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La extraña desaparición de Esme Lennox

La extraña desaparición de Esme Lennox

  • Downloads：7349
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-08-11 02:41:38
  • Update Date：2025-09-23
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Maggie O'Farrell
  • ISBN：B0B35CGR7P
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

Maggie O’Farrell takes readers on a journey to the darker places of the human heart， where desires struggle with the imposition of social mores。 This haunting story explores the seedy past of Victorian asylums， the oppression of family secrets， and the way truth can change everything。

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。

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Reviews

Karen Janette ，

I was fascinated by how the author depicts the inner thoughts of the two sisters， particularly with dementia in one。 I was confused though by the ending and couldn’t thread together some elements。

Liz N ，

This is a wondrous novel。 I loved reading every page and it will be a long time before I can erase Iris， Esme， Kitty， Alex and their family members from my mind。 It is a page turner with an interesting structure， juxtaposing three points of view : a contemporary woman contemplating commitment and independence; an elderly woman who is released from six decades of incarceration in an old-fashioned， harsh asylum; and another elderly woman in the grip of Alzheimer's who， nonetheless， fills in the ga This is a wondrous novel。 I loved reading every page and it will be a long time before I can erase Iris， Esme， Kitty， Alex and their family members from my mind。 It is a page turner with an interesting structure， juxtaposing three points of view : a contemporary woman contemplating commitment and independence; an elderly woman who is released from six decades of incarceration in an old-fashioned， harsh asylum; and another elderly woman in the grip of Alzheimer's who， nonetheless， fills in the gaps。That description should not undermine a novel which moves apace and looks at the short moments in a life which have a profound effect on a family for generations in the future。 O'Farrell takes us on a journey with the utmost dexterity - no matter how confused I was to begin with， I felt confident I would land in a logical place 。。。 and land I did。 Beautifully and concisely written 。。。 a great story。 I finished wanting to know what happens next because I was invested in the protagonists。Thank you。 。。。more

Emily ，

That ending。

David Ellcock ，

On the whole， I enjoyed listening to this tightly-plotted novel。 I found a relationship between two of the younger characters and another character’s lucidity towards the end of the novel， given their previous circumstances， a little unconvincing， but not enough to erase my enjoyment。

Catherine Ellcock ，

A really good read and very well written。

Sandy ，

Would have given it a 4 star review if not for the ending。 It was an addictive read and I couldn’t wait to get to the ending but really？

matildar ，

Reading Maggie O'Farrell is like immersing yourself in a bath - everything outside becomes less real and less vivid。 Reading Maggie O'Farrell is like immersing yourself in a bath - everything outside becomes less real and less vivid。 。。。more

Adrienne Solon ，

*i haven’t marked this review with spoilers but some might find my detail in the male characters a little heavy handed* a curious book。 I enjoyed the characters O’Farrell conjured， the way generations intertwined themselves among each other， not overtly， just enough for the reader to pick at individual threads of Iris， Esme and Kitty。 Enough to unravel the intricacies of the injustices these women experienced， but perhaps not quite enough to conjure the sympathy that O’Farrell needs the reader t *i haven’t marked this review with spoilers but some might find my detail in the male characters a little heavy handed* a curious book。 I enjoyed the characters O’Farrell conjured， the way generations intertwined themselves among each other， not overtly， just enough for the reader to pick at individual threads of Iris， Esme and Kitty。 Enough to unravel the intricacies of the injustices these women experienced， but perhaps not quite enough to conjure the sympathy that O’Farrell needs the reader to feel to have true compassion for all three women。 Naturally， Esme inspires curiosity from the off start。 Is she just stubborn and unruly in a way that sparks my feminist heart？ or is there trauma that lies deeper in the pages。 Esme is the reason I picked up the book， and she is the reason i made it to the end as well。 That is not to say Iris and Kitty didn’t creep their way into the pool of pity that I unwittingly waded in to， more so that it was fleeting。 Perhaps that was the intention， but I wish that Iris had more to her name than the men she had entangled in her life。 It leads me to the question - and if one of you have an opposing view on this I’d be interested to hear it - what was the point of Alex’s character other than a layer of distraction and discomfort？ Was that just me？ At least with Luke we could see the slight parallels between Esme and Iris’ tumultuous relationship with love and marriage。 But the character of the brother left me confused and uneasy。 It felt as though the final chapters of the book had been torn away to leave the reader with Esme’s conclusion which I found somewhat a waste of excellent character building。 I would still recommend this book， i think it sparks an interesting conversation on attitudes to women and it does bring the streets of Edinburgh to life。 If you made it this far， thanks for reading :） 。。。more

Sara ，

A mysterious and hitherto unknown great aunt who has been locked up in a lunatic asylum for 60 years， a quasi-incestuous affair with a step brother， a dark and deathly family history in India。 Sounds melodramatic…。yes， it is。 While at points the characters are engaging this novel feels so much more superficial than the remarkable Hamnet。 I guess it is uplifting to know that writers can improve so much。

Anna Capde ，

És un llibre molt recomenaba però s'ha de païr bé。 Crec que encara estaré uns dies més pensant en la història d'aquesta magnífica novel。la！！！ És un llibre molt recomenaba però s'ha de païr bé。 Crec que encara estaré uns dies més pensant en la història d'aquesta magnífica novel。la！！！ 。。。more

Catherine Linka ，

HAMNET wasn't for me， but this novel about Esme Lennox emerging from 60 years in an asylum was。 Great character development and conflict。 Not everyone loves the ambiguous ending， but I was comfortable imagining what happened。 HAMNET wasn't for me， but this novel about Esme Lennox emerging from 60 years in an asylum was。 Great character development and conflict。 Not everyone loves the ambiguous ending， but I was comfortable imagining what happened。 。。。more

Sarah ，

This would have been a 5 star read if not for the last few pages！ What an abrupt ending！

Lorena ，

Un drama familiar desgarrador。 Si os gustan las novelas de Kate Morton esta os encantará también。

Connie ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 A flawed， but gripping， multi generational family mystery and a reminder of how unfree young women were， even from upper class families。 Like Virginia Woolf， the character of Esme is highly intelligent， independent， and conscious of the restrictions placed on girls and women。 Denied education， pressured into boring， stifling social rituals， and the marriage market， their lives were controlled by others。 VW and her sister broke free at last， but sadly， Esme is let down by her sister， Kitty， the o A flawed， but gripping， multi generational family mystery and a reminder of how unfree young women were， even from upper class families。 Like Virginia Woolf， the character of Esme is highly intelligent， independent， and conscious of the restrictions placed on girls and women。 Denied education， pressured into boring， stifling social rituals， and the marriage market， their lives were controlled by others。 VW and her sister broke free at last， but sadly， Esme is let down by her sister， Kitty， the only person who could have rescued her， but is too conventional and timid to be her sister’s advocate。 There is some hope of support from Esme’s young relative， Iris at the end of the book。 。。。more

Fiona Hewlett-parker ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Such a heart-breaking book， beautifully written with some truly excruciating moments。 The thought that someone could be locked away for 60 years in an asylum， while perfectly sane，is shocking。 But， as women had no rights it seems they could be punished for being untidy， unconventional and unlucky enough to be attacked at a party。

Emmy ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 This was a bit confusing to listen to at the beginning; I’m not sure if it’s that difficult if you are reading it （and I’m also not sure how much fault can be laid at the feet of the reader）。 But that cleared up soon enough and a very sad tale emerges of an unusual young woman who can’t fit in and so is sent away， quite damaged by all that should love and nurture her。 This is contrasted with the modern life of a relative who never knew about her。 The book is really sticking with me。

Sue Wilson ，

Great read。

gurpreet kaur ，

It has been 36hrs since I completed the book and I haven’t stopped thinking about it， the more I think the more I realize that what an artful storyteller Maggie O’Farrell is。 She definitely goes up on my list of favourite authors。 Thanks to my daughter who recommended ‘The vanishing act of Essme Lennox’， and introduced me to this amazing writer。 The author takes you into the hearts and minds of three women spanning three generations; two sisters and their granddaughter。The three intertwining and It has been 36hrs since I completed the book and I haven’t stopped thinking about it， the more I think the more I realize that what an artful storyteller Maggie O’Farrell is。 She definitely goes up on my list of favourite authors。 Thanks to my daughter who recommended ‘The vanishing act of Essme Lennox’， and introduced me to this amazing writer。 The author takes you into the hearts and minds of three women spanning three generations; two sisters and their granddaughter。The three intertwining and captivating stories move back and forth in time， abruptly flipping from one character to the other， many a times even mid-sentence or mid-conversation， without any break in chapter（The entire book comprises of just one chapter ） ， only a master story teller could make it work so beautifully。 The story is not really in the face but intelligently hinted and told， tickling the understanding and imagination of the reader。 Description of feelings and emotions ， relating feelings with inanimate objects and nature has been wonderfully achieved。 Elements of tragedy， loss， rivalry， jealousy， cultural inhibition， traditions， behaviour， psyche ， family secrets have been skillfully woven into the story。 Though not a thriller it is quite a cliffhanger and a page turner。 Really enjoyed the experience and highly recommended 。。。more

Donna J。 Murphy ，

groanI detest books with no chapters。 That aside， I loved this story。 I loved the format of different voices， different decades， different places。 In fact I loved this and wish it were longer。

Mary ，

A well written but heart breaking story。

Amiehp ，

First piece of fiction that I've really enjoyed in a while。 Don't think I'll be forgetting this story for a long time。 First piece of fiction that I've really enjoyed in a while。 Don't think I'll be forgetting this story for a long time。 。。。more

Helen O'Day ，

What an interesting story。 👏 I listened to it and the narrator was great。 It could be a bit confusing at times， but once you sorted the fragmented thoughts and whose voice was talking， it came together。 I loved reading about the 2 different time periods， 1930's and the present， with the same characters。 Locked away in an asylum for 60 years because she was different was horrible。 I recommend this audio recording。 👌 What an interesting story。 👏 I listened to it and the narrator was great。 It could be a bit confusing at times， but once you sorted the fragmented thoughts and whose voice was talking， it came together。 I loved reading about the 2 different time periods， 1930's and the present， with the same characters。 Locked away in an asylum for 60 years because she was different was horrible。 I recommend this audio recording。 👌 。。。more

Michelle Baranowski ，

Quick read for me。 Right when I started to get into the story， it just ends。 It almost felt like the writer didn’t know how to end it so she just ends it。 It felt sloppy。 I kept thinking details from the beginning of the book would tie in somehow but they didn’t。 I finished it and just felt annoyed。

Rosemarie ，

This book made me furious and so incredibly sad。 I love you Esme and I am so so sorry。 I hate everyone so much for everything they did to her。 Absolutely heartbreaking。 So scary how her sanity was only ever seen as insanity after being admitted to the psychiatric hospital。 So beautifully and skilfully written。 I love and adore this book。“The hospital appears to her as if on a reel of reversed film。 They pass through some doors and she sees a high ceiling， a string of lights， rows of beds， the sh This book made me furious and so incredibly sad。 I love you Esme and I am so so sorry。 I hate everyone so much for everything they did to her。 Absolutely heartbreaking。 So scary how her sanity was only ever seen as insanity after being admitted to the psychiatric hospital。 So beautifully and skilfully written。 I love and adore this book。“The hospital appears to her as if on a reel of reversed film。 They pass through some doors and she sees a high ceiling， a string of lights， rows of beds， the shapes of bodies hunched under the blankets。 She hears coughs， moans， a person somewhere muttering to themselves。 The nurses haul her on to a bed and they are puffing with the effort。 Esme turns to look out of the window and sees bars， running up， running down。Oh God， she says into the fetid air。 She drives a hand into her head。 Oh God。 The shock of it all boils over into tears again。 This cannot be， it cannot be。 She reaches out and rips down the curtain， she kicks over the cabinet， she shouts， there has been a mistake， this is all a mistake， please listen to me。 Nurses come running with wide leather belts and strap her to the bed， then walk away shaking their heads， straightening their caps。”“She is not ill。 She knows she is not ill。 She wants to run， she wants to burst through the doors out into the corridor， to sprint along it and never come back。 She wants to scream， let me out， how dare you keep me here。 She wants to break something， the window， that framed picture of cattle in the snow， anything。 And although she wants all this， and more， Esme makes herself sit at the table again。 She makes herself walk across the room， bend her legs and sit in a chair。 Like a normal person” 。。。more

Lisa ，

Like the other two novels I’ve read by Maggie O’Farrell， this one is sad。 And I generally would never give sad books five stars （and certainly not one with an ending that is somewhat…unresolved）。 But here we are。 Maggie O’Farrell is an amazing writer and this book is no exception。

Clara Vicenç ，

El llibre relata les complicades relacions que hi pot haver en una família i com moltes vegades els problemes queden portes endins。 I ho fa amb la gran capacitat de Maggie O'Farrell de donar veu a molts dels seus protagonistes， barrejant-ho de tal manera que la història va avançant sola。 Una lectura molt amena， però que deixa marca més enllà del final del llibre。 El llibre relata les complicades relacions que hi pot haver en una família i com moltes vegades els problemes queden portes endins。 I ho fa amb la gran capacitat de Maggie O'Farrell de donar veu a molts dels seus protagonistes， barrejant-ho de tal manera que la història va avançant sola。 Una lectura molt amena， però que deixa marca més enllà del final del llibre。 。。。more

Emily ，

4。5 stars rounded up

Melindannk ，

The book should be a 5 star。 I've lowed my personal rating because I struggle reading it， not because of the story line， but because of how O'Farrell wrote it。 The book - it has no chapters， it switches quickly between the three points of views， changing so quickly。 It had a lot of the internal， meandering dialog and I personally struggled with who was saying what。BUT。。。。。the book is so good， and once you figure out the style to book is written in， it is a fantastic read。 The book should be a 5 star。 I've lowed my personal rating because I struggle reading it， not because of the story line， but because of how O'Farrell wrote it。 The book - it has no chapters， it switches quickly between the three points of views， changing so quickly。 It had a lot of the internal， meandering dialog and I personally struggled with who was saying what。BUT。。。。。the book is so good， and once you figure out the style to book is written in， it is a fantastic read。 。。。more

Colleen Chi-Girl ，

This was my first novel by Maggie O'Farrell and I immediately became a life fan。 Talk about family drama。。。Set in a dark time in history， 1930's， where women had little control over their lives， we are introduced to Esme who has been confined to an insane asylum。 Esme doesn't conform to what a woman of those times is supposed to do and be according to her conservative parents who then lock her away for life。We are next introduced to a young woman， Iris， in present day， who also beats to her own This was my first novel by Maggie O'Farrell and I immediately became a life fan。 Talk about family drama。。。Set in a dark time in history， 1930's， where women had little control over their lives， we are introduced to Esme who has been confined to an insane asylum。 Esme doesn't conform to what a woman of those times is supposed to do and be according to her conservative parents who then lock her away for life。We are next introduced to a young woman， Iris， in present day， who also beats to her own drum when she discovers she has a great aunt， Esme， that has been locked away in an institution for 50-60 years！ Iris only discovers this because the asylum is closing and the elderly Esme （and other patients） need a place to live。 It is a heart-wrenching and eye opening reminder that women again were forced to follow no uncertain protocols， to be docile and appealing family members， who go with the conservative conventions。。。or else。What I find I loved the most about this novel is how O'Farrell creates such deeply emotional and moving links between the 2 time periods and 2 women。 The characters and details are so carefully spun and wonderfully written that you become a part of their intimate thoughts and worlds。 O'Farrell's prose is unlike most other authors。 I can't and won't give a comparison to another， but will say to you， read her， lose yourself， and get carried back in time。 。。。more

Nanja Beesknees ，

Breezed through。 Forgettable

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=La extraña desaparición de Esme Lennox

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=La extraña desaparición de Esme Lennox&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,La extraña desaparición de Esme Lennox&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0