Maggie O farrell - The vanishing act of Esme Lennox

[multitasker]

Has anyone read it? I'm in two minds - M o Farrell you either love or hate - I find it all a bit slow at times - but reading the jacket on this one I felt maybe I could get into it.

Love her. Haven't read it. Looking forward to it though.

Let me know if you do - it's in Tescos for £3.73 - bargain!!

I did enjoy it, I know she is a particular taste but I did find the character of Esme in particular compelling to read. If only from an informative point of view, I really felt for her.

Shall say no more!

Loved it. Really did. Nut then I liked her other stuff too. This one is faster moving as well.

The subject matter has a personal resonance of sorts so I might be tempted. Would probably get alot more read if I wasn't on here

I loved it too, but I am a fan of hers generally - the story really grabbed me though, you should give it a whirl...

Took a while to get round to reading this but I was gripped - it was unputdownable. However I was a bit disappointed by the swift ending - anyone else?

Same here, multitasker, but did wonder whether the seemingly speedy ending was due to my reading speeding up as things hotted up at the end. Really enjoyed the book.

Loved the book but had to fight against my dislike of her prose style. Such a fascinating story, though.

Funnily enough I just read this last night. I loved Esme once I'd got into it a bit although I felt sorry for her - her family were clearly not on her wavelength! but Iris annoyed me for some reason. Have to say the ending was a bit predictable.

I don't really like the stream of consciousness style writing she adopts when they're reminicising either. It made it hard to follow the train of thought but that was probably to emphasise Kitty's problems. The bits in Iris's flat were a bit 'Tom's Midnight Garden' for me in some respects.

Don't want to say too much in case it spoils it for someone else .

I read this a couple of weeks ago and loved it but I do love Maggie O'Farrell. Couldn't put it down but agree the ending was predictable and a bit quick.

I enjoyed the fact it was a bit different.

read it a month or two ago - liked it a lot...ending a bit waffly though

waffly as in vague

glad to see this thread as a woman was reading it on the tube and I was shamelessly reading over her shoulder to see if I would like it. The memory of After You'd Gone still haunts me and makes me cry.

dross

but quite entertaining dross

After you'd gone was by far her best I think - v. sad I agree though.

Fabulous. Go read it!

Have Joanne Harris Lollipop Shoes on my shelf - might read it next. Glad it wasn't just me then with the speedy ending, I do remember being very moved by After You'd gone, really first class.

I really enjoyed it-I know of a similar real life case so found it interesting.

Not up to her usual high standard, I thought, although still an enjoyable read.

not usually my type of book, but was gripped and really glad i read it

It wasn't great literature, but I did find the story quite fascinating. Like Abby, my work had brought me into contact with several people who spent their lives in asylums for similarly trivial and bizarre reasons. Very sad all round.

Such a sad book. The theme of total betrayal comes up again, so effectively and with devastating impact I thought.

The ending was short I agree and I'd have liked just a bit more of where Iris and Alex were headed before it closed.

I know this thread is a decade old but just finished the book and searched for a thread as dying to discuss it. Anyone else read it recently??