I think we all agreed that this was a book none of us would have chosen, unless prompted, but as it turned out we all found it an interesting and enjoyable read, one which provoked a lively discussion regarding special needs and disability, the dilemmas faced by the parents and carers of babies born with disabilities and the moral, ethical, social and cultural mores and developments since the 1960s, when this story begins. How far have we actually come?

Although there was some criticism regarding the actual structure of the novel, concerning the incoherence arising from the breaking up of the story, as it unfolded chapter by chapter, but also to the use of rather clichéd descriptions.  However,  this did not detract from the strong narrative of a family riddled with secrets and lies, guilt and anger, deep sorrow and unbearable loss. 

The focus of the tale concerns the father, David, an American doctor, giving his newborn twin daughter to his colleague, a nurse, to get rid of when he sees she has Downs Syndrome. He then lies to his wife, telling her the second baby, a twin girl, died at birth. The rest of the story tracks the next twenty-five years as little Phoebe grows up and as David becomes increasingly guilt ridden, difficult and troubled.  His wife unravels using sex and alcohol to blunt her pain, even though she does not discover the truth until after David's death, and their son, Paul, goes off the rails as a result of living in a toxic situation surrounded by secrets and lies, exacerbated by his father's lack of trust and support in his chosen life as a professional musician. 

There are many twists and turns as David, the main character,  develops his passion for photography, leaves his wife and abandons his career as a doctor.  The other characters in the story are lightly drawn and are seemingly on the periphery. Indeed, we hardly know Phoebe, the girl at the centre of this web of lies and conflict.  A thread of artistry runs through David's life, as his photographic record tracks both his fascination with natural form as well as his interest in his growing, but unknown, daughter via among other things pictures of children at similar ages. His failure to recognize the inherent artistry in his son is desperately sad. Typical of that time though?

There is no real happy ending, only hope that the twins, Paul and Phoebe, will rise above the ruins of their parents' lives.  Phoebe, with Downs and having been raised by Caroline and Al perhaps has the best chance?

This novel raises many questions today from the right to life, abortion and individual freedoms, including the rights of all those who are less able to make informed decisions for themselves.