Book Review - The Memory Keeper's Daughter: A Novel by Kim Edwards

 

 

 

In a late winter night in 1964, Dr. David Henry is forced to deliver his own twins in Lexington, Kentucky. His first child, a son, is born perfectly healthy. David notices that their second child, their daughter is born with Down syndrome. He decides that he needs to protect his wife, Norah, from heartache and makes a split second decision that will alter their lives forever. 

 

He asks his nurse, Caroline, to take the child to an institution for children like her and to keep the secret from his family.  Caroline feels conflicted on David's choice and instead, she decides to keep the child for herself. 

I wanted to love this because the description and summary was so spellbinding. However, I was more than 40% into the book before I lost interest. and stopped reading. The story just plodded long with boring details and unnecessary filler. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters and I wasn't invested in learning what happened to them. This book is a good reminder why I shouldn't pick up books by the title and cover.

Book Review - The Farm by Joanne Ramos

Photo Credit - Amazon

Somewhere hidden in the Hudson Valley, New York is  luxurious retreat with every amenity imaginable available. Participants have access to organic meals, personal fitness trainers, massages, beautiful and personal rooms. People who stay at the retreat reeive a small fortune in exchange for living there for full nine months of their pregnancy on the retreat property. The hosts are not allowed to leave the property and have their movements monitored in hopes that they will produce the perfect baby for someone else.

Jane is recently divorced single mother, who lives with her older cousin, Ate in a boarding house. As an immigrant from the Philippines, she has limited opportunities for a better life.  She is desperate to find a job that pays enough to take care of her daughter. Without much options, she takes on the opportunity to be a host at the Golden Oaks retreat. Jane becomes homesick and begins to miss her daughter. She yearns to be reconnected with her life outside of Golden Oaks. However, she cannot leave the retreat otherwise, she will lose out of the bonus on deliverying her child.

When I first read the summary of this novel, I was very excited to start reading it. However, I felt disappointed after completing the novel. I felt like the novel built up some great horrorific story about the retreat but, didn't actually quite deliver. Yes, being monitored and having limited outside interaction is scary but, quite understandable for the safety and privacy of the clients. After reading the novel, the story felt pointless especially, the ending. It was abrupt and jarring. I am not sure what the purpose of not only the ending but, the entire book. After I finished reading the novel, I was left wanting more from it. Maybe a secret plot of producing multiple babies for each client and only the best speciem survives (yes, this makes me terrible human to say that but, I was hoping for something that was so shocking and scary). Although, I did like that the author included a lot of minority women but, as one can say, they were taken advantage of. Overall, I would have liked this book if it had more going on and the writing was smoother and more fluid.

*Disclosure - This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - Little Darlings by Melanie Golding

Photo Credit - Amazon

Lauren Tranter is exhausted and needs rest after giving birth to her twins. She is tired especially with taking care of the needs of the twins, Morgan and Riley, by herself.  Everyone thinks Lauren just needs some rest. However, she knows what she saw that night in her hospital room. A woman covered in rags who tried taking her babies and replacing it with her own.

When the police arrive to investigate the incident, they are unable any clues that someone was there. Her husband and her doctors believe Lauren is imaging things and is stressed. Lauren knows what she says and she is afraid to leave her children alone.

As a month passes by, Lauren takes the babies for a walk in the park. She falls asleep and wakes up to find the babies are gone from her side. A bystander finds the children but, Lauren feels that there is something different about them. They might look like her Riley and Morgan to everyone else but, she knows that they are not hers. Lauren is willing to do anything to bring back her babies even if it means risking her life.

The creepy book was an interesting read. I am not a mother myself but, I can only imagine the level of stress mothers deal with after giving birth. Then to add in the drama of believing that your child(ren) are missing is enough to make anyone go crazy. The suspenseful novel leads readers into a maze of discoveries into deciding whether or not Lauren hallucinating or did Faeries steal her children. Overall, a deliciously ghoulish read that's perfect for a rainy day.

 **Disclosure - I received a free uneditted copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**