Gina Ruth S. (Shadygrove) -
Helpful Score: 2
I didn't find it hard to read this absorbing and relatively brief novel quickly -- it almost "ended too soon", because I really was enjoying the author's style. As some of the other reviews have noted, there's a point in the story where shifting points of view increase the complexity; these shifts could be a bit confusing,I guess... but just follow on through and matters will soon start to clear, finally pulling together the whole story of events that fractured the lives of the characters.
Esme's "vanishing" happens on several levels, and the story is tragedy building on tragedy (in fact, reaching well into the life of the young woman who, to her astonishment, discovers the existence of this unspoken-of relative). Esme's sensitive mentality is impacted by many people and events in her youngest years, leading up to shockingly complete betrayal of her by her family. Along this path, I couldn't help thinking ... "if only this or that had happened instead ... if only he/she had chosen a different path here ... if only there had been more love here". I mourned both for what Esme never had and for the chances that she lost.
The abruptness of the ending has been mentioned by a few other reviewers. The ending at first left me aghast and disappointed ... but it is hard, on reflection, to know "how it should have ended." I wonder if part of my reaction to the end was just more of the same "please let this be different" feeling that I had through much of the book.
Deeply sad story, but, if you're OK with that, I recommend it.
Esme's "vanishing" happens on several levels, and the story is tragedy building on tragedy (in fact, reaching well into the life of the young woman who, to her astonishment, discovers the existence of this unspoken-of relative). Esme's sensitive mentality is impacted by many people and events in her youngest years, leading up to shockingly complete betrayal of her by her family. Along this path, I couldn't help thinking ... "if only this or that had happened instead ... if only he/she had chosen a different path here ... if only there had been more love here". I mourned both for what Esme never had and for the chances that she lost.
The abruptness of the ending has been mentioned by a few other reviewers. The ending at first left me aghast and disappointed ... but it is hard, on reflection, to know "how it should have ended." I wonder if part of my reaction to the end was just more of the same "please let this be different" feeling that I had through much of the book.
Deeply sad story, but, if you're OK with that, I recommend it.
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