Monday, October 6, 2008

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.

32 comments:

  1. Don't enter me - I've read this book and loved it. Whoever wins is in for a treat!

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  2. I enjoyed this one too. It was such a sad story or many levels but also had some happy ones.

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  3. Please enter me it sounds great and I'd love to read it.

    The top book to read for me right now is: Mr. Sebastian and the negro magician by Daniel Wallace- who did Big fish and it sounds so good I really can't wait; heard a lot of good things about it

    jcbdalton@yahoo.com

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  4. I want to read Nefertiti by michelle Moran. For some reason all things early Egyptian fascinate me. Please enter me in your contest
    florida982002@yahoodotcom

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  5. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is nearing the top of my list now...it sounds very good.
    but so does The Memory Keeper's Daughter, so please enter my name in the contest..

    caitemaire[AT]hotmail[DOT]com

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  6. I would really love to read this so please enter me in the draw.
    At the top of my list right now is Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer which I may have to go out and buy! :(

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  7. I would love be entered into this contest! I have been recommended this book by many people and read many positive reviews and opinions on it.

    Literary fiction wise, what is calling me from the TBR mountain range, is something classic, maybe North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. I saw the BBC series recently, and I would like to read it while the visuals are still fresh in my mind.

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  8. the kite runner is at the top of my list right now i have not been able to read it yet and would definitely love to because i keep hearing how great it is, i need to read it!! : )

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  9. In Your Room by Jordanna Fraiberg is definitely up there after reading an amazing review by Kristi from TheStorySiren.

    ylin.0621[at]yahoo.com

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  10. No need to enter me, just letting you know I posted about this giveaway on my blog, and I really enjoyed this book. Also, since reading your review, The Lying Tongue is one of the books on my wishlist.

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  11. I'd love to be entered to win this one. I've heard lots of good things about it and have looked at it many times at the book store but haven't yet got it.

    One of the literary fiction books at the top of my wishlist is The Sorrows of an American by Siri Hustvedt, simply because I've loved the other books of hers that I've read especially What I Loved.

    And I've mentioned your giveaway here.

    Thanks.
    (tanabata2000 AT gmail DOT com)

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  12. Thanks for having a giveaway! This book is on my to be read list. One of the many others books I'd like to read is The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.
    trishtheconqueror at hotmail dot com

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  13. oh i want to win this one! enter me in your giveaway!. Thanks
    keyomi

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  14. I've wanted to read this book for a long time! The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen is also on my wish list. I love suspense.
    mittens0831 AT aol DOT com

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  15. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  16. Sandra, don't enter me in the drawing as I've already read it. Funny thing is I mooched it when I finished and then this week my daughter asked me if I owned it. So we mooched it for her.

    I liked it really well, too.

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  17. The book at the top of my list is Water for Elephants: A Novel - Sara Gruen. I read the reviews and people have recommended it and it sounds interesting to me.

    My post to the giveaway is here.

    I have already gone to the rice site, I have a link (not a button) to the other charities on my blog.

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  18. Hi :) I would like to enter the contest! It's been a while since i've seen this book and wanted to buy it !

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  19. Ops, i forgot to leave contact

    Here it goes

    acrisalves(at)gmail(dot)com

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  20. i have heard much about The Memory Keeper's Daughter..negative and positive..i would like to see/read for myself

    my current Want To Read is THE WHIRLPOOL by Jane Urquhart..

    Canadian Side of Niagara Falls..local undertaker's wife is busy (crazy stunts mean business)..across the street an obsessive military historian..over all the rhythms of Browning's poetry..yep..i wanna read that

    you?

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  21. to jaydit: The Whirlpool by Jane Urquhart is an excellent story. I loved it, but then I love all her books. I can recommend them highly.

    And thank you to those who commented about the book even though you aren't entering for the draw. It makes it so much more interesting to hear what others think too-even for me.

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  22. I really want to read The Stranger by Albert Camus.

    sundaygirl at gmail dot com

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  23. There are so many books on my wishlist, but I think Sarah's Key and The i Tetralogy are at the top.

    Thanks for this great giveaway!

    --Anna
    http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com
    diaryofaneccentric[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  24. This book is at the top of my wishlist. Another book at the top is Memoirs of a Geisha. Thanks for entering me!

    mcelhra1@yahoo.com

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  25. We've posted this contest at Win A Book. No need to enter us in the contest.

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  26. This has been on my wishlist for awhile now. Thanks for the opportunity!

    daq_17 at hotmail dot com

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  27. please sign me up, this sounds so good. I just bought the book Final Scream by Lisa Jackson I'm eager to start reading it

    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

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  28. I would love to win this book - I have heard so much about it! Another book at the top of my to-read list right now is The Book Thief.

    You can contact me at hurdler4eva@gmail.com if I am lucky enough to win. Thank you for the giveaway :)

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  29. I have been wanting to read Farworld. I can't get hold of it here in India as it not available as yet.

    I wish to read The Memory Keeper's Daughter.

    Please do count me in!

    gautami.tripathy[at]gmail.com

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  30. I read the reviews for this: THE WAY OF SHADOWS by Brent Weeks...and am very intrigued by it.

    lone_hammy(at)yahoo.com.sg

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  31. I really want to read the Heretic's Daughter because that period of history really interests me--Tsarina's Daughter, too for the same reason :)

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  32. Great review...no need to enter me...just wanted to echo your thoughts. I really enjoyed this book.

    Thanks for stopping by my site. I'd love for you to participate in Waiting on Wednesday...

    ReplyDelete

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