The Memory Keeper's Daughter: A Novel by Kim Edwards
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Book Reviews of The Memory Keeper's Daughter: A Novel
Book Review: beautifully crafted
Summary: 5 Stars
Kim Edwards's novel is one of those rare books I forced myself to read slowly, because her writing is so beautiful, her use of language so evocative, that I couldn't bear to reach the end. David and Norah Henry are absolutely believable. The slow, painful unraveling of their marriage is an entirely accurate depiction of the aftermath of unvalidated grief. Norah longs to mourn and acknowledge the baby she believes died at birth, while David urges her to put the experience behind her and rejoice in their living,healthy son. The author's ability to capture the complex and contradictory emotions of grieving a deceased child while loving and parenting a living child is amazing. This is complicated even more by the fact that the baby's death is a lie David decided to tell in an attempt to protect his wife.
As the grandmother of a full term, unexpectedly stillborn baby girl, I know first hand the long term effects of this kind of grief. It is remarkable to me that Edwards is able to accurately capture the many ways, both small and large, in which unspoken grief permeates and alters relationships. I actually had to remind myself that this is a novel and not a memoir. Edwards' descriptions are breathtaking; she absolutely takes command of the English lanuage. Her book provokes the reader to consider the destructive power of secrets, as well as to examine what truly constitutes a fulfilling, satisfying life.
Book Review: How one decision can haunt us
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Book Review: Moving book hard to put down....
Summary: 5 Stars
What is interesting about books is that when you read it everyone has an opinion. You can disagree with my assessment of this book but it is just my opinion. I feel the book could be broken up into 3 parts. The first third of the book made me wonder if I made the right decision to read this book. It was dark and depressing but at the same time I kept reading. The second third of the book had me thinking that while I made the right decision to keep reading it was still depressing. The last third of the book I think I read without putting it down. The story of a woman giving birth to a child is moving by itself but the events that followed the birth were mind blowing. How could someone give up a child no matter what condition the new born baby is in. You have to read the entire book to understand the perspective of David Henry. Once you get the entire perspective you will see why he made the decision. You may not agree with it but none the less you will understand. Throughout the book the wedge that David created was so large neither he nor his family ever recovered. The dreams he had for his son, his wife and that for his family could never be realized. If you read this book you will not be disappointed but be prepared to laugh and cry. Be prepared to be moved and be prepared to have a totally different perspective on your life and your family. Especially if you have young children.Book Review: Extraordinary book
Summary: 5 Stars
I found this to be a book of great emotional resonance. It was very well written and the characters compellingly drawn. At the beginning of the book when David makes the fateful decision that the rest of his life and the rest of the book hinges on, it's hard to understand why he made that decision. But as the book gently unfolds and the characters are fleshed out you truly understand their motivations and as the years unfold and the secret impacts all their lives so tragically the author plays those emotions out beautifully in her narrative.
It was interesting to me that the title of the book came from the name of the camera Norah gives David, the "Memory Keeper" and it was David's approach to photography that allowed him to keep his "dark secret" all those years. From the book..."Camera, his father told him, came from the French chambre, room. To be in camera was to operate in secret." And David says at another point "Photography is all about secrets. The secrets we all have and will never tell."
There's a point in the book where David says "You can't stop time. You can't capture light. You can only turn your face up and let it rain down."
This story is beautifully told and solidly written. Do yourself a favor and add it to your "Must Read" pile.
Book Review: A pleasant and thoughtful read
Summary: 5 Stars
Kim Edwards is an unfamiliar author who made a blazing debut with this book, right into the NY Times #1 bestseller spot. <em>The memory keeper's daughter</em> is a novel about the life of an American family in the 1960s-1980s, following the consequences of a dramatic decision made by David Henry - when his wife gave birth to twins, a healthy boy and a girl with Down's syndrome, David decided to give the girl away to an institution, telling his wife that she died at birth. However, the girl didn't reach an institution, but was rather raised by a nurse from the hospital who just couldn't leave her.
It is a very emotional story, full of sentimental moments, following the life of David, his wife Norah and their son Paul, and in another place the nurse Caroline and the child with the Dawn's syndrome, Phoebe. What I liked most about the book is how realistic it is. It's not one of those Harlan Coben / Dan Brown thrillers that present new surprises on each page. Neither is it a soap opera. It simply is a story of a group of connected people quietly living their lives in the shadow of one critical decision made in a split of a second. In some way it is about what happiness really is, which makes you thoughtful while reading.