Eli Bendersky's website Kim Edwards is an unfamiliar author who made a blazing debut with this book, right into the NY Times #1 bestseller spot. The memory keeper's daughter is a novel about the life of an American family in the 1960s-1980s, following the consequences of a dramatic decision made by David Henry - when his wife gave birth to twins, a healthy boy and a girl with Down's syndrome, David decided to give the girl away to an institution, telling his wife that she died at birth. However, the girl didn't reach an institution, but was rather raised by a nurse from the hospital who just couldn't leave her.
It is a very emotional story, full of sentimental moments, following the life of David, his wife Norah and their son Paul, and in another place the nurse Caroline and the child with the Dawn's syndrome, Phoebe. What I liked most about the book is how realistic it is. It's not one of those Harlan Coben / Dan Brown thrillers that present new surprises on each page. Neither is it a soap opera. It simply is a story of a group of connected people quietly living their lives in the shadow of one critical decision made in a split of a second. In some way it is about what happiness really is, which makes you thoughtful while reading.
I don't usually like fiction, but this one is really recommended.