The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

Esme’s lack of skill with a needle is largely due to her short attention span and lack of interest in sewing. How does Kitty approach sewing, and why? What do her piles of intricate lacework and sewing projects symbolize? Consider Kitty’s sewing of the sequins on Esme’s bag for their ill-fated party. What does this symbolize?

O’Farrell frequently uses the colors red and green. Find examples of these colors playing a significant role in the novel. Traditionally, what do these colors symbolize, and what do they symbolize in the text?

O’Farrell is known for telling stories about women. With that said, analyze the men in the novel. All the men are overt in their reprehensible behavior except for Kitty’s husband Duncan. Why do you think Duncan’s uninterested in Kitty? How does this disinterest contribute to Kitty’s character development? What role do the “lost men” of the narrative, Hugo and Robert, play?

The novel’s ending is abrupt and rather shocking. Is Esme’s final act believable or necessary to the thematic arc of the novel?

Do you consider Iris a strong female character? Why or why not? Why is neither Alex nor Luke a healthy match for her?

Do you consider Kitty a sympathetic character? Why or why not? Why does she choose to adopt Esme’s baby?

Analyze the impact of the narrative’s disjointed, nonlinear structure. Would the story have benefitted from a more straightforward approach? For example, is Kitty’s narration perhaps too difficult to follow?

Examine O’Farrell’s use of literary devices such as onomatopoeia and similes. What effect do these devices have on the narrative?