Maggie O'Farrell - what do we think?

[Gillian76]

Haven't tried her yet but was wondering about "After You'd Gone"?

we think 'yes' over here

quite a big yes

Did she write "The Distance Between Us" ? - I quite liked it

Don't like her. Have read 2, one = ok, one dreadful (think that was 'After You'd Gone'!)

I am not sure about the first two but the most recent one really is good.

i have the esme one to read as its my dds name!
but after youd gone didget good reviews

Have read one - can't remember the title, won't be reading any more - think that says it all?

After You'd Gone is a beautiful, heartbreaking book. At one point I had to put it down in order to cry properly! Her others haven't been as satisfying for me, nor as well put together. I'd definitely recommend AYG.

I thoroughly enjoyed all her books. Not read the latest one yet though.
I think 'after you'd gone' is the best one

I've read the Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox one and found it stimulating. It covers the issue of women who were held in mental institutions for several decades for travesties as having a baby out of wedlock, enjoying reading, being petulant etc. Lucky I wasn't around in the first part of the last century

Wasn't a fan of 'After You'd Gone' or 'My Lover's Lover'.

Really, really overrated. Who didn't spot the 'twist' in vanishing act from about page 30? And the prose is leaden and the characters unconvincing.

read 'after you'd gone' in book group last year - everyone really enjoyed it, expected it to be a bit 'whimsical' but actually was very moving. Not read any others of hers, but would.

What the heck. I'll take the chance on one!

Agree with sorrell. I find her unbelievably cliched, predictable, the plots are a structureless mess and the concepts are weak. I can never forgive her for writing that someone "shovelled hot toast into her mouth" - SUCH a cliche, and untrue (toast is never hot when you eat it) - and yet she's hailed as some kind of margaret atwood style literary scion.

So glad you asked, I've been needing to get that off my chest!

Only attempted one, that was enough! I was very glad it was a freebie with some magazine because I would have hated to have paid for such rubbish. Didn't actually manage to finish it either. I think it was 'My Lover's Lover'.

agree. hated it. drivel. feel the same about zadie smith too. urgghhhh

AYG v good, My L's L a real let-down. Haven't tried since. May give Esme Lennox a go.

Have ordered After You'd Gone from Amazon. Will report back!

I'm not fussed on her either I read after you'd gone and another one which I can't remember the title and just felt let down.

Just finished Esme Lennox and really enjoyed it. Yes, I did guess the twist fairly early on but that didn't stop my enjoyment of the remainder of the book and the ending was particularly surprising.

O'Farrell has a style of writing I find very readable. No waffling or stupid chicklit talk in her books at all.