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.
A brilliantly crafted, stunning debut, The Memory Keeper's Daughter explores the way life takes unexpected turns, and how the mysterious ties that hold a family together help us survive the heartache that occurs when long-buried secrets burst into the open.
Performed by Martha Plimpton
Martha Plimpton brings considerable talent to the story of David Henry, a man with a terrible secret. Plimpton captures the agony of David's decision to protect his wife from knowing that one of their twin babies was born with Down's syndrome. Plimpton's intelligent narration adds depth to the character of David, making his decision one that makes sense when viewed from his unique perspective. As Caroline, the nurse who secretly adores the doctor, Plimpton appeals to listeners' sympathy. Edwards has written a deeply moving drama covering twenty-five years in the lives of two families and exploring the damage a single lie can do to all involved. Plimpton's performance brings it all into sharp focus. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine
Kim Edwards is the author of the short story collection The Secrets of a Fire King, which was an alternate for the 1998 PEN/Hemingway Award, and she has won both the Whiting Award and the Nelson Algren Award. A graduate of the Iowa Writer's Workshop, she currently teaches writing at the University of Kentucky.
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