The Memory Keeper's Daughter

I can't believe I finish my first novel for 2012, I had initially put a goal for myself to complete two, a little bit ahead of schedule.  The novel is called, “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards” it has such an interesting turn of events and sad story.  I felt connected to the character and story line.

In this novel David a doctor gave his only daughter away at birth because she had downs syndrome without letting his wife know. I was very surprise at what he had done, however after reviewing the time period it was acceptable for doctors to prescribed kids with downs syndrome to be put them in nursing homes or institution. This was a way of him coping the loss of his sister to heart problem at an earlier age, his mother couldn’t live on with her life so he took it upon himself to save or protect his wife Noah from the stress and heartache of losing their daughter.  However that only caused more betrayal between him and Noah. Their marriage continues to worsen as their marriage grows.  I think a marriage should grow, contrary to my personal life it did happen that why either.  I didn’t give my daughter away however in my personal life my ex-wife and I didn’t know how to grow together as a couple. In the twenty years we were together like David and Noah they had secrets that their spouse did not know about but close friends did and they didn’t share or have intimate conversation.  It felt like my marriage lack those elements, I wish my ex-wife and I would have more intimate conversation and closeness. I guess it’s a lesson learn for the next woman who enter into my life.  Enough said about me, let get back to the novel.  Not until later in his life, when he visited his old place where he had grown up made him realize he had lived in secretive and he had made a bad mistake by giving his daughter away. Even though, he had made the decision which cost his marriage but he wouldn’t share with his ex-wife even after they were divorce.  Not until three years later when he had suddenly die from a heart attack after a run. The lady who had been caring for his daughter had finally approach Noah to let her know she had been caring for her daughter for all these years. 

The reason I felt connected with the character and storyline was that they had similar life struggle like me which I have learned from and I hope that a second chance in life will provide me with a better start next time around.  As for the characters, I felt that in order to have reached such success in life you have to really know where you came from, to love who you are and to make you a better person over all.

My next novel is called, "On The Divinity of Second Chances" keep a eye out. I'll write a small review about it too when I'm done.