The Memory Keeper's Daughter/Twilight

The day before yesterday, I went out with Nazim and my two cousins; Yaya, aged 9 and Iqa, aged 8 (boy, did we look like a family!). Supposedly, I were to drop off the kids for their art class at Ikano’s da Vinci but unfortunately (yes, quite unfortunate actually) they weren’t informed that there wasn’t any class on that day (being ignorant, my aunt, the kids, Nazim and I didn’t realize it was the Sultan’s birthday, thus, public holiday). So I was stuck with them for my date with Nazim.

The four of us then watched a movie, Twilight. In my opinion, it was a very nice movie, though I can’t yet compare it with the original book, because, you know, most probably for those who’ve read it before watching the movie has had to set the scene in their own imagination and believe their version is way better!

So this led me to wanting to read the Twilight series! Devastatingly, however desperately I want to read the books, I can’t put my money where my mouth is! So my beloved, yes, beloved Nazim has agreed to buy me the first book provided I finish the book I was currently reading; The Memory Keeper’s Daughter. On that particular day, I had only one more chapter to go, anyway. Besides finish reading the book, he asked me to write a summary and review on it! Here! So as I’m such a sucker, I agreed. Here goes…

 

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is a really, really good read.  I came to read the book upon the advice of my two friends, Dianna and Naquyah. The book is somewhat tragically touching and it shifts you from believing one party to another. The author, Kim Edwards has created a tale of regret and redemption with wisdom and compassion.

It started by introducing a man, Dr. David Henry and his wife, Norah Henry and their interweaving early romantic lives.  She was pregnant, without knowledge of carrying twins. Though he was a doctor, he was not an obstetrician. Circumstances changed when Norah had a premature birth. Dr. David then delivered his own twins.

First came Paul, a perfect and healthy baby boy. Norah passed out and the second child was born. Being a doctor, David noticed immediately that his second child, Phoebe had Down syndrome. It was the year 1964, and children with this syndrome are often sent to institutions as they would normally develop heart complications and die at an early age.

When he was younger, David had a sister who also suffered from Down syndrome and died early. He saw how his mother had grieved over the death of his sister. His intention was to spare Norah from that kind of misery and made a split-second decision when Norah was still unconscious. He asked his nurse, Caroline Gill, to take Phoebe to an institution.

Caroline did, but when she saw how horrible the institution was, she took the child, moved to another city and raised her. When Norah awoke, David wanted to tell her what had happened. Instead of telling Norah the truth like he planned, David told Norah that Phoebe had died.

Throughout their lives together, from this lie, built a wall between David and Norah, David and Paul. His guilt had kept his distant. David had tried time and again to reconcile with Caroline and confront Norah with the truth. He failed to do so each time. However, he did send money from time to time to Caroline for Phoebe. Caroline also sent him photos of Phoebe.

The wall has led them to lead their separate lives. David, constantly with his camera, called the Memory Keeper, tried to capture each moment to make up for what he had lost. Norah ventured herself into a traveling business and had affairs. Paul drains and channels his anger into music. They grew apart day by day and Phoebe grew unexpectedly healthy and happy with Caroline and her husband. Both sides with separate lives as if they are not related in anyway whatsoever with the exception of David and Caroline's correspondence.

In the end, at age 57, David died, taking his darkest secret with him. A few years before, he and Norah had separated. Norah was now engaged to another man and Paul soaring with his career as a musician. Caroline also received the news of David’s death. Later, since the night Norah gave birth to her twins, Caroline went up to her for the first time and told her the truth. Shocking as it was, Norah was furious at first and tried to forgive David. Paul took a job near Phoebe so he could be close with her.

And I don’t know how to conclude this story, therefore, the end.

 

Gosh, writing a review is exhausting and self-mind-blowing! Exciting at first, but towards the end…. bleeh!!! Anyway, that's just a near-rough summary. Honestly, though, the novel is a really good read and you guys should read it! It’s so touching that at times I felt like crying (read: felt). 

For me, I was really mad at first when David told Norah that Phoebe had died. Throughout the read, I realized that his motives were good and he loved Norah enough to not want her to suffer. He really didn’t think that Phoebe would live a long life. In the end, my “menyampahness” shifted to Norah because she is like this really mengada-ngada type of wife! I mean, she cheated, for crying out loud! Gosh, I really despise two-timers. Plus, David did try to tell Norah the truth but Caroline wouldn’t let him meet her nor Phoebe!

 

Anyway, now that the review is written and published, I’m expecting my Twilight book, Nazim!!!!!