Important Decisions In Kim Edwards 'The Memory Keeper's Daughter'

"You missed a lot of heartache, sure. But David, you missed a lot of joy." (Pg.249) Sometimes in life we are faced with important decisions. Whether these decisions are what University to attend, what career to pursue, or where to settle down; all of these decisions impact our lives. We don’t always know what the right decision is and sometimes it comes down to that gut feeling in the pit of your stomach. In Kim Edwards’ The Memory Keeper’s Daughter one important decision shaped the lives of two families. Though this book intertwines many themes, one really stands out. The major theme throughout this novel has to be the burden of keeping secrets and the destruction they ultimately cause. The story starts out during a blizzard in Kentucky,
He wants to see Pheobe but Caroline won’t let him. David goes to his abandoned child hood home only to find a pregnant sixteen year old girl living in it. After bonding with her and learning her story, he invites her to live with him. Norah and Paul think something is going on between them which infuriate both. Paul goes to jail after stealing a car and running away for a few days but his parents bail him out shortly after. He is also accepted to Julliard though David doesn’t really approve of his music and wishes he’d pursue basketball. In the end Norah and David get divorced. Paul is studying music in France when David dies of a heart attack. Caroline learns of David’s death and tells Norah the truth that Pheobe is alive. Paul, Norah, and Pheobe reunite for the first time since the twin’s birth. David gave up Pheobe thinking it would make Norah and his life better, easier. His decision ultimately tore his family apart and brought together Caroline’s family with Pheobe and Al. It’s interesting to think about how their lives would have been different if David had told Norah the truth in the beginning instead of forcing himself to carry this terrible secret around with him all his