What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn

[TheSmallClanger]

Has anyone else read this? I've just finished it and I think it's one of the best books I've read for a long time. It has one of the few convincing child narrators in fiction.

I read it a few months ago and really enjoyed it - understated yet gripping. I wished there was happier fate for the girl (can't remember her name). Am looking forward to seeing what O'Flynn writes in future.

Girl = Kate.

I enjoyed this, but not as much as the hype led me to believe I might... and I thought the denouement felt like the reader was meant to be surprised and shocked, when I wasn't especially. Thought all the vignettes of shopping centre people between the chapters were really excellent though.

SmallClanger, if you're interested in good child narrators, I have to recommend a book due out later this year (March?) - Mari Strachan: The Earth Hums in B Flat. I started it thinking grumpily it was going to be one of those books where the age is all wrong and it winds me up - because she's a 12YO speaking with what feels like the voice of a much younger child - but actually what she captures is that teetering on the brink of adulthood and wishing you could run away from it all, so the voice is pitch-perfect. Just brilliant.

Siobhan Dowd - A Swift Pure Cry also has v good narration.

I loved it am sure it was based on Merry Hil from what she wrote.
such a elivable character imo in the style of dog at night time

I've read it. I absolutely loved the first 30 pages or so, those narrated by Kate: she captured the voice of a slightly weird, rather precocious little girl beautifully. After that I thought it all got a bit daft though.

I think she would write superb short stories.