The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

By Maggie O'Farrell

A beautifully constructed book. It depicts the stifling, restricting conventions of Victorian bourgeoisie with its consequences on the Lennox sisters Esme and Kitty. When Iris meets her unknown "great aunt" you are drawn into the fragmented memories of the three women which fit together the jigsaw pieces of a life stolen and reclaimed 10/10

A very disturbing book which covers a whole range of issues. The characters were all very interesting e.g. Esme a very complex lady who should never have been locked away: sadly that happened in those days. I found Kitty's remembrances very interesting. So little is known about Alzheimer's a word, an object can trigger off memories. I thought Iris showed strength of character taking in Esme. The ending was totally unexpected.

Best described as powerful this novel is a disturbing piece of social history. The constant changes of time, place and narrator can be difficult but the author keeps a clever control over the potential chaos. The device of interjecting these changes by a change of paragraph introduced by a dash can be frustrating but a continuity gradually emerges. I have to admire the author's ability to portray irrationality without being irrational and I found the characterisation very involving. 9/10