This is the story of a girl named Minou coming to grips with the sudden disappearance of her Mama about a year ago. Minou lives on a small lighthouse island with her Papa sometime after "the War" (which I assume is WWII, though the story never specifies). The island's only other residents are Priest at the church and Boxman, a colorful magician/performer. Minou uses a combination of her Papa's logic and Mama's imagination to make peace with how and why her Mama went away. It's a really sad, bizarre, magical-thinking kind of story. I didn't love it. I was quite disappointed when I read this book last summer after buying it in a second hand bookshop in Stratford-upon-Avon. Despite many good reviews the book has received, I for once in my life disagree. Firstly there was no plot, and every other chapter the author went back to talk about Minou's past. As the story progressed, nothing happened. It just kept going about how she longed to be with her mother. Unless there was something I did not get, I'm afraid that the story just didn't do anything for me. Halfway through, being bored, I expected a massive plot twist to get the ball rolling - except it never happened. Once I'd finished, I was quite relieved, I'm sorry to say, that it was over. Agreeably, the language was very structured and pretty, but there was just no content. It left me feeling quite sad and miserable. :(
What do You think about The Vanishing Act (2012)?
I liked how the book started, but domination of flashbacks made me exhausted.
—mrceray
Reminiscent of Sophie's World somehow. Bittersweet and I loved the island.
—Kellyduff10
Odd, strangely beautiful and enticingly tantalising
—confusedefuse
beautifully written, but you don't get any answers
—mirabel
