The Memory Keeper's Daughter

Just finished The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards.

The novel starts in 1964 and follows the life of Dr David Henry and his wife Norah who gives birth to twins, a boy Paul and their daughter Pheobe who he recognises has Down sydnrome. He makes a quick decision to sent his daughter with his nurse Caroline to an instiution. He tells his wife that their daughter Pheobe has died during the birth. Caroline takes the little girl to the instiution but is unable to leave her there and makes the decision that she will keep her and raise her as her own, packs up her things and moves to another city. The book then follows the next 25 years of their lives based on this lie.

I enjoyed this book but found it very sad, at one point putting it down and almost deciding not to finish it. It called me back however and I finished it with relish. The saddest part is that the father dies without the truth ever coming out with him to explain his decision and his regret. This I guess made me think about how we often think we have time to sort some things out in our lives, busy with life we never get the chance and then there is no more opportunities. Lost. Forever.

I feel more inspired by this book to not make the decisions that you will regret for the rest of your life.

PS This book is one of the 2007 Books Alive