The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

401 pages

"On a winter night in 1964, Dr. David Henry is forced by a blizzard to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy. Yet when his daughter is born, he sees immediately that she has Down's Syndrome. Rationalizing it as a need to protect Norah, his wife, he makes a split-second decision that will alter all of their lives forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and never to reveal the secret. But Caroline, the nurse, cannot leave the infant. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child herself. So begins this beautifully told story that unfolds over a quarter of a century - in which these two families, ignorant of each other, are yet bound by the fateful decision made that long-ago winter night. Norah Henry, who knows only that her daughter died at birth, remains inconsolable; her grief weighs heavily on their marriage. And Paul, their son, raises himself as best he can, in a house grown cold with mourning. Meanwhile, Phoebe, the lost daughter, grows from a sunny child to a vibrant young woman whose mother loves her as fiercely as if she were her own." -Book Jacket

This story really is beautifully told. It's so heart-breaking. It's heart-breaking to see how much damage one fateful decision causes in the lives of these people. It shapes everything they do from then on and creates an impenetrable wall between David and Norah. You can't help but ask yourself "What if?" throughout this entire story. What if David hadn't lied? What if he had just told Norah sooner? What if Caroline had just said no? Would Phoebe have still become the independent woman she is and had the opportunities she had? Would David have still spent his life helping others? Would Norah have turned into the strong woman she is? Would their marriage have been different, better? Would they have all lived happily ever after?

These characters are so defined by that one moment. I felt so much regret for Norah...and for David. You realize by the end that all they can do is try to forgive, put the past behind them, and try to move forward. You realize how much your life experiences influence your decisions. This was a fantastic book about ordinary people. It reminded me of Once Upon a Day and The Friday Night Knitting Club, so sad but somehow inspiring at the same time.