After You'd Gone (original 2000; edition 2002)

This novel grips you from the first line, and keeps you constantly engaged. The protagonist, Alice, has always been a little different from her sisters, and the central moment of the book is when she finds out why. She’s strong, tempestuous, and fiercely loving, and when she chooses to die, she has good reasons. The story moves around freely, from her childhood all the way back to her grandmother’s childhood, and all the time Alice is on a hospital bed, in a coma. The freedom of the narrative works beautifully and gradually you find yourself living in Alice’s skin, and understanding why she is where she is. ( )

Stunningly beautiful. Review to come. ( )

Review originally written for my blog moosenoose.com

This is not my usual choice of book. It’s advertised as a weepy chick-lit, but it is so much more than that. It’s difficult to describe how the story works or even the slightest of detail without spoilers, so trust me when I say it simply is a must! This book revolves around love, loss, betrayal and secrets that can tear a family apart. The whole story is narrated in small flashbacks, all told from different people at different stages in their lives. At first it is extremely difficult to understand what is happening and who is ‘speaking’ but before I knew it I was following along without a problem. This puzzling way of introducing each character and giving their history and relationship with Alice gives a good insight into her history and personality. Its like getting to know Alice through everyone’s perspective, rather than just through her own thoughts and feelings, which makes this a very unique idea! I immediately liked Alice and her typically Scottish fiery temper. If told just through her eyes, her story would have been more black & white than it actually was. But by learning the intimate details of the other people featured in her life, we get to learn exactly what has shaped her past and present, without her even knowing about most of it. Overall this is an intriguing story that draws you in and doesn’t let go until the very end. ( )

A wife is devastated after her husband is killed in a bomb blast. She is not accepted by his father who eventually accepts her and share the their grief after the loss of a son and a husband

The story hit me where I live, and although saddening and maddening in many respects captured the uncertainty of the meaning of life quite well. The multiple prisms and perspectives in the narration added a sense of mystery or wonder. O'Farrell was recommended to me by my Mom. I will continue to make my way through her oeuvre. I recommend her writing. ( )