The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O' Farrell

[Kell]

Since May begins the day after tomorrow, I thought I'd open the discussion thread for the Reading Circle book for the month - The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O' Farrell (who is also our featured author for the month, so be sure to nip along to her thread and ask a few questions, whether they're about this book, or about her, or about writing in general).

Synopsis:
Set between the 1930s,and the present, Maggie O'Farrell's new novel is the story of Esme, a woman edited out of her family's history, and of the secrets that come to light when, sixty years later, she is released from care, and a young woman, Iris, discovers the great aunt she never knew she had. The mystery that unfolds is the heartbreaking tale of two sisters in colonial India and 1930s Edinburgh - of the loneliness that binds them together and the rivalries that drive them apart, and lead one of them to a shocking betrayal - but above all it is the story of Esme, a fiercely intelligent, unconventional young woman, and of the terrible price she is made to pay for her family's unhappiness.

Added by Michelle: Please see also the Featured Author thread (http://bookclubforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3162), where the book is also discussed. :)

[Lilywhite]

I only read this one a couple of weeks ago so I won't be re-reading it this time. I will join in with the discussions though. Hope you all enjoy this one, I did. I'd never read any other books by Maggie O'Farrell before but I'm actively seeking them out now.

A great story for you all....

[happyanddandy]

I started reading this yesterday morning and have already covered 80 pages. I am enjoying it immensely so far.

It reminded me of a long ago visit to Friern Barnet, an enormous N London institution now closed which housed women like Esme.
:lurker:

[Icecream]

I am reading it too, and may pass it on to my mother in law, who worked in one of these places. I haven't got too far with it yet, but I will endeavour to read quicer when the settee isn't dressed in our clothes! So far though, I agree with Lily. It looks like an amazing stroy, and was actually thinking of actively seeking out more by Maggie.

[Michelle]

I can't recommend her books enough.. she's one of my all time favourite's. :) My Lover's Lover is very different to her others though.. some liked it, some didn't.

[~V~]

i only started this late on friday night. i'm over halfway through it already thanks to a train journey yesterday.

am loving the book, and also looking out for more by this author. so the giveaways do work in some instances.

took me a few pages to get into whose story it was at the time as it alternates between three women and also different times for all of them, one with altzheimer's whose thoughts are fractured. but once you have an idea of what is going on, you get so drawn into it

i like the 'less is more' way she writes

[Polka Dot Rock]

This was one of my favourite novels of last year and Maggie is definitely my favourite contemporary writer (so you can imagine that I'm getting all excited and fan-girl squealy at the prospect of her arrival on the forum!) :D I think Esme is her best work since the astonishing After You'd Gone.

You're all in for a treat!!

[~V~]

i finished this yesterday. took me all of three days despite me dragging it out as i was enjoying it so much.

have written a little in my book list here but have kept it spare as i didn't wish to post any spoilers

[Michelle]

I know what you mean ~v~, this is a hard book to discuss without reading the whole thing, and without giving any spoilers.

I think that as people finish, discussion can begin, using the spoiler button.. and those still reading, make sure you wait until you finish before you read them. :)

I'll be back later with some thoughts...

[happyanddandy]

I am on page 200 or so and I guessed what was going o be revealed before it was!!
Really good read - I shall be sorry to finish.:smile2:

[Michelle]

Ok, so there are a couple of big reveals. Please don't read until you've finished... :)

1. Esme being her mum, instead of her aunt. Did that one surprise you? I only saw it coming as soon as I realised she was pregnant (or just before, can't remember off hand). Did anyone see it sooner, or maybe hazard a guess?

edit.. of course I meant grandmother, not mum! :blush:

2. The ending.. did it surprise you? It did me, as most books go for a 'nice' ending. I "liked" it though, because I like unusual/unexpected endings.

[Polka Dot Rock]

Ok, so there are a couple of big reveals. Please don't read until you've finished... :)

1. Esme being her mum, instead of her aunt. Did that one surprise you? I only saw it coming as soon as I realised she was pregnant (or just before, can't remember off hand). Did anyone see it sooner, or maybe hazard a guess?

2. The ending.. did it surprise you? It did me, as most books go for a 'nice' ending. I "liked" it though, because I like unusual/unexpected endings.

Hey Michelle :) I've had at respond in spoilers:

1) I thought Esme was her grandmother? I thought it was her dad who was actually Esme's son (unknown to him)?

2) I find the ending very uplifting - I like that for once in her life, someone won't let Esme go without a struggle and is ready to stand by her. I became quite emotional after reading that!

[Michelle]

Yep, my mistake PDR.. was in a rush! LOL

[happyanddandy]

Ok, so there are a couple of big reveals. Please don't read until you've finished... :)

1. Esme being her mum, instead of her aunt. Did that one surprise you? I only saw it coming as soon as I realised she was pregnant (or just before, can't remember off hand). Did anyone see it sooner, or maybe hazard a guess?

edit.. of course I meant grandmother, not mum! :blush:

2. The ending.. did it surprise you? It did me, as most books go for a 'nice' ending. I "liked" it though, because I like unusual/unexpected endings.


Finished this evening - I guessed about the baby being Esme's but I certainly didn't see the ending coming. I had to read it twice before I got it! I was secretly pleased she did that after being incarcerated for sixty years when her sister could have helped her.

[Icecream]

Michelle, I couldn't help but view that spoiler, but I can say that I did guess, because i haven't read that far yet. I'm only about 120 pages in. I knew as soon as Kitty said something about a baby, her baby

[~V~]

Michelle, I couldn't help but view that spoiler, but I can say that I did guess, because i haven't read that far yet. I'm only about 120 pages in. I knew as soon as Kitty said something about a baby, her baby

me too

i spotted it quite quickly but it was nice to see it unfold.

i usually miss stuff when i take longer to read a book, so wasn't sure if i was sharp due to the fact i was reading it more or because i'd got into the mindset

[Gyre]

Please do not read this if you are still reading..

I had a wee inkling that Esme might be Iris's grandmother, after what happened at the New Year's ball with Esme and James (was that his name, sorry if I am wrong).

I did like the ending, I felt that finally Esme was doing something on her own terms, all be it, a bit shocking, but you could see why she did it.

[Polka Dot Rock]

Yep, my mistake PDR.. was in a rush! LOL

That's okay - I just wanted to make sure I hadn't missed something! :lol: It was last September when I read it, you see, so I thought I may have accidentally re-arranged the plot in my head :)

[Icecream]

I don't think I've read a book without chapters before. I might have done. I try to find a suitable break to pause at, but often I a intrigued and read beyond a natural break, then I realise i am too tired (or busy) to go to the next one..

It is good to read about different times in the book. I like to read about the time of Esme and Kitty's childhood.

[Louiseog]

Just finished and loved this book first M O'Farrell but will be looking for more.
Thought I would struggle with the style and movement in time but never did and adored the way that the story gradually revealed itself in three different voices,
thought Esme's bits when she jumped in time were very clever as was never in doubt as to what was happening when!
Did not really guess the baby bit as thought for a bit that the baby she would not let go of was Hugo!
Thank you for the book and thank you for introducing me to another author.
Ending
left me with lots of questions - did she do it because she wanted to be back where she had been? Or because she was angry? How lovely that she was not alone.
Hated Alex though could have done without his arrogance!

[Icecream]

Did not really guess the baby bit as thought for a bit that the baby she would not let go of was Hugo!



I thought the baby she would not let go of was Hugo too. The bit that made me realise was when Kitty was saying she took something of hers (the first time she said it). Of course with having alzheimer's and disjointed thoughts that comment could easily have been mistaken for her having taken anything. It needn't have been important. This leads me on to my next comment..


took me a few pages to get into whose story it was at the time as it alternates between three women and also different times for all of them, one with altzheimer's whose thoughts are fractured. but once you have an idea of what is going on, you get so drawn into it

I think Kitty's thoughts have to be fractured because otherwise she would probably have had to come later on in the book (as a central character this would not be a good thing, or be easy to write) or we would have had to read about the life she led in the nursing home (not important and probably boring) otherwise she would have given the game away too early.

[Icecream]

I finshed this a couple of days ago but haven't had chance to come on. I can't remember which day it was now, but when I finished it, I think on Tuesday, it was a very strange day.


When I got to the part where Esme had the baby I had to sit down for about half an hour. I managed to make a coffee, but that's about all, then when Neighbours came on and I had lunch I still didn't feel right. Did it affect anyone else like this or am I just being over sensitive having recently had my own baby? I know people in these places too, so maybe it is a mix of those two things added to the story..

[Icecream]

The sad thing about this book, is that it still happens. There are people even today put into these places by their families for no reason, or for small things.

[Gyre]

The sad thing about this book, is that it still happens. There are people even today put into these places by their families for no reason, or for small things.

I know Icecream and it is just appalling isn't it?, I hate to think of all those forgotten people. That is what I really liked about the book, you really got a sense of what it was like in a place like that.

[Icecream]

It is worse than the book makes out to, if you can imagine that (I know people who have been in/worked in them). The book paints a very near picture though. It makes you wonder what family means to someone who can put their own child or spouse in a place like that. There are other ways of dealing with people if need be.

[Kell]

I just finished this last night, so this is the first I've been on the thread since setting it up, so as to avoid any spoilers!

there seemed to be something inevitable about events throughout the book. I found I could see exactly what was going to happen from very early on, but for once it didn't spoil my enjoyment of it at all, as I desperately wanted to hear the story from the point of view of Esme, Kitty and Iris. I also found it very interesting that it was all written third person for Iris and Esme, yet first person for Kitty, who's thoughts were muddled and kept jumping about due to her dementia.

I also found it quite ironic that although Esme was locked away for 60 years, Kitty lost more than 30 years of her memories and was locked away in her mind...

[Polka Dot Rock]

I also found it quite ironic that although Esme was locked away for 60 years, Kitty lost more than 30 years of her memories and was locked away in her mind...

Y'know, I never realised that! Great point!

[Kell]

There's also the fact that although Esme was physically locked away, her mind was free and she seemed to wander off into her own world at the drop of a hat - the reverse of Kitty in her later life. Actually, with Esme being confined when she's young, and Kitty being confined when she's old, that makes them exact opposites!

[Michelle]

How did you all feel about Kitty.. did your feelings change during the book?

[happyanddandy]

How did you all feel about Kitty.. did your feelings change during the book?

Initially I liked her and then felt sorry for her for being conformist to the demands of the society she was part of. My feelings changed when she did not support her sister and then to dislike when she did nothing to help her sister in the asylum apart from take her baby.

[Kell]

How did you all feel about Kitty.. did your feelings change during the book?I felt very sorry for her - at the start she's always the one who behaves, but doesn't get the attention because Esme "misbehaves", then boy she wants herself is more attracted to her younger sister (albeit in an unhealthy way), so she doesn't get what she wants in love. She marries a man who seems indifferent to any kind of physical relationship with his wife (which must be very frustrating, even if she doesn't know exactly what she's missing), she's denied the chance of having her own baby and so takes on her sister's, and through all this, she never sees her sister at all. She's quite a tragic figure, even if a bit selfish at times, I think. Esme, on the other hand, seems to be a more emotionally strong person - almost like she was just out of her time (or ahead of her time, even!) and that's reflected in what she sees in Iris.

[Gyre]

I felt sorry for Kitty, the time she lived in was quite conformist and she just wanted to keep her parents and grandmother happy, I felt really bad for her about not having children but once she took Esme's baby, I found myself pitying her because she was just so desperate for a child, and here was a opportunity (for lack of a better word) to have a child, but she betrayed her own sister at the same time, it would have been better if Kitty had went back and taken Esme away from that place but at the same time, it would not be easier, because Esme would return and the family would have to face her, when they they were a great job of forgetting about their daughter, which was unfair.

[Renniemist]

Well I really enjoyed this book and although I have only got around to posting here I finished it very quickly. It is the kind of book you just need to keep reading.


To begin with I did not guess about the baby. I had thought that the baby she would not let go of was Hugo. It soon became clear however as there were some hints along the way.


I was never all that keen on Kitty right from the beginning. She was always so goody-goody. Her relationship with Iris was a bit strange too. She liked Iris when she was little but seemed to like her less when she grew up. Perhaps she reminded her too much of Esme. I felt sorry that she married a man, who did not care for her, but I think helping to put her sister away and allowing it to go on for so long was pretty despicable. However I was quite shocked that things ended as they did, although on reflection I don’t suppose they could have ended any other way. Esme had been through too much to be able to forgive her sister.


Did not know if we were still using spoilers or not, so I just put some in anyway.:)

[Icecream]

I thought about Kitty being locked away in her mind, but the thought soon trailed off when I knew what she was going to do. She was so close to Esme when they were children, and then she steals her child, her family and her life..

[JudyB]

I felt sorry for Kitty, the time she lived in was quite conformist and she just wanted to keep her parents and grandmother happy, I felt really bad for her about not having children but once she took Esme's baby, I found myself pitying her because she was just so desperate for a child, and here was a opportunity (for lack of a better word) to have a child, but she betrayed her own sister at the same time, it would have been better if Kitty had went back and taken Esme away from that place but at the same time, it would not be easier, because Esme would return and the family would have to face her, when they they were a great job of forgetting about their daughter, which was unfair.

I felt that Kitty was just trying to conform also. I think you have to bear in mind the time in which it was set - nowadays we are far more able to articulate our emotions and we are also encouraged to make choices of our own. Neither Kitty nor Esme had that luxury - things were pretty much planned for them. Also they were both left very ignorant about life etc and relied on 'professionals' to help and with what we know now we can see how misguided and at times patriarchial (sp - it's years since I've written that word!) that 'advice' was then.

[madcow]

I can't really add anything else to this thread that is any different. I enjoyed the book and although it took me a while to work a out the 'baby' thing I certainly did not see the ending coming.

[Icecream]

We may think that restraining people with straps is immoral, but what they do now instead is just drug them up,which is worse because it messes with the brain. These places should not exist, there are far better ways of dealing with people.

[Gyre]

We may think that restraining people with straps is immoral, but what they do now instead is just drug them up,which is worse because it messes with the brain. These places should not exist, there are far better ways of dealing with people.

You are right Icecream, what they do now, is just a nicer (if that makes sense) way of controlling patients. I went to a mental health exhibition a good few years ago now and it was very interesting, showing how they dealt with phobias, I have to admit, some of it was terrifying x

[Icecream]

It may seem nicer but they don't even know the extent of damage/change to the brain some of these drugs have. they are messing with identity and also free will. Playing God.

[Gyre]

It may seem nicer but they don't even know the extent of damage/change to the brain some of these drugs have. they are messing with identity and also free will. Playing God.

It must cause damage in some way, I was trying to say before, that now, they probably see medication as nicer option compared to strapping someone to a bed, but it is not that nicer.

[Icecream]

There are alternate methods. There are plenty of therapies that work on people without involving harm or force.

[Bunny]

I was not expecting the story to end the way it did, a very well written book full of emotions

[Rosie]

I only collected this book from the library on Tuesday and I finished it last night. I was hooked into the interweaving story lines right from the start and I just couldn't put it down. I found it easy to read and once I became familiar with the three main characters I could easily following the character/time changes and they worked smoothly for me. I think I guessed fairly early on the various 'revelations' but it didn't spoil it for me and although the end was surprising it was somehow acceptable.

This morning my mind was still full of the story and I think I may have to wait a day or two before I can begin to read another book. I shall certainly look for other books by Maggie O'Farrell:)

[lovesreading06]

I had to put this book down. I felt it was so boring. Mabey it because i'm quite young.

[Icecream]

I'm younger than you and I loved it.. Maybe it is a subject specific book??

[Nici76]

And I'm older than you and I didn't like it either!

But it would be a very boring world if we all liked the same things!

[Janet]

How much did I love this book?!

I know I'm really late (better late than never, eh...) but I spent so long concentrating on AS stuff, and it's so nice to read for pleasure again!

It was great. I did guess that the baby was Esme's, and I also wondered whether Esme was going to hurt, or even kill Kitty at the end - when she asked to be left alone with her - but it didn't spoil it at all and I was glad that the ending happened the way it did, even though Esme didn't live 'happily ever after' with Lily like I imagined she would.

Definitely a 8½/10 for me! :D

[angerball]

Just finished this book - wow, I loved it. It's the first Maggie O'Farrell book I have read, but I am now on a mission to track down and read her others. I know my library has After You'd Gone, so I'm looking forward to picking that up.

I recently commented on a thread in General Discussions about books that make you cry, that I hadn't really come across one that did. This one comes as close as I can imagine a book could come to making me cry.

How utterly tragic was this story? :cry2: I'm not very good at guessing which way a story goes, so I was quite surprised by everything that happened. Like others here, I too thought that the baby Esme wouldn't let go of, was Hugo.

As silly as it sounds, I never connected Kitty's interspersed narrative with her dementia (:doh:); I just took it as the style in which the book was written. I loved the way Kitty's thoughts would just pop up in the book, and kind of trail off. They left tantalising parts of the story just hanging there, and really had me wondering what had happened in the past. Once it was revealed, I didn't hate Kitty for what she did. I think she was too young to know the consequences of her actions, and by the time she did realise what she had done, she had managed to distance herself and put it behind her to the extent that it was just easy for her to ignore, and move on.

Can someone clarify the ending for me? I'm not too good at reading hints, and need it said in black and white (otherwise I end up wondering if I've misinterpreted it!). Did Esme kill Kitty in the nursing home? That's the impression I got, though I had to re-read the last page several times to get it.

Another thing that I'm wondering about; what was Esme so desperately looking for in her little tin box of possessions, when Iris came to take her away? Esme says it's "A length of...cloth, green...maybe wool." Any idea what this is? Maybe the blanket that was wrapped around her baby when he was born? Or something from before she was admitted into care? I was hoping this would be resolved by the end of the book, because it seemed important, but if it was, I missed it. :lol:

Aside from a fabulous story, I thought the book was so well-written. Very detailed and descriptive, but without being overly wordy. I will definitely be re-reading this one, and it has shot up to the top of my "Favourite books of all time" list. :D

[Michelle]

Ooh, such enthuiasm.. I love it! :) Yes, I believe she did kill her in the nursing home. I'm sure the cloth was explained, but I can't remember off-hand.

I started with After You'd Gone, which I loved. Esme Lennox had a slightly 'simpler' feel to it, if that makes sense. I do hope you enjoy the others.. I'm eagerly awaiting her next one. :)

[angerball]

Thanks for clarifying, Michelle. ;) I thought that was the case, but since it was never baldly stated, I wasn't sure.

I was quite surprised at how young Maggie O'Farrell is. I was just reading about her in the Featured Author section, and she said After You'd Gone was her mid-twenties book, while this one was her mid-thirties book. I'll be interested to see if there is a great difference in writing style.

Edit: Just re-read the part where Esme has the baby, and the blanket he was wrapped in was green. So I guess that's what she was frantically looking for.

[Ruth]

I read this recently, and really enjoyed it. It's not the first Maggie O'Farrell book I've read, but the best one so far. It's so sad (and I think that unfortunately highly realistic) that someone can be erased out of a family like that, and it was certainly a book that made me think. The only parts I didn't really like were the grandmother's streams of consciousness, which were obviously all jumbled up.

[Icecream]

I lent my copy to my mother in law, who used to work in one of those places when she was a teenager. She told me a few days ago that she really enjoyed it and it was interesting. I don't think you could get a higher recommendation than a woman who has experienced the main set of the book. [I think it is the main set, as although it is not the prominent one, it is, afterall, what the bok is about, and affects the rest of the book]

[kitty_kitty]

I have just read this booka nd loved it but the only reason it not score any higher is the actual layout of the book. I found the layout messy but the actual story i loved and i loved Esme

[loof]

I loved the book but I didn't like it that I wasn't sure what the ending was supposed to mean. I don't like it when I read a book and enjoy it all the way to the end and then I'm confused by the ending and am not sure what happened. What did the red cord on the ceiling do? Did it unplug some kind of machine that kept her sister alive? Did she kill her sister? I thought it was a wonderfully written story and it kept me engrossed all the way through. But the ending really threw me. Can anyone help me understand?

[Esiotrot]

Just finished this book after starting it this morning. I loved it!! I have so much I want to say but has already been said on this thread, so I wont repeat. I loved both Esme and Iris, I thought Kitty was spineless but did understand that she just wanted to conform and not rock the boat.
Loof ~ The red cord is an emergancy alarm - like they have in hospitals and on trains, yes to your second question.
This book is haunting, suffice to say I am now on the hunt for more by Maggie O'Farrell.
KX

[Michelle]

There is a further thread here (http://bookclubforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3396), with a little discussion about her other books.

[tbain]

I loved the book and found it quite sad as many women in the past will have sadly been institutionalised by their families for no reason. I sympathised and felt for the character of Esme. My only criticisms were that the ending seemed quite rushed and I did not understand the need for the sub plot involving Iris, Alex and Luke. I felt that more time could have been devoted to the character of Esme instead. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

[Inver]

Finished this recently. Wonderful, page turning read. Second one of this author I have read and is now on my list of favourites. On the odd occasion I got confused with who was narrating in the story, but once I got used to the way it was written I was hooked. I found the ending a bit open ended too, a bit like her last one I read (although I think I know what happened!)