The Memory Keeper’s Daughter

Our book club, The Finer Things, will be meeting tomorrow to discuss two books we were to have read: The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards and Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips.  I have been behaving badly myself as I have not been reading as much as I would like or need to.  I was able to read one of two books (The Memory Keeper’s Daughter) and here is my take on it.

***Spoiler Alert***

Taking place during a snowstorm in 1964, the opening pages quickly take you from a nice warm, cozy place in front of a fire to a dark, bone chilling twist that leaves you absolutely shell-shocked.  Dr. David Henry and his wife Norah give birth in the most unusual of circumstances and make a split second decision that alters the course of their lives forever.  

I found myself reading chapter after chapter screaming at Dr. Henry to finally admit to his wife what he did and ultimately, my screams went unheard.  Even though the author tried to help the reader understand reasons behind his terrible decision, I did not feel an ounce of sympathy for this character.  Time and time again, he had an opportunity to make a wrong thing right but failed miserably.   

This book was really difficult to get in to and quite depressing.  I think the author in the end tried to give the readers hope and tried to end it on a good note, but I think she waited too long to give the readers an emotional break.   The agony of these characters just dragged on and on and on!  From Dr. Henry’s son Paul, whom could never please his father, to Norah who looked for love in other places, and Dr. Henry himself who loved to torture himself with the past instead of making amends for the future.   In fact, Phoebe is the only character who helps you breathe a breath of fresh air and sheds some light on a very dark black hole as a reader you never think you will get out of.

I find it ironic Phoebe’s quality of life shines in comparison to everyone else.  But sadly, that is the only interesting thing this novel has to offer.

 

 

Eat Pray Love

  I finally finished reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, Eat Pray Love.  And, it only took a year to read it cover to cover.  I first picked up her book back in April of 2007 after hearing so many great reviews.  It was about the same time I was completing my Lit Review for my Master’s and life got in the way.  I think I made it through Italy before I had to retire it to the bookshelf.  Fast forward to April 2008.  I am part of a book club called The Finer Things (yes, a complete rip off from The Office) and this book was chosen as a read for the month along with Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. 

After four weeks of struggling to finish, I finally made it to the end.  I have very conflicted feelings about the book.  On the one hand, I admire the fact this thirtys-something woman decides to take life into her own hands and goes on a journey for self-discovery.  I can relate to and respect her desire to find the meaning of life and her place in it. 

However, her writing style is simplistic and journalistic.  Also at times, she really made certain events more important than they were.  As a reader, I get the fact that the food is great in Italy, you do not have to spend 36 chapters explaining in detail every meal you digested.  And, I actually LIKED reading about Italy! 

I think in the end, I just had trouble connecting with the author – I don’t share the same belief system and although I DO consider myself spiritual, I don’t foresee the need to meditate for 3 hours starting at 3 AM to get closer to GOD.  Some of the choices she made, I felt, were irrational (like when she just hops on a plane to Indonesia…no hotel reservations, no map or destination, no connections).  Really, who does that?

I say Elizabeth Gilbert got lucky on this one.  She got paid to turn her year long traveling adventure into something her publisher could slap a catchy title on and market.