Book details
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
by Kim Edwards
2005 · Penguin Books
About the book
In 1964, Dr. David Henry delivers his own twins during a blizzard. When he realizes his daughter, Phoebe, has Down syndrome, he tells his wife, Norah, that the baby died, handing the infant to his nurse, Caroline Gill, to be placed in an institution. Instead, Caroline flees to another city to raise Phoebe as her own. The narrative tracks two decades of parallel lives: David’s family collapses under the weight of his secret and Norah’s unresolved grief, while Caroline and Phoebe navigate the challenges of disability and social exclusion.
This book serves readers of realistic fiction who are interested in the long-term consequences of medical ethics and family secrets. It attracts those curious about how private choices alter domestic dynamics and the history of how society treats individuals with developmental disabilities. Readers finish the story with a clear perspective on the burden of deception and the contrast between a life built on a lie and one built on the difficult reality of unexpected circumstances.
Details
- Published
- 2005
- Publisher
- Penguin Books
- ISBN
- 9780143037149
- Language
- EN