"The Memory Keeper's Daughter" is a poignant novel that explores themes of memory, loss, and the complexities of familial relationships. The story begins in 1964 when a doctor, David Henry, delivers his own twins during a snowstorm. When the first baby, a healthy boy named Paul, is born, the second baby, a girl named Phoebe, is born with Down syndrome. David makes a life-altering decision to send Phoebe to an institution, asking her mother, Norah, to forget about the child. This choice sets off a series of events that profoundly impact their lives and the lives of those around them.
The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of various characters, particularly Norah and David, as well as Caroline, the nurse who takes Phoebe into her care. Norah grapples with the emotional turmoil caused by David's secret, while Caroline learns to navigate her own feelings towards Phoebe as she raises her. The novel delves into how choices made in moments of fear and pain can reverberate across a lifetime, affecting not just individuals, but entire families.