Got this on my TBR too, might bump it up a space or two now! Thanks for the great review Denise

I've just started this the other day.  Hope it's as good as most of you say!

I've finally read it and I really enjoyed it.  There were some slow parts but overall a very good book.

Hmmmm!  I'm having mixed feelings about the book.  I thought that I would really love it but was left feeling that so many of the characters had such sad lives that I'm not sure that I did enjoy it.  Despite having sad and bad things happen to you, I'm not sure they cloud your every waking thought. 

 I found  Paul a strange character and many of the other characters hard to love or hate.  Maybe that was the author's intention.  Also Rosemary appeared then disappeared and you heard nothing of her at the end.

 Saying that I would give it 7/10 because it created a lasting impression.  Not as good as Time Traveller's Wife or the Kite Runner though.  And The Girls beat it too IMHO.

PS.  I thought Al sounded like a lovely guy.

with a name like 'bairnbroon' i can t resist asking where ur from?

Aah... The Broons and Oor Wullie! I always get all nostalgic when I'm reminded of them as we used to get the annuals every year for Christmas. But why would anyone name their son "Hen"?

butagirl:

Aah... The Broons and Oor Wullie! I always get all nostalgic when I'm reminded of them as we used to get the annuals every year for Christmas. But why would anyone name their son "Hen"?

We've started getting the annuals again. Really wish I'd held onto them all, as they're just brilliant. Had never thought about "Hen"-good point.(Short for Henry? Not very likely, but all I can think of at the moment!)

i picked up a couple of the annuals from r.s.mc colls to take to my pals oh in canada! a bit of nostalgia for him. don t know if their kids would understand it tho

can only think of henry as well for 'hen'.  there s not much else it could be, is there?

dingsy:

I plodded my way through this book, and have to say I was very disappointed in it. I expected and hope that it would focus on Phoebe and the challenges and problems she faced from childhood through to adulthood. Well, I was wrong on that assumption! Other than brief mentions, she scarcely figures in the first 220 pages. I continuously found myself feeling that a more apt title would be "The Memory Keeper", as there was precious little attention paid to Phoebe.

The characters of both David and Norah were unappealing, bland and two dimensional. I found myself being angry with both of them rather than sympathising with their traumas.I actually found myself disliking them intensely-even more so as the book progressed. Initially I hoped that Carloine would make contact with Norah, but after a while found myself urging her to stay away!  

This should have been an engrossing, fascinating read, and I was disappointed I found it so boring.Yes, "boring", I'm afraid comes closest.An occasional poetic paragraph lent the novel a spark of life, but overall I can find little to commend it.

Straight on to the swap list!

 

Well, I did like the character Norah, but couldn't take to Caroline at all.

 

I think her motives were far more selfish than anything else, and that in effect she stole Norah's child.

 

How on earth could she have taken the child without even consulting the mother and what she might have wanted? And I know she was in love with David, but I still don't think that alone should have completely overridden any stirrings of conscience that she ought to have experienced. In my opinion david committed an incredibly cruel act, but under the influence of grief and conflicting emotions. Caroline was complicit in this act and had far less of an excuse than david. Yes, I'm glad she didn't leave Phoebe in that horrible home, but she did help to wreck Norah's life.

 

Have finally finished reading this last night!! I really enjoyed this book but found the ending a bit disappointing to be honest, I thought it was a bit predicatable. Although it was nice that it ended with a happy end.

I too would have liked more focus on Caroline and Phoebe but I think the focus was supposed to be on David's family and the consequences of his actions.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, it got me thinking. Have to admit I found the detail regarding photography a bit boring at times but it helped to understand David's feelings.

I really enjoyed this book, in spite of Nora's strangely rapid departure from hospital and the issue of the death certificate. Whilst it could have done with being a little shorter, I was immediately drawn into it and fascinated to see the outcome.

I was a bit surprised that Nora grieved for the lost baby to such an extent. I could have understood if it had been her only baby but she didn't come home empty handed and I would have thought that would have eased the grieving. Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh and I've never been in that situation. 

I have a niece with Downs Syndrome, born 35 years later, so it was fascinating to observe the progress that has been made in the acceptance of the condition and the help available.
Even now it is a big shock for the parents and I can relate to David's extreme reaction, especially for the sixties. 

Our book group read it and the reaction was similar to this thread, some enjoyed it, others less so - a bit like The Time Traveller's Wife. Quite a few people were frustrated by the characters, particularly David.

I'd certainly recommend it, plenty of food for thought. 

Edited to say that I'm surprised to see that this book only had 3 stars on Amazon. 

I had really high hopes for this, thought it would be right up my street.
But it bored me, found the writing really slow, rambling on and on and not getting anywhere.

Didnt really like anyone either, although this isnt always a problem.
Phoebe's birth and condition is what motivated everyones feelings/future, and yet we bnever really met her till the end.
I'd have liked to know more about her thoughts.

I finished it, out of sheer stubborness(i'm a taurean!) , to get to the showdown, but it kind of fizzled and rambled on a bit more. 6/10 for me i'm afraid

 

In total agreement with you Liz-my sentiments exactly. But then, I'm a taurean too!

(Actually, not total agreement-I'd probably only give it 3/10)

dingsy:

In total agreement with you Liz-my sentiments exactly. But then, I'm a taurean too!

(Actually, not total agreement-I'd probably only give it 3/10)

perhaps i was too generous
i don't seem to use numbers1-5 as much as i should really, mainly 6-10.