The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

[migirl]

I've been meaning to post a review of this book for a while... It's a beautifully written story of an orthopedic surgeon (!) who is forced to deliver his own twin children in an unexpected snowstorm. He recognizes immediately that one of the babies has Down syndrome, and - thinking that he is saving his wife from pain and disappointment - gives the baby away to the nurse who is assisting the birth with instructions to take the baby to an institution (this occurred in the '60s). He then tells his wife that the second baby has died. The nurse can't bring herself to leave the baby in the institution, so she raises the baby herself. The book follows both families over the next 25 years, describing the impact of that fateful decision on everyone.

I thought the ending was a little bit unsatisfactory, but it was otherwise really, really good.

I totally agree about the ending.

This is a book I started and put down several times over the course of 2 months. About 1/2 way through I started to really get into it, and eventually stayed up really late to finish it.

[Ames]

I really liked this book. I thought it was really well written and although it was a sad story I enjoyed reading it.

[Meenah]

I also enjoyed this book. Since I have been in school I have read very few books for pleasure, but I'm building a long list for next year.

[medpedspouse]

I am halfway through this book and only put it down becasue I had to come back to work today. Thanks for the warning about the ending because now my expectations will not be so high.

[medpedspouse]

I finished it. Great book but I felt the ending was kind of abrupt.

[Vishenka69]

Almost done with this, there were several points in the book where I felt "how can there be still half a book left?" I'll come back with my thoughts of the ending later in the week.

I liked the part where Bree commented on the number of patients at David's funeral and how many think he was a saint and Norah replies, "They weren't married to him." That really rang true.

[Vishenka69]

I found the end to be dragging a bit and too sappy. But overall really liked the book.