GAVIOTAS is about an experimental community that is thriving in the rain forest of Columbia. The founder of this community, Paolo Lugari, “recruited engineers from universities in Bogota to develop technology for the rural tropics. Their marvels are found all over the village. The Global Citizen writes "The technical and architectural triumph of Gaviotas is its hospital, cooled by the wind, heated by the sun. The sun also provides hot water, boiled sterilized water, and the heat for six pressure cookers in the kitchen, plus enough electricity for the lights.”   http://www.dharma-haven.org/five-havens/gaviotas.htm

THE MEMORY KEEPER’S DAUGHTER is a debut novel that deals with decisions that have life-long repercussions. A doctor, David Henry, delivers his own twins in his clinic during a snowstorm. When he finds his newborn daughter has Down’s syndrome, he instructs his nurse to take her to an institution and tells his wife that the child was born dead. The twin son was born normal. The nurse, in love with the doctor, decides to keep the girl for herself. Many complications follow for Dr. Henry, his wife, the nurse, and the twins. One review noted how through Caroline, the nurse, Edwards revisits the history of feminism.

Reviews: http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/07/13/051853.php, http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&isbn=0143037145&itm=1

Description, author interview, and discussion questions: http://us.penguingroup.com/static/rguides/us/memory_keeper.html