On a winter night in 1964, Dr. David Henry is forced by a blizzard to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy. Yet when his daughter is born, he sees immediately that she has Down's Syndrome. Rationalizing it as a need to protect his wife, Norah, he makes a split-second decision that will alter all of their lives forever: he asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and never to reveal the secret.
But Caroline, the nurse, cannot leave the infant. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child herself. So begins this beautifully told story that unfolds over a quarter of a century in which these two families, ignorant of each other, are yet bound by the fateful decision made that long-ago winter night.
A brilliantly crafted, stunning debut, The Memory Keeper's Daughter explores the way life takes unexpected turns, and how the mysterious ties that hold a family together help us survive the heartache that occurs when long-buried secrets burst into the open.
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"Wow, what can I really say? At first I really wanted to dislike David, but then I couldn't. During this time period, it was completely acceptable and expected of what he did. But who I really applaud is Caroline. What would I ever do if I were in her shoes? She is a true hero in my eyes. This book is definitely about secrets and the destruction it can cause in one's life. Secrets are never a good thing, but Caroline really set things right in the end for everyone."
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Ericafoferica (4 out of 5 stars)