The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell
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 over sixty 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 Esme’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?
Maggie O’Farrell’s intricate tale of family secrets, lost lives, and the freedom brought by truth will haunt readers long past its final page.
Review: Iris Lockhart is busy with her life filled with taking care of her vintage clothing shop and avoiding her married boyfriend's attempts to leave his wife when she receives a startling phone call. Her great-aunt Esme, a person she has never heard of, is being released from a hospital where she has been locked away for over sixty years. Iris is stunned, as her grandmother always claimed to be an only child. While Esme seems harmless, she is a stranger. While everyone encourages Iris to not get caught up in her welfare, she can't help but feel pity for this long lost relative. Little did she know what secrets Esme's existence will reveal about her own life and understanding of her family.
This novel is truly heartbreaking in the injustice and tragedy that is Esme's life. Although the reader gets to see her finally emerging from the hospital, it's hard to comprehend spending over six decades locked up against your will when you are perfectly healthy and sane. In many ways, the missed chances of Esme's life have trickled down to Iris. There is a sadness and sense of loss about them both.
This novel was told in alternating perspectives of young Esme, Iris, and Kitty, who is Esme's sister and Iris' grandmother. In the audio book, there was no declaration of the perspective switch and at times it felt a bit abrupt or hard to follow. But it was critical to understanding of the story to have all of these shifting perspectives.
Although I don't want to include any spoilers, the revelation of the true story behind Esme's existence being covered up is quite sad to read and forms the true arc of the plot. The villain of the story is beyond reach and in any case, no one can recover the time lost or the wrongs done to Esme. But it did feel as if fate brought Iris and Esme together and perhaps the conclusion of Esme's days could be happy at least. This novel, while well written, lacked the lyrical and almost ethereal quality that Hamnet has. After finishing it, it seemed like a more standard historical fiction suspense story of hidden secrets brought to life. But I did enjoy the story and its characters.
Stars: 3.5
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