanted to put it down and never pick it up again I really couldn't. The characters were so boring and the descriptions went on and on. I actually believe there were about three pages devoted to a vaccume burning up. The story was a great idea, but the telling of it fell more than flat. I am not sure how it became a best seller...perhaps the pretty cover? I am an avid reader, and was extremely dissapointed with The Memory Keeper's Daughter.

After an excellent, even brilliant opening chapter, "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" descends into an overlong soap opera with little plot credibility.
Norah is one of the most negative, unsympathetic characters I have encountered in fiction. Her grief for her supposedly dead daughter Phoebe was excessive and unreal. She did not know she was expecting twins, and only learned about it after their birth. Still she wallows in self pity for years and chooses to obsess on her loss.
The reader never knows what exactly is wrong in David and Norah's marriage. The author devotes lengthy portions of the narrative to simply being vague on the issue. What is the problem? Is David withdrawn? Not attentive? Devote too much time to his photography? He does provide an affluent lifestyle for his family that allows Norah to indulge in her proclivity to redecorate every year.
By contrast the marital difficulties of Caroline and Al are explained succinctly. They had drifted apart through the logistics of daily living: something easily understood by the reader.
But one cannot understand Norah's alienation from David. Her long, wild drives in the car, endangering their son Paul.
Norah's adulterous affair with Howard (easily the biggest slimeball in modern fiction) renders her totally unsympathetic. Nor did she feel regret for any of her infidelities, although David had been faithful to her.
The nadir of the book is Norah's burning of David's photographs and negatives after finally learning the truth about Phoebe. Revenge? She had been unfaithful to her husband with several men. Was that not revenge enough? Since David's pictures now hung in museums and galleries she was burning works of art. To say nothing of destroying her son's inheritance. One suspects Norah's attempts to salvage some of the boxes of photos targeted for destruction was due to an editor's intervention rather than the character's conscience.
One is also puzzled by Paul's hostility toward David. The latter had tried to be a good and loving father. Even after his death Norah and Paul contined to trash David.
Unlike other readers I could relate to the character of Caroline. I found her interesting and credible.
"The Memory Keeper's Daughter" was tedius and choking on extraneous detail. Perhaps the author is more a poet than a novelist.

This book overall was a good read. It kept me interested even though it was very predictable. The emotions of the characters kept me reading. The price is right, so pick it up for a diversion. You'll be satisfied.

I can see why this was made into a movie on the Lifetime Network. Very chick flicky and very predictable.

My take on this novel is that the movie was better than the book. As previous reviewers have stated, there was a lot of information distracting the reader from the meat of the plot. The unnecessary lengthy discussions are eliminated from the movie, i.e. the whole Rosemary saga (which claims a good many pages) and David's yearning and interest in saving this young girl. The basic plot is excellent and the movie (unlike the book) relays the fundamentals of Ms. Edward's story, eliminating the surplus dialogue. My advice, watch the movie and pass on the book. Kim Edwards had a great plan but her delivery and editing left much to be desired.

This is the first time I've read Kim Edwards. Her writing has depth, is interesting, and moves at a good pace for me. The plot was interesting and raised many issues. It would make good fodder for a book discussion group. As the events progressed, the characterization became more complex. Was that intentional or a fluke of the story?
I couldn't give the book a five as a few things bothered me. First, it came off a little like a soap opera. The same issues were repeated again and again with no resolution. The characters never seemed to really want to solve their problems but lived in eternal angst. Didn't anyone ever hear of therapy? Also, I felt the characters were too one dimensional. I have known other people who have lost children at birth or in infancy. While the pain is always there, they are not fixated on the tragedy for decades as were these people.
The best parts illustrated some real psychological truths. Initially, you cannot live with unresolved grief. If sadness and loss are not addressed, they take over a life. Secondly, you cannot live in relationships under the shadow of a lie. Even if never mentioned, there are residual issues that affect the parties. In this way, the book was somewhat like Ibsen's "A Doll House". Finally, when you try to take life in your own hand's, trying to cheat fate, you become a prisoner of your own making. Pretty deep.
Lastly, it seemed that the males in the story were the protagonists. I found this an interesting way to approach relationship and loss that so deeply affected the female characters. Even when the primary character was removed, the emphasis transferred to the son and the mother continued to be the dependent recipient of the action rather than the originator. Did anyone else find that interesting? Nice work Ms. Edwards.

Well I'm shocked at how many have rated this book poorly and goes to show everyone has different likes in what they read. I have not been so interested in a book in so long. I could not put this down and became incredibly enthralled with each of the characters ... all for differing reasons. I almost felt as though I was somewhere mixed in, literally within, their lives. I understood them and their actions and was moved in so many ways. It was amazing how well Kim was able to age each of the characters so well and in a way that was easily followed by the reader. I've never actually gone back and read a book twice, but I have a feeling this one won't collect too much dust!

My only complaint ... i felt a small loose end with Rosemary. I wished she popped up one more time (perhaps the funeral).

I was very disappointed in this book. Read it to the end and was left with a feeling that I wasted my time.

I do not understand the popularity of this book. Our book club has deemed this book 'Our Least Favorite'. We found many of the characters 'unlikeable'. Additionally, there were several plot holes.

It was based on a similar concept of "Namesake", another contemporary book written by a woman, ie, that men has something terrible to hide from their spouses. :-) For guys it may be hard to relate to the characters, but even so I recommend it. Mainly because the book is fairly well written. I almost never read romantesque novels, so at least it was stimulating for me on this level. The characters are after all vivid and I could fell their pain (even if I did not buy into the premise). It is an okay book. I thought it would deserve more than a Lifetime movie, but it is all it got...

-- The Beginning of the Story --

This book was a drag from start to finish. You get hooked by the first few pages, SO HOOKED, in fact, that you can't stop thinking that THERE MUST BE A COMPELLING STORY somewhere in these never-ending-pages. Well, you never really find it. The story makes circles around itself and its unrealistic characters. After the book is over, you feel that the actual story was never really told to you. TOO MANY EMBELLISHMENTS and NOT MUCH SUBSTANCE.


The MOST UPSETTING about this book is the fact that it supposed to be about the daughter Phoebe, about the girl twin diagnosed with Down syndrome. That is what I really cared about in this story, and despite the endless details about other characters, I was never given enough information to understand Phoebe's world, her part in this story. She is the least developed character, yet she is supposed to be the center of the story. It felt very fake, as if the author did not have any idea what she was writing about, it made me even doubt if she ever was around a person with a Down syndrome, especially a "High Functioning" one, as Phoebe is labeled. Phoebe does not sound believable, as if not enough research went into this story and into her part in it. Very disappointing! THE TITLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE STORY. Out of 430 pages how many were about Phoebe?

--- The End of It ---

Finally, when after 25 years of separation the twins meet, the reader would hope to get the reward of reading about the two of them, but no. After the big secret, that has tormented so many people for years and has made enough damage, is FINALLY REVEALED, nothing really happens!!! It's like - what was the whole point in the suffering? What was the point for us to read about somebody's pain if nothing is learned, if the characters do not get stronger. As if a BAD JOKE, the point of finding Phoebe was so that the mother (Norah) could have her daughter present at her second wedding, after first husband dies?!?!?!?! Was that the whole point? Because, really, after the Phoebe is found, there is so little communication/connection between mother-and-daughter that it makes no difference to this story at all. All of those reflections, that Norah was shown capable of through-out the story, suddenly vanished and all she cared about now is to get married and fly away to Europe. Although that was the climax of the story (if there ever was one), the reader gets a few pages of blah... plain blah... Nothing really happens between the twins, their connection is not believable. It is as if the author was trying too hard to be nice-and-sweet around a topic she didn't feel comfortable writing about.

I bought the paperback version but followed the link "to start reading the book immediately on my Kindle" and Amazon charged me again for the book even though the Kindle book is only readable on the Kindle and so can't be shared with a circle of friends. So be forewarned, if you want to read the book on Kindle, and keep it too, you will be buying the same book twice.

Many reviews here mimic my own feelings for this book. I thought the summary of the book was very appealing, but the actual story was a disappointment. It started of well enough and drew me in, but after the first 20 pages or so the details became overwhelming and unnecessary. The novel dragged on like an exhausting soap opera where the characters get ever so close to resolving their problems, but never actually do. At the other extreme, the end felt rushed and imposed.

I picked up this book, and as I usually do I started reading the first few pages at my local bookstore. It started out interesting with a quick pace, so I deemed it worth bringing home with me. After the initial scene, I found all motivation to continue reading this book was gone. It sat on a shelf for months. Then while moving, I saw the book and decided to give it another go. I finished this book only to prove to myself that I could.

The entire middle, you know, where the beef is supposed to be, lacks a reason to continue reading. There was not one character I could relate to, and thats not to say that I hate flawed characters. In truth I hate characters that have no flaws, but the problem was that these characters were truly only represented by their flaws. I can only hope that if a book is written about me, the actions in my life have more reason to them than my simple character flaws.

So the book goes on like this, with every page being overwritten. I think that a great book knows how to give detail with out making it overly dramatic, as is the case here.

The end of the book, much to my surprise, picked up right where the beginning left off. That quick pace and well written style. This book would make an excellent short story. Since it is not, I highly advise you do with out reading middle, trust me, you are missing nothing.

Although I really wanted to like this book, it just didn't work out. It started out pretty strong and then ended so weakly that I couldn't believe I had wasted so much time on it. It took me nearly a year to get through, just because I would pick it up, read a chapter, then ignore it for month. It did nothing to keep me interested and wanting more. I like a book that grabs me, pulls me in and leaves me craving the next page when it's time to put it down, but this novel was just way to easy to put away and forget.

I grew up with a sibling with disabilities, which might make me a bit more sensitive to some of the topics of this story. I didn't appreciate the unnecessary use of the "r" word, either. I realize that the book was written to take place during a period in time before the more politically correct terminology of today, but still...there's no need to abuse it so heavily.

If I could un-read this book and have that time back, I'd be thrilled.

I really enjoyed this book. I have passed it to others who also feel the same. I have read this book over a year ago now and I still remember the characters and their dilemmas. It is rare that I will read a book more than once, this book is one that I could easily pick up again. If you want a book that is easy to read, but offers more than a simple story, this could be what you are looking for.

I loved this book. I did not want to put it down nor did I want it to end.

All I can say is the movie is a shameful representation of the book, and if you've seen it you should read the book just to do it justice. Well written and an easy read, I would recommend it.

The premise was very intriguing and the story started strong but, like someone else said, there was too much detail about stuff that I just did not care about and it got slow. Very slow. I skimmed a lot to get to the MEAT of the story. I'm sure there was a lot of symbolism that I missed because I did that. Oh well.

The author dropped the ball on a few things that could have made the story much more interesting. Like the notice in the newspaper about Phoebe's death. Shouldn't that have tipped off questioning from someone about the improper disposal of the body, or the lack of a death certificate? David was mad at Norah for doing that, and was obviously worried, but then we flash forward and... nothing happens.

I thought the Rosemary plotline was unnecessary and contrived. Bree's cancer was another thing that just didn't contribute to the story. And why throw France and Frederic and all that mess in too? Who cares? I didn't. It was in the way.

I also thought that there was a little too much overt anger towards David from Paul. I think it should have been quieter somehow... with more angst.

And it would have been much more interesting to me to have the truth about Phoebe come out while David was still alive.

I wasn't emotionally involved anymore by the time I turned the last page. I was looking forward to putting it down.

The idea of this story grabbed me - the twin with Down's Syndrome being given away in secret - but the truth is one could have as much satisfaction reading the very beginning & the very end. The middle 80% is filled with details (Rosemary, all the camera details, affairs, Paul running away...) that are all just minor & boring details - yet they fill the book. Truthfully, I'm giving it 3 stars because I actually enjoyed reading it & could not wait to see what happens at the end & the writing is very good - but it's almost 2 1/2 stars because the only action in the book is in the beginning & the very end.

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.

David Henry is a man who grew up poor and who pulled himself up by his bootstraps through education. He tries to distance himself from his past when he becomes a doctor and marries the lovely Norah. When she is ready to deliver their child there is a terrible snowstorm and David is forced to deliver his own child. A son is born without incident, but surprisingly there is a second baby, a girl, whom David quickly realizes is born with Down's Sydrome. Having grown up with a sister with fragile health, David makes a quick decision to send the baby away to an institution. He trusts his nurse Caroline to deliver the child, but she cannot and she chooses to raise Phoebe instead. This single decision, made in a traumatic moment, causes emotional ripples which continue to flow through the lives of David and Norah, and their son Paul. Secrets are kept, walls are built, and lives are sent spinning in a negative direction. Author Kim Edwards describes the parallel lives of David, Norah, and Paul, and Caroline and Phoebe. The interactions and emotions all ring true and the author creates a moving and memorable book.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because it is not perfect. The introduction of the character Rosemary seems to me to be unnecessary and distracts from the story. The book is somewhat slow at times, but overall it is a wonderful novel which has a lot of lessons to teach about communication and the value of honesty in any relationship. This is a book I'll remember and recommend to others.

This book was like a marathon, it got off to a good start, but felt so slow and forced toward the end, almost bordering on corny. The type of book where you skim through pages just to get to the next big thing, which never actually happens. A so-so read

I was mad at the book from page two! I could not believe the inconsistencies. And who researched for this book? Norah went through the hormone changes where her hair falls out four DAYS after giving birth? Try four months! And she refers to Van Gogh's Starry Night at the Louvre. It's in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Ugh!!

The idea for the book was a great one. The execution was horrible. It would have been a great if it were a short story and written by someone else.

I was expecting something better but all in all it was readable. It was a little more interesting than Zadie Smith's White Teeth which I couldn't even finish. It wasn't the kind of book that you can't put down and I wouldn't recommend it for a book club discussion as there are far better reads out there such as Glass Castle or The Other Boelyn Girl.

This book is about how one secret decision slowly but surely haunted everyone involved. It masterfully weaves a story of how a family's lives were changed after a tragedy, one shrouded by deceit and guilt. A decision is made by Dr. Henry to protect his family, but incidiously tears at each of them through the years.

While some may find this book to be tedious, I found it to thoroughly develop each character in a way that made me see exactly how each person was affected and identify with each of them. It's not a typical plot of conflict/climax/resolution but that's what fascinated me. It is one that makes the reader reflect and say "What in my life am I letting slip away that I could make right on?" and to realize that how we react to circumstances determines our courses.

In this book, you understand why Dr. Henry did what he did but you know it is not what you should really do. And I think Dr. Henry knows it too. I think he also knows that while he wanted to protect his family, a big part was out of selfishness. The guilt caused a chasm between he and his wife and their son grew up with parents that could not emotionally provide him a happy, loving family. I feel this book is essentially about accepting what you get and by making the best of it, and though hard, it is better than guilt and secrecy. You grieve for what this family could have been and what they instead became.

Usually, I am not moved by books. I may find one memorable and enjoyable but never moving. This one brought me extremely close to tears.
It depicts the desperation of timed choices and the consequences that follow. It's those consequences that leads to other desperate choices made for the wrong motives that hurts the people surrounding them.
Haunting and emotional. It is a book that is definitely worth reading.

The medical admonition "above all do no harm" was at the heart of the tragic elements of this book. David had violated a prime part of his professional honor. The act of giving away his disordered infant destroyed his marriage and injured most of his other
relationships.
Despite his efforts to redeem himself he never was able to face up and tell the truth.
There are lots real life stories like this, some equally sad, and it is hard to make them end happily. Kim Edwards did a pretty good job. pmc

Like others here, I bought this book at the bookstore because it was on the bestseller table and the cover was cute and it had an interesting synopsis. NEVER judge a book by its cover! The writing was tedious, the characters uninteresting. I thought the wife was petty and unforgiving, the son an ungrateful brat, and the nurse too insecure that you don't bother cheering for her. The father seemed a decent man whose normal faults the author made monumental. Give me a break, Lady. I'm feeling generous in giving it two stars instead of one. Maybe because I'm a twin myself, so I liked the idea of a book about twins. The only reason I skimmed the book to completion is that I was stuck in a hotel in Alaska.