~Unfaithful~

From Barnes�&�Noble.com - Home Page


"Photography is all about secrets," says David Henry. "The secrets we all have and will never tell." The price we pay for such secrets is what drives the action Edwards's wholly absorbing novel. It opens during a snowstorm in 1962, when David's young wife, Norah, goes into labor prematurely. When the storm prevents her obstetrician from attending the birth, David and his nurse, Caroline, must handle it themselves. Caroline puts Norah to sleep -- a standard practice then -- and David delivers an unanticipated set of twins. The baby boy is healthy; the second child, a baby girl, has Down syndrome.

Haunted by the memory of growing up with a chronically ill sister, David makes a split-second decision. He asks Caroline to take his infant daughter to an institution, and when Norah wakes, he tells her that the second child was stillborn. The right decision? Clearly not, yet David fervently believes he's chosen the best course of action. But his decision has a ripple effect that will last throughout his life, touching the lives of others.


Welcome to the September Book Of The Month thread. Feel free to start discussing.

ilovemuffin

I've got it on my holds list from the library. I'm 21st in line though, so September might be over before I get it. But I'm gonna try to read it.

~Unfaithful~

It's worth reading. I swear!

wanderer78

I just bought my copy at Borders. I'll probably start tonight. The cashier said it was selling really well.

Ashleigh

I got it for less than nine bucks at BAM the other day, and read it in one sitting. It was a really good book; at times I felt it was predictable, and then as soon as I'd get ready to roll my eyes something unexpected would happen. I enjoyed it a lot; I think I'll reread it soon.

~Unfaithful~

I did think that parts were going to be boring and predictable, but honestly, in the end I felt nothing was predictable at all.

wanderer78

I'm about halfway through it, and I'm enjoying it a lot. I'll probably finish it tonight. I didn't think it was predictable.

I didn't realize that mentally disabled children weren't allowed in public schools in the 70's. I found that astonishing.

~Unfaithful~

It seems like such a different time, doesn't it?

wanderer78

Yes, it does. And not in the obvious ways like Kennedy's assassination, or the Civil Rights movement. That's one thing I really liked about the book. The times the characters were in felt lived in. It didn't feel like Kim Edwards was doing a checklist of historical events. It was to the point where I forgot what time period it was set in a few times, the differences were really subtly done.

I finished the book this morning, and overall I enjoyed it a lot. And I can think of a few people I'd recommend it too.

~Unfaithful~

I recommended it to all my friends, and I am lending my copy out to them (which I don't often do because I'm afraid that I won't get it back)

wanderer78

I was just thinking...David really was protecting himself when he gave his daughter away. He kept saying it was for Norah, but it really was for him. I kind of wish he had told Norah himself since their marraige ended anyways.

The only part I didn't care for was the pregnant teenage girl (her name is escaping me). I liked the character, but her story arc felt like a plot device.

ilovemuffin

I don't think I will ever get this from my library. I've only moved up 2 slots since I put it on my holds list at the beginning of the month! I think I'm going to have to break down and buy it.

~Unfaithful~

It really is good....I know borrowing from the library is so much cheaper, but it really is a good book!