The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox
11 journalers for this copy...
It was only £1.99 too.
This is the choice of my College Book Group and as I have already read it as part of a bookring, I'll see if anyone wants to borrow it.
Esme is released from the mental institution where she has been incarcarated for over 60 years. A young relative, Iris, is given the responsibility of looking after Esme, even though she did not know of her existence.
As the book progresses the reader finds out more about why Esme was put away and also her sister's role in this terrible miscarriage of justice.
I liked the way Iris's character develops too; at the beginning of the book she is a bit selfish and self-absorbed but she shows great kindness towards Esme who has been thrust into her life.
A wonderful book, sad but ultimately quite uplifting by the end.
Released 16 yrs ago (8/9/2007 UTC) at -- Controlled Release in Bolton, Greater Manchester United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Lending to my friend Pat
Off to my mum now which is appropriate as she is visiting the theatre of the ex asylum Normansfield Hospital in Teddington this weekend.
I'm sure she'll enjoy it.
Released 16 yrs ago (10/24/2007 UTC) at == by post or by hand == in Richmond upon Thames, Greater London United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Given to my mum
Apparently a bookring of this has stalled so as soon as I found out more about it, I'll send this to the originator.
LadyIndigo01
Ozone-nut
Chelseagirl
Herrgirl
Scotsbookie
Decembermum
Cross-patch
Vespa
Kiwiinengland
Heathwitch
Anglersrest
wanderingstar8 (the book is here)
Back to me (veganknitter) unless more takers
See the original journal entries on 881-5255595 for my review and wilksie's comments.
Enjoy it everyone and I hope it doesn't get lost this time.
Released 16 yrs ago (1/18/2008 UTC) at Controlled Release in -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Posting to LadyIndigo01 - happy travels, little book!
I loved the way the story was told from the viewpoints of different people. Its a great story - just wish it had lasted longer!
I will be posting it to Ozone-nut tomorrow
thank you very much for sharing this book
I read this in bed this morning. I was intending to get up and go to the gym but I just couldn't put the book down once I started. Such a sad story and even sadder to reflect that it could quite easily have happened for real.
Along with her sister Kitty Esme was born in colonial India but, following a family tragedy, the family come home to 1930s Edinburgh. Esme is feisty and rebellious, a girl with ideas way ahead of the times - and her behaviour is unacceptable to her family, who have her confined in a mental asylum at the age of 16. Sixty years later the asylum is due to close and Esme is released into the care of her great niece Kitty who, up till now, knows nothing of her existence.
The story of Esme's life and confinement unravels gradually through her unspoken recollections and the delirious ramblings of sister Kitty, who has Alzeimers. The resulting tale is at once saddening, hilarious and shocking and the ending will leave you stunned.
One of the best books I've read in a long time.
I'll pass this on to Herrgirl in the week.
I have PM'd scotsbookie and will get it on its way when I hear from her.
Just going to PM Decembermum for their details. Thank you veganknitter for ringing the book.
Released 16 yrs ago (3/19/2008 UTC) at to a fellow bookcrosser in book ring/ray, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Thanks.
I loved the way the story was told through Esme's memories, Kitty's ramblings and from Iris's modern day point of view. Esme's story is heartbreaking and, unfortunately, only too possible. My heart went out to her, locked up for over 60 years for nothing more than being different and the fact that she was unable to tell anyone she'd been raped. I also felt sorry for Kitty, seeing it as an opportunity to escape but then having to live not only with the memories of what she'd done to her sister but also the daily memory through her son.
I found it interesting that much of the story was never spoken out loud, it was Esme's thoughts and we don't know whether Kitty was just thinking or writing a diary or rambling out loud but I'm certain that nobody was listening to her. As a result the reader ends up knowing a great deal more than any of the protagonists about what really happened. Iris managed to piece some of it together but even she doesn't know as much as we do and, without Kitty's version, never will.
The ending was shocking but very fitting and I wished the book had carried on, that Iris had been able to hear the whole story and to find out what happened to Esme next.
It struck me on reflection that there are many parallels between this book and Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden. Aside from the obvious connection of the surname Lennox, both Mary and Esme are difficult children, brought up in colonial India, for whom their parents have little time nor inclination and both return to Britain following an outbreak of fever in India. Then there is the parallel with Colin in The Secret Garden, locked away from the world because his father can't bear to look at him, which is pretty much why Esme is locked away. However, in the Secret Garden the children come blinking out into the light and learn to enjoy life, whereas Esme is locked away for ever, or so it must seem to her.
Thank you veganknitter for sharing, I shall send on to Cross-Patch as soon as I have an address. I must get another copy to send on the next round of my book group.
Just waiting for kiwiinengland's address and it will move on once more
Thanks
The way the story unfolded was well written. I am not sure that Esme would undertake her final act, but can understand the author thought she might. All the woman were stuck in stories not of their making, in relationships they didn't control - Esme in the instituion, Kitty in a marriage where she could not direct her husband, and Iris with a step brother who is self centred and wants whatever he desires.
Heathwitch had asked to be skipped so I shall send this on to the next in line.
Esme is a girl with ideas ahead of the times. Her behaviour is unacceptable to her close family, who decide to have her confined in a mental asylum at the young age of 16. Sixty years later the asylum is due to close. The officials of the hospital manage to track down Esme's great neice,Iris, who up until this point knew nothing of Esme's existance. Iris is both in denial of the relationship and yet fascinated in what has happened in the family, 60 years previous. Despite, feeling that Esme is not her responsibility Iris is unable to walk away from her.
I have the address for wanderingstar8, and this will be in the post on Monday 21st July. Thanks for sharing a great book.
The twist was certainly clever, but I thought the storytelling was curiously unimaginative - I would have loved to read about what it feels like to come out of an asylum where you've been for 60 years, to live with a young and independent woman. But I didn't think we really got that. Instead there were a lot of quite cliched scenes stitched together into an admittedly interesting story.
On its way back to Veganknitter!
I'm glad you all enjoyed it.