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ktomkie's review against another edition
2.0
Edwards tone is developed and langauage is inviting. Her novel is topical and written with feeling. Her characters have deep and complex emotions and the connected effect their actions have on one another is a key theme of this novel.
Though Edwards' writing is skillful, her novel left me questioning the theme of her text. I wondered why the Memory Keeper himself, though the subject of the title, was hardly the subject of the book. The characters, too, remained generally undeveloped in this novel. In the end, I was left questioning the purpose of telling so sad a story at all.
I loved that this book gave a voice to parents of children with Downs, and I think Phoebe is an excellent character to represent the beautiful, honest, glowing personality that so often you find in people with Downs. Caroline's raising of Phoebe was touching and I found this to be one of my favorite aspects of the book.
This is not a light summer read. Consider yourself warned. But for a strong character study and focused topical novel, this certainly is a hard hitter.
Though Edwards' writing is skillful, her novel left me questioning the theme of her text. I wondered why the Memory Keeper himself, though the subject of the title, was hardly the subject of the book. The characters, too, remained generally undeveloped in this novel. In the end, I was left questioning the purpose of telling so sad a story at all.
I loved that this book gave a voice to parents of children with Downs, and I think Phoebe is an excellent character to represent the beautiful, honest, glowing personality that so often you find in people with Downs. Caroline's raising of Phoebe was touching and I found this to be one of my favorite aspects of the book.
This is not a light summer read. Consider yourself warned. But for a strong character study and focused topical novel, this certainly is a hard hitter.
careycarpenter's review against another edition
2.0
I picked up this book and thought, “huh, this sounds interesting” and then started reading it and on the second page I though, “have I read this before?” I finished the first chapter and vaguely remember the story. Skimmed through the second and then completely remembered reading it. Clearly it wasn’t memorable enough for me to remember it. But then I remembered how much I didn’t really like this book the first time. It was depressing and very sad. The writer likes to be poetic but the story dragged on too slowly and the characters weren’t likable. I’m giving it two stars because at least I finished it. Or I think I did anyway. I can’t remember.
sarahmcgurren13's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars, unfortunately, rounded down. I have so many thoughts on this book. I started out unsure if i should read the book... despite an interesting plot that grabbed my attention (doctor sends wife’s newborn child away because she is born with Down syndrome, follows the life of his family and the life of the child-adopted by one of the doctor’s former nurses), I read so many bad reviews!! I think I let these reviews cloud my judgement as I read, because I had to force myself through the first hundred pages. I got through it, and started to slightly enjoy it by the end. I was really caught however up in the poor writing of the author... I constantly found myself having to reread paragraphs and pages. For someone who usually flies through books, this was a long read for me.
evawhite's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
aslbookslover's review against another edition
5.0
This book put me very captivating passages through their marriage and their heartaches. I felt for them like it haunted me with the father's secrets. When the secrets revealed, I must say Kim Edwards did very well done with story so beautifully. I don't mind read her novels.
aejohnson85's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
During a snowstorm, David Henry is forced to deliver his own baby...only it turns out that his wife, Norah, was pregnant with twins. Paul was born "perfect" but their daughter Phoebe was born with Down's Syndrome. Not wanting to burden his wife with this, David gives Phoebe to his nurse, Caroline, and tells Norah their baby died at birth. What follows is a look at how this secret destroyed his family and how it created a family for Caroline, who chose to raise the baby as her own.
Overall, I found this to be very depressing and the characters were mostly unlikeable, other than Caroline and Al. None of the characters were able to deal with their emotions and it was hard to watch David distance himself from Norah and Paul and to watch Norah ache for a child she thought she lost (though I could NOT stand her).
The ending was much more uplifting and made me believe that the characters may be alright in the end, however, I really wish that David could have owned up to his lie before his death. I would have liked to see how Norah and Paul dealt with that, and also to have seen a relationship between Phoebe and David!
During a snowstorm, David Henry is forced to deliver his own baby...only it turns out that his wife, Norah, was pregnant with twins. Paul was born "perfect" but their daughter Phoebe was born with Down's Syndrome. Not wanting to burden his wife with this, David gives Phoebe to his nurse, Caroline, and tells Norah their baby died at birth. What follows is a look at how this secret destroyed his family and how it created a family for Caroline, who chose to raise the baby as her own.
Overall, I found this to be very depressing and the characters were mostly unlikeable, other than Caroline and Al. None of the characters were able to deal with their emotions and it was hard to watch David distance himself from Norah and Paul and to watch Norah ache for a child she thought she lost (though I could NOT stand her).
The ending was much more uplifting and made me believe that the characters may be alright in the end, however, I really wish that David could have owned up to his lie before his death. I would have liked to see how Norah and Paul dealt with that, and also to have seen a relationship between Phoebe and David!
bertrandlm's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
m_klevenberg's review against another edition
3.0
For at least half of the book I wasn't all that excited about it. It is on a very heavy subject and pretty depressing. Things take a turn towards the end and I ended up enjoying the book. Not totally sure is recommend it.