Books I've read this week - The Memory Keeper's Daughter

I know, I know, I already posted a book this weeek. I just wanted to tell you about this one while it's still fresh in my mind.

I just finished The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards ©2005. I loved this story but it was so sad. It begins in Kentucky in 1964 when bad weather forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins with the assistance of nurse, Caroline Gill. His son is born first and healthy, but after his daughter is born, he instantly recognizes that she has Down's syndrome. His wife is under anesthesia and the doctor makes a life-changing decision, telling his nurse to take the girl to an institution. He later tells his wife the baby was born dead. The nurse goes to the institution but when she sees how deplorable the conditions are, she's unable to leave the baby there. Instead she leaves town, traveling to Pittsburgh, taking the little girl with her. It isn't long before the doctor starts to re-think his decision but his wife sets up a memorial service for their 'dead' daughter without telling him. What can he do now but go along with her?

The wife never really recovers from her daughter's 'death'. The doctor has to live his entire life with the lies that he's told. The son feels gulity that his twin didn't survive. And the nurse always wonders if she did the right thing. This is truly a tragic story but it was told in a very good way. I highly reccommend it.