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Book Review By Betty-Jeanne Korson
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

This first time novel by Kim Edwards reminds the reader of the tearjerkers of the thirties,"Mildred Pierce", in particular. The story begins in 1964 with the birth of twins to David and Norah Henry during an unexpected flal blizzard in Kentucky. Their gynecologist is unable to reach them so David, N orthopedic surgeon delivers his wife with the help of his nurse,Caroline Gill,31,who is secretly in love with him. Twins are born; aboy, paul, robust and helthy, and later, a girl with Down's syndrome. Nora is anaesthetized during the births and she is unaware that she has had twins. David is horrified at his daughter's condition. He is haunted by the meory of his sister born with a heart defect that later killed her so he is unable to accept his imperfect baby girl. In a rash decision that influences his entire future life,he gives the baby to Caroline and directs her to take the child to a home. Then he tells Nora that the baby was stillborn.
   When Caroline sees the appalling condition of the home where David wanted her to leave Phoebe, the name that Norah picked out if she had a girl, she takes the baby home and decides to keep her. In ove of the book's most poignant scenes, Caroline attends the funeral Norah holds for her baby. She meets David's eyes and both are locked into the lie that will imprison them for the rest of their lives.
   During the next 25 years, David tries to contact Caroline who writes him terse letters keeping him in touch with Phoebe's progress. Caroline fights to get Phoebe accepted into public school. Phoebe works as a young adult and even marries. Caroline comes to love a truck driver who helped her when she was fleeing with Phoebe and who miraculously hooks up with her in later years.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - depressed
Time/era of story - 1960's-1970's
Internal struggle/realization? Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Pregnancy/Child rearing Yes
Major part of story:
Coping with loss of loved one(s) Yes
Loss of...

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Nationality

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
How sensitive is this character?

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 ()
City? Yes

Writing Style
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - descript of kissing - touching of anatomy - actual description of hetero sex - Boob talk!
Amount of dialog - little dialog
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