What I Did On My Fall Vacation

I finished the book, and I've added all of my comments to the discussion questions.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. Much more than the first one we read.

However, as I stated in one of my comments, it seemed like the quality of the book went downhill about halfway through. It seemed like a first attempt at a novel rather than a well written one, which is how I felt during the first half. It just seemed like the book went a tad too long, and I think I stopped caring.

I would not have read the book if not for the book club, and I'm glad I did.

Memory Keeper's Daughter: Casting Call

If you were making a movie of The Memory Keeper's Daughter, who would you cast to play:

• David?
• Norah?
• Caroline?
• Paul?
• Al?
• Rosemary?

Memory Keeper's Daughter: Title Character

With all of the strong and expertly drawn characters in this novel, why do you suppose Kim Edwards chose just one to be the title character? What is it about Phoebe's story that makes it central?

Memory Keeper's Daughter: The Take-away

And finally ... Did you have a favorite moment/quote in the book that really stuck with you? Why?

Memory Keeper's Daughter: No Going Back

At what point was David’s “point of no return” when he could not fix his lie?

Memory Keeper's Daughter: Degrees of Guilt

Who do you think is more at fault – David or Caroline?

Memory Keeper's Daughter: Phoebe vs. Paul

In your opinion – who had the better childhood – Phoebe or Paul?

Memory Keeper's Daughter: Page-turner?

At what point did the story “have” you? Not have you? Lose you?

Memory Keeper's Daughter: Norah

Did Phoebe's "death" make Norah stronger or weaker?

Memory Keeper's Daughter: Then vs. Now

Do you think that David and Caroline could have succeeded in keeping his daughter's parentage a secret if she were born today?

Memory Keeper's Daughter: David & Norah

In the beginning of the novel, David instructed his nurse, Caroline, to take his Downs Syndrome-afflicted daughter to an institution without telling his wife, Norah. When Norah awoke, she was told that one of her twins -- a healthy boy named Paul -- had survived, but that their daughter, Phoebe, was dead. This lie sets the entire plot in motion.

Did David give Norah any credit to be able to cope? Was he protecting her?

Memory Keeper's Daughter: Favorite characters

I thought it might be easier to have a conversation here if all of the questions were separated out and we could fill in comments for each one, or maybe just the ones that "grabbed" us.

So, the first question is "who is your favorite character and why?"

Questions for Memory Keeper's Daughter

My appologies upfront for such lame questions. I tried to think of questions as I read and then also immediately afterwards. And then yesterday, I was trying to come up with more questions, but's it's been a month and 2.5 more books since I finished Memory Keepers so my thinking was for naught.

1- Favorite Character and Why?
2- Was David “fair” to Norah in the beginning? Did he give her any credit to be able to cope? Was he protecting her?
3- Do you think it would be easier to “get away” with what David did now?
4- Did Phoebe’s “death” make Norah stronger or weaker?
5- At what point did the story “have” you? Not have you? Lose you?
6- In your opinion – who had the better childhood – Phoebe or Paul?
7- Who do you think is more at fault – David or Caroline?
8- At what point was David’s “point of no return” when he could not fix his lie?
9- Did you have a favorite moment/quote in the book that really stuck with you? Why?