Customer Reviews
abit of a let down - By: Ms. J. L. Hughes, 06 Jul 2008 
I had heard that this book was a brilliant read, this is true. However, it is quite difficult to determine which character is speaking sometimes & found that the relationship between Iris, Alex & Luke was completely pointless, it has no effect on the story whatsoever. I guessed the twist in the story very early on & was on the edge of my seat waiting for another - it never came. I found the ending hurried & abit vague. I was left dissapointed, with a sense of not understanding what had happened. Nevertheless it is a very good read, that will have you reading page after page. It is a moving & poignant read.
Gripping but vague in places. - By: Mrs. T. Bainbridge, 15 Jun 2008 
I actuallly enjoyed reading this & felt very sad for the character of Esme Lennox. It was certainly a page turner & kept me engaged throughout. My only complaints were that the ending seemed a bit hurried & that the sub plot involving Iris, Luke & Alex was not reallly necessary or needed as the novel would have been better had it been fully focused on Esme.
Although I have a couple of criticisms about the book, it was definitely a page turner & is worth reading.
Very moving read - By: L. H. Healy, 02 Jun 2008 This is a very moving & sad story of a lady, Esme, who is put into an institution by her family, & spends over sixty years of her life there. She only seems to be able to leave in the end because the place is being closed down.
The tale tells of little incidents during her childhood which her family frowned upon, when reallly she was just an expressive, inquisitive child who wanted something different for herself than being married off & having to put on alll the airs & graces of her class. And for this she is punished by her cold family, who send her to be locked away. All those years later enter Iris, who didn't know of Esme's existence.
Intermingled with remembrances of the past, the story tells of the new relationship formed between Iris & Esme, & those around them. For me, an interesting paralllel was drawn between the characteristics of the too of them.
It is not a very long read, & I think it was just perfect at the length it is. Very well written & unputdownable, thought-provoking & tragic.
So sad to think that this situation was a reality for many women too in times gone by?
I have read one previous novel by Maggie O'Farrell which I think I enjoyed but it wasn't terribly memorable. I think she has dramaticallly improved her writing with this book.
Slow, Slow, Slow. - By: Ms. Cl Bird, 22 Apr 2008 
My mum leant me this book raving about how good it was - but unfortunately after struggling to finish it, I have to disagree.
I found it so slow & hard-going. Shame because I think Maggie O'Farrell could have written a far more descriptive, insightfull, imaginative cracker given the subject matter.
I expected to end up feeling so sorry for Esme & thought the book might be a real eye-opener, but unfortunately not. It evoked no emotion in me at alll.
Would give it a miss.
Stunningly poignant - By: L. Penn, 08 Mar 2008 
The best book I have read for a very long time.
In the early 80s as a student nurse I came across an elderly female patient who had not spoken for 50 plus years at what was then Tooting Bec psychiatric hospital. It was said that she had been put in there by her parents having become pregnant at the age of 16 (& outside marriage) so this beautifully written story hit a particular nerve. What had become of her baby, no one said.
