The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

Review and Giveaway

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

Fiction, Paperback 401 pgs. (2005)

Penguin Books

A well-meaning physician decides to spare his wife from a life of raising a child with the disabilities and short life expectancy of Down's Syndrome. The child is one of twins she has just given birth to. The other child, a boy, is perfectly healthy. He orders his nurse to take the newborn girl away to an institution and make sure no one ever knows about her. The nurse is torn by his request and does something no one would ever expect. It starts in the late 1950's and follows the couple's life with their son and the doctor's guilt over what he still believes, for heart-breaking reasons of this own, was the right thing to do. We are told in a parallel account what happens in the life of the other child too as she grows up.
I was a child during this same time period and the attitudes and actions toward disabled children rang true for me. Many people did put their children "away" in institutions. And often never spoke of them again. This story, about the difficult decisions we take upon ourselves and the consequences to everyone around us is universal, and emotionally engaging. A good story, that I would read again. It's an impressive first novel and I look forward to Kim Edward's next book. Four stars out of five.

I'm giving a brand new copy of The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards to one of my readers. It's a paperback Penguin with a reader's guide. If you haven't read this one or want a copy to give to someone you know would enjoy it, this is your chance. Entry is open worldwide until midnight Wednesday, October 15, 2008.

1) To enter tell me which book of literary fiction (no genres) is at the top of your wishlist right now and why you want to read it.
2) Blog about this giveaway and put a link back to it and I'll give you a second entry. If you don't have a blog, email 4 friends telling them about this giveaway copying me at sfuhringer(at) sympatico(dot) ca.
3) Click on all three of the charity buttons in my sidebar, then click the button to contribute at each site; OR go to the sites and put the buttons on one of your own blogs, and I'll give you another entry. Be sure the links works and leave a note or a link telling me you did.

Please leave a contact address if you're entering the giveaway and don't have a blog where I can contact you. It's surprising how often people forget to.

Winner will be announced on Thursday October 16, 2008.