The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox
by Maggie O'Farrell

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox
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Book Summary Information

Author: Maggie O'Farrell
Edition: Hardcover
Published: 2007-10-24
ISBN: 0151014116
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Harcourt

Book Reviews of The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

Book Review: Get Ready to Wake-up - Good Read
Summary: 4 Stars

At first the story swung forth and back too much for my reading taste. Still I could not put the book down. The jumbling of words spilling forth as though to free the chains of keeping silent, true deeply pained feelings grabbed tighter my curiosity. Iris, so spunky and spirited appears to be living as she wishes. Alas, as I read it, Iris' true heart feelings are as much of a prisoner to the truth as is her grand-aunt Esme (whose recent living situation has changed.) Esme has been locked up in the "loony bin" for sixty odd years and as the story progresses the reader learns the truth of this very sane and pained old woman. Iris, against her own reason and those of her step-brother Alex, takes Esme in and becomes as enthralled with her as I became. Esme is the victim of "polite society" in the 1930's in Scotland. As much as I reluctantly stayed with the story in the first few chapters, I reluctantly put it down. I wanted to know more about what happened to Esme as well as Iris.

The story certainly reminded me of how we can lie to self, hope to fit in, and deny the truths of spirit in self and others, so easily.

I recommend this book to those who want a good mystery, a strong women's story and a reminder how expressing ourselves can lead to more than we hoped.

Maggie O'Farrell's writing voice is strong, delicate, powerful and poetic.
I am a fan.

Summary of The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

In the middle of tending to the everyday business at her vintage-clothing shop and sidestepping her married boyfriend’s attempts at commitment, Iris Lockhart receives a stunning phone call: Her great-aunt Esme, whom she never knew existed, is being released from Cauldstone Hospital—where she has been locked away for more than sixty-one years.

Iris’s grandmother Kitty always claimed to be an only child. But Esme’s papers prove she is Kitty’s sister, and Iris can see the shadow of her dead father in Esme’s face.

Esme has been labeled harmless—sane enough to coexist with the rest of the world. But she's still basically a stranger, a family member never mentioned by the family, and one who is sure to bring life-altering secrets with her when she leaves the ward. If Iris takes her in, what dangerous truths might she inherit?

A gothic, intricate tale of family secrets, lost lives, and the freedom brought by truth, The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox will haunt you long past its final page.

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