"Lexie Sinclair yearns for more than her parents' genteel country life. She makes her way to the city, where she meets a magazine editor, Innes, a man unlike any she has ever imagined. He introduces her to the thrilling world of bohemian postwar London, and Lexie learns to become a reporter, to know art and artists, to live fully, unconventionally, and with deep love. And when she finds herself pregnant by a man wholly unsuitable for marriage or fatherhood, she doesn't hesitate a minute to have the baby on her own. Later, in present-day London, a young painter named Elina dizzily navigates the first weeks of motherhood. Her boyfriend, Ted, traumatized by nearly losing her in labor, begins to recover lost memories. At first he cannot place them, but as they emerge, we discover something heartbreaking and beautiful that connects these two stories."

Acquired via PaperBackSwap. (Unabridged on 9 CDs; read by Anne Flosnik)

Lexie Sinclair, having grown up in rural England, escapes to the city at her first opportunity in the 1950's. There, she eventually becomes an art journalist. Meanwhile, in present day England, Elina is struggling with the challenges of new motherhood, gradually becoming more estranged from her husband Ted.

It's been quite a few years ago that I read it, but I really enjoyed O'Farrell's The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox. This story was similarly multi-layered and overall was well-written, but it lacked the ability to really absorb me the way the previous novel did. I had trouble relating to the characters and never felt more than a superficial connection to them. The first half of the novel, especially from Elina's point of view, felt drab and uninteresting to me. It wasn't until the second half that I began to become somewhat engaged, and from there the plot led up to a rather abrupt, bittersweet ending. I felt this novel had good potential, but I doubt that it will stick with me.

Shipping off to Azuki, who chose this one from the audio VBB.

I too enjoyed very much The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, so when I see this title in the vbb I couldn't help picking it up. Thanks for sharing.