Friday, September 19, 2008

Living with secrets

I was told by a couple of my cousins this past weekend that the book I was reading was "so last year" ... as well as "very good". I was disappointed that it took me so long to finish it, but once school started, I didn't pick it up again for 3 weeks.

I am terrible at expressing my thoughts and feelings in regards to a book. Mention a part of it and I will tell you how it left me feeling, but organizing all my thoughts and emotions from the 300+ pages is difficult and becomes unorganized and long winded.




This stunning novel begins on a winter night in 1964, when a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy, but the doctor immediately recognizes that his daughter has Down syndrome. For motives he tells himself are good, he makes a split-second decision that will haunt all their lives forever. He asks his nurse, Caroline, to take the baby away to an institution. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child as her own. Compulsively readable and deeply moving, The Memory Keeper's Daughter is a brilliantly crafted story of parallel lives, familial secrets, and the redemptive power of love.



I really enjoyed reading this story. There were parts of it that made me cringe, parts that made me angry and sad, as well as parts that made me melt. It was a well written thought provoking book that left my heart feeling heavy at times. Overall, I give this book a 9 on a scale of 10. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it.

Enjoy.

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body."
~ Joseph Addison~

19 comments:

E said...

Thank you for the review. It's on my to read list.

Unknown said...

It sounds like you really enjoyed the book. Thanks for the review.

Unknown said...

Sounds like a good one! I have the same problem when it comes to summing up a book :)

Sarah said...

I'll put that on my 'Shelfari'. If you are reading a book that is SO last year, I am completely out of the loop! I've heard of this -- only because it was recently made into a 'Lifetime' movie!! I purposefully didn't watch it, but I may enjoy reading it! Thanks for the review!

Ms. V. said...

Our book group read that. It was great.

Wes said...

I blog, I therefore have no secrets :-) I love good books!!

Jess said...

I read that earlier this year and thought it was really good. It's being adapted into a film for later this year.

Danielle said...

Will have to add it to my list!

IronGambit said...

Damn I am so last year :(

L*I*S*A said...

I've heard a lot about this book. I'll have to give it a read.

Anonymous said...

i didn't read your review because I want to read it myself. But, if your reading stuff that is so last year - I'm reading things that were so last decade. I've been a constant part time student since working full time and just don't have enough time to read.

Holly said...

I read that book last spring and thought it was wonderful!

Brooke said...

I have this one on the shelf but have not had time to read it yet. Maybe over Christmas.

I am on facebook. User name: Brooke Goedecke

Erin Leigh said...

I read so much that I couldn't remember if I read it or had wanted to read it til I read the review. I did read it. I am WAY behind with my reading after my school year last year. I am back to reading things like Intro to Public Health. Entralling ;)

Brianna said...

I'll have to add that to my list, too (once I finish a few I'm getting ready to review!). I'm even further behind than you are - I'm likely still reading books that are SO 2004 (the year my son was born). :)

Meg said...

I haven't read this book, but I did see the movie on Lifetime. The senitments you expressed were the same that I had!

J~Mom said...

I loved that book!! I wanted to slap them all but it was very realistic I think.

Anne said...

I've been toying with reading this, wondering if I'm in the right place to do so. It looked like such a downer but something tells me it doesn't end that way. Love when someone recommends a good read -- thanks!

Unknown said...

My husband and daughter are always reading something. My son & I just don't enjoy fiction. Can't explain it, but reading just isn't my thing.

So if "Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body" (and I don't doubt that) I'm probably well on my way to Alzheimers.