What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive (Sir Walter Scott)

Dr. David Henry didn't completely understand the full impact of the statement by Sir Walter Scott when he made a life-altering decision during the delivery of his baby twins. The regrets we die with often result from quick emotional decisions that were not based upon reflection and intelligent thought. Such was the case the night when Dr. Henry found himself delivering the babies his wife was giving birth to. A blizzard prevented her doctor from reaching the hospital, but he was able to get her to his office. It's in the isolation of his office that life takes a tragic turn.

Dr. Henry and Norah celebrated the birth of their healthy baby boy (Paul) as the contractions for the second baby began. The joy disappeared immediately when he realized that the twin baby girl (Phoebe) pushing her way into the world had a serious handicap. Taking advantage of his wife's drug-induced condition, he rushed the baby away, leaving her with the belief that she was born dead rather than dealing with the associated grief of raising this child. He further took advantage of his romantic relationship with his nurse Caroline. Dr. Henry made decisions, without consulting his wife, and these affected everyone involved for the next 25 years.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter, by Kim Edwards, is an incredibly emotional story about deception, about right and wrong, and about two families. One family is a model of how things used to be done prior to the changes occurring in the mid 1960s. The other family was a model of progressive thinking on the part of handicapped family member.

David and Norah Henry's life could be compared to a house of cards, built completely on lies that tore at their foundation on a daily basis. It was unhealthy and destructive for every member. The other family formed around the nurse, Caroline, was progressive, happy, and healthy, built on the knowledge that the right choice was made.

Dr. Henry thrusts the baby on his nurse, asking her to participate in an unbelievable lie. As the winter storm continues to blow, he demands that Caroline take the baby to an institution for people with handicaps like Downs Syndrome. Once there the nurse is appalled by the reprehensible conditions of this factory-like institution for lost people. She turned and left, and at that moment she gained my respect. She decided to make the necessary sacrifices to raise Phoebe as her own as a single mother.

The Memory Keeper was told from varying perspectives that alternated between the key characters. Through their voices I learned how each managed their personal lives, their sorrow and guilt, and challenges.

Dr. Henry's decision was based upon the loss of his own unhealthy sister when he was 12 and while his intentions were good, they were based upon an unrealistic need to protect his family. Everything for him beyond that night becomes tainted with grief and the deception. I was prepared to dislike him, but found myself feeling sorry for him as he attempted to rectify his decision.

Norah struggled with the guilt about not forcing herself to say goodbye to her dead daughter, and she struggled with unknown feelings related to the loss that lead her to self-destruct through affairs and alcohol.

Caroline very humbly proceeds as a single mother, during a period of revolution and redefining of women's roles in society. Concurrently, she finds herself leading efforts as a grassroots activist for the cause of gaining Phoebe the freedom to grow up at home and to participate in public education.

The Page Turner Looses its Grip
Kim Edwards' book grabbed me from the start with a surprising force. The events in the hospital, the male force that took charge and took advantage of the two women, the delivery, and the following circumstances captured me immediately. I found myself screaming at Norah, "don't let him take her away, demand to see your baby!!" along with a few other choice words. I wept at everyone's sorrow. I cheered as the true heroine, Caroline, found her strength, and disappeared with Phoebe, to do the right thing. As difficult as it was to raise a child alone in the mid 1960s, she realized that leaving this child unloved was a more difficult task.

In several ways the book was too long, there was too much repetition, but in other ways, the book wasn't long enough. Edwards was definitely at her best as she slowed down with details, and I found myself loosing connections with the book as she sped through the decades, only briefly alluding to the events that were occurring. When Edwards slowed down, her lyrical style was full of metaphorical comparisons and a very rich language. I thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of her writing and look forward to her next novel.

The story carried us through 25 years of life with us dropping in at key moments for brief visits as if to simply keep track of everyone. The characters were well developed. We felt their sorrows, their grief, their doubts, and regrets, but also their joys and triumphs. I found this book to be both extremely sad and powerfully hopeful and uplifting, depending upon which perspective I was reading.

The story is long. The last eighth of the 401-paged book could have been reduced. I grew weary of the emotional repetition of the secret. I was left with unanswered thoughts, and wondered why certain questions hadn't been asked or why Norah and Paul felt so isolated and suspicious. Why did they dislike Dr. Henry who attempted to be the perfect father/dad? I also felt a little let down by the conclusion, that while sentimental, didn't compare to the start.

Although the page-turner lost its grip, I enjoyed the portrayals of the two drastically different families, their struggles and joys, and the historical perspectives of the challenges associated with raising a handicapped child during this period. The novel was based upon a real event and serves as a cautionary tale. It counsels about dismissing the feelings of others, about taking away another's ability to participate in major decisions, and about ignoring the humanity of those around us. It is a tale about building lives upon lies and about the consequences of those actions. It illustrates the power of following the difficult path and making the right decision in the face of adversity. Regardless of the length, this emotional life-affirming story will affect each reader in different ways.




Recommended: Yes