https://lynns-books.com/2023/04/18/the-vanishing-of-margaret-small-by-neil-alexander/
3.5 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Ultimately heartwarming tale of injustice

The Vanishing of Margaret Small is a book that falls outside my typical style of reading but it caught my attention and I do love a story with a dual timeline so decided to give it a shot. I was granted an audio copy and I will say I really enjoyed the book in this format. The narration was really good.

I would say that the VoMS ddin’t feel totally unique to me in some ways, but, I read a lot of books and it stands to reason that certain themes or plots will eventually have a familiar feel. That being said, this is a lovely, heart warming, also terribly sad though ultimately uplifting story but what really kept me on board with this book was the central character. Margaret is very easy to like. She brought a smile to my face more often than not and even though I was at tims outraged at the way her freedom had been so cruelly and casually stolen from her she actually took things very much in her stride.

To sum this up quickly Margaret is, at a young age (7 or 8 I think), put into an institution for children with learning difficulties by her grandmother. She remains in this institution until she’s in her thirties when she’s told she can leave to live in supported accommodation. As a child Margaret received no education, owns no possessions, is badly dressed and often mistreated. As she gets older she’s often in charge of various tasks and obviously none of her time is paid for and to be totally honest her story is shocking (all the more so because stories such as these genuinely took place). Literally, because Margaret suffered from learning difficulties she was ‘vanished’ from society – how truly awful. Put me in mind of those young women who were similarly put in institutions for having become single mothers.

Anyhow, now in her 70s Margaret has been receiving letters and gifts in the post from an unknown source, signed simply ‘C’. Margaret has a slight obsession for the late singer and tv star Cilla Black and thinks that Cilla is communicating with her from the grave. She eventually confides in her support worker Wayne and the two go on a voyage of discovery.

What I really enjoyed about this. I loved the split timeline. To be fair I preferred the chapters where we cast back to Margaret’s time at the institution. She had a dreadful life really but. knowing no better, she had a strangely accepting way of taking life in all it’s worst guises and simply getting on with things. That being said witnessing the way Margaret manages to get herself round certain tricky situations was amusing to say the least. She may have missed out on a formal education but life has taught her some lessons of it’s own and it put a smile on my face to see how resourceful she was.

I love a book that makes me want to go back and examine things through history and this book did make me want to do more research so I have to applaud that.

The writing is good and in fact I was surprised to discover that this is a debut and the narrator does a great job of bringing Margaret to life.

Although this isn’t my usual type of read I enjoyed it very much. I think this will definitely appeal to readers who like a little history and injustice rolled up with a mystery.

I received a copy through Netgalle, courtesy of the publishers, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 3.5 stars of 5 (rounded up to 4 due to the ‘feel good’ factor).

This is a book I feel everyone should read. Made me laugh, cry and gave me all the feels in between. Wonderfully narrated and highly entertaining. Important to read the authors not, it was enlightening!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a #gifted ALC

There are certain books that are elevated by a great narrator. This is one such book. I am also usually wary of books by a male author writing from the point of a woman, but here I had no issues whatsoever the minute I got into the narrative. This is not exactly historical fiction since the bulk of the story is set in 2015, although it was published in 2022 - this makes more sense when you look at the age of the characters and the probability of such events coming to light.
Margaret Small is a vivid character. Any person listening/reading about her life and her cheerful attitude in a world that bewilders her most of the time would find it hard not to feel strong emotions towards her. She was 'disappeared' when she was a child. We are not told exactly what her disability is, but it does not matter in the larger picture since the tough life she has to face does not change based on that small detail.
As a child, Margaret was sent to a long-time medical institute. She was never taught to read and has recently started listening to audiobooks (I can imagine what a boon that could be, it felt more poignant to be listening to it). This is the past of the dual timeline narrative. In the present, a woman has been leaving her letters and some money, and Margaret has to approach others for help regarding the former. The latter is something she never has enough of. She has a health worker assigned to her, and their relationship is quite heartening to see.
Margaret is not a complete goody-goody character, nor is she a mean old woman who changes through the story. This refreshing book represents a woman who is normal, who tries her best with the world around her but does not understand her (or she, them, for the most part). The story spans her entire life, the mysterious letter writer, and finally makes some sense of the events she has faced in life.
It is not an easy book to read. With such a protagonist, there are times when you know she is being taken advantage of. The author did a brilliant job of not lingering on the more uncomfortable or sadder events. There is a positive undercurrent to the trials that Margaret faces, and I could not put it down. I made up chores just to listen to it all in as short a time as possible!
This is the author's first book, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes heartfelt narratives. When the author comes out with another book, I will pick it up with no hesitation at all!
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own listening experience.

Having spent many years teaching children with learning disabilities this book made me cry. Margaret Small was seven when she was taken from her home and placed in long-stay institution for children with learning disabilities, St Mary's. While there, she was not taught, no attempt was even made to teach her to read or write. She was used as a "slave" working in the laundry and helping others. She knew no other life and was actually afraid to go out in the world. The girls and boys were kept separate, most of the time, but she did meet a male patient and they cared for each other, until he met her roommate and they ran away together. As an adult, policies changed and Margaret moved into a group home and eventually her own flat supervised by her support worker, Wayne. Throughout the story, we learn about Margaret's past (dual timeline story) and her present. What is her fascination with Cilla Black? Who is sending her letters with money signed only with "C"?

I am shocked that this is a debut novel. I will definitely be watching for more books by Neil Alexander. The characters in this story were well drawn and recognizable. It dealt with social issues, not only the institutionalization of people with learning disabilities, but also homosexuality. As expected, the workers at St. Mary's were very different from each other. Some nurses were the stereotypical brutal, punishing and didn't seem to even like the people they were dealing with, while others were caring and tried to help the "patients" or residents. I loved Margaret. She might not be able to read or write, but she was caring, had amazing common sense and wasn't afraid to ask for support or what something meant. As her story unfolds, my heart broke for what she had been through. I highly recommend The Vanishing of Margaret Small.

In the end, I really enjoyed this debut. It starts a little slowly, and I found the interwoven second perspective a little distracting – positioned almost like a thriller, which the content didn't reflect – but the heroine, Margaret, can't help but win you round, and I loved the references to Cilla Black. It's a lovely original twist on this genre.

This was a heartbreaking story, but also heartwarming.
I liked the use of the dual timeline: young Margaret and old Margaret and the two narrators one for Margaret and one for the mystery C.
The story of Margaret's past is sad and it breaks my heart that people where treated that way in the past.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bonnier UK Audio, Embla Books and Neil Alexander for an audio-ARC in return for an honest review.

The Vanishing of Margaret Small by Neil Alexander

This is a delightful little mystery book. You instantly like Margaret and root for her. The plot is good and well planned. A nice little read. It also shines a light on how those living with a learning disability are treated.

It is narrated by Annie Aldington which brings Margarets character to life.

Wowza, this was one hell of a debit novel! Whole I usually stay away from cozy mystery books, this one drew me right in with its promising plot and main character. What I got was a bit different than what I've expected, because the story can get quote dense instead of giving off cozy vibes and being an easy read. But still (better: FOR THAT), I loved this one.

I really enjoyed this one. Set in two different eras of Margaret’s life, it was sad and moving and upsetting and wonderful, all at once.
We first meet Margaret as an adult and it’s obvious she has some difficulties as she mentions her carer. When we got back to her childhood, we see exactly what difficulties she has had and how she survived institutionalisation. The book juxtaposes beautifully between past and present and the story flows wonderfully.
I listened to the audiobook format and the narration was absolutely perfect. It was my first book by this author but I’ll definitely be looking out for more.

Margaret is ‘vanished’ or taken from the care of her grandmother and placed in a children’s home as a small and vulnerable child.
Margaret has learning disabilities and the novel is told in her voice as a young woman and again in her seventies, and also in the current day voice of ‘C’, a mysterious person who has come into margaret’s life.
Margaret believes she knows C’s identity - her hero, now deceased actor and singer Cilla Black, come back from the dead. But all is not what it seems!
It’s a well-written, endearing novel and the voices are strong, but it only really took off for me in the second half of the novel, when all begins to be revealed.
There are some serious issues here - not least the treatment of young people with learning disabilities - but this feels light and full of humour.
Recommended: a sad but also uplifting tale told with humour, pathos and beautiful reality.

The Vanishing of Margaret Small is a mystery book about a Cilla Black superfan who starts to receive money in the post following the death of her idol. She's sure that Cilla must have something to do with it. I received this preview copy as an audiobook and I really struggled with the narration. It's a fun idea for a book but unfortunately the writing didn't grip me and I had to reluctantly mark it as did not finish.

Oh Margaret, this book gosh it was tough, but im so glad I listened to it.
It tells the story of Margaret, a lady with learning difficulties who grew up in the 50s/60s. This is a heartbreaking book as one day she was taken from her house and placed in a long stay institution. The book follows Margaret switching between past and present as she tells her story, of how she was treated in the institute as well as the messages she is now receiving from someone who says she is a friend.
I loved Margaret as a character and her friend Wayne and the mystery surrounding the letters and this story is sure to stay with me for sometime.

The Vanishing of Margaret Small.
Beautifully written, heartwarming but also heartbreaking. Margaret is a character who makes you want to reach into the pages, wrap your arms around her, and keep her safe from the world.
Her story is going to stay with me for a very long time
Thank you @neilalexanderwriter for an amazing read and to @annieaddingtonmusic and #RachelAtkins for the brilliant narration of the audiobook. 5 big fat stars from me.

In a time when neurodivergent protagonists are the order of the day, The Vanishing of Margaret Small slots nicely onto the bookshelf alongside titles like The Rosie Project and The Maid. The cover gave me the impression that I was signing up to a cosy mystery - but that wasn't the case.

I loved Margaret's character and enjoyed hearing her story through her voice. There were some really dark themes throughout - even if told through the lens of naivety - which I found a challenge at times. It was also heartbreaking to reflect how real this story was for many people (particularly women) in the not so distant past.

Overall it was an excellent book - the audiobook was very well narrated particularly by the actor who played Margaret Small. She made it easy to sink into.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

What a novel! It was funny, touching and absorbing.

Margaret Small grew up in a 'hospital', for children who are disabled. She never knew her mother, was told she died in childbirth and her grandmother had her 'vanished' to Saint Mary's when she realised Margaret wasn't as intellectual as she 'should' be. Margaret though was a hard worker, she didn't question things, she got on with everyone, she was vulnerable as people took advantage of her sunny outlook, but this made her just all the more engaging as a reader.

Fast-forward to the present day and Margaret now lives independently as an OAP. Her carer Wayne takes her out regularly and she asks staff at Sainsbury's to help read any post that she gets by pretending she's forgotten her glasses, when in reality it's because she can't read. But Margaret keeps receiving letters, and lottery tickets and £50... who is sending them?

Margaret tells Wayne about her past and the two stories are woven together so beautifully that you can't help but be totally absorbed within her life.

As the story unfolds, we learn a lot about Margaret and also it makes us think about the world in which we live in. How lucky we are that those with disabilities aren't just shut away anymore, how tragic that they were once considered not fit to leave a hospital... it doesn't make you think a lot.

I finished this yesterday and I know that Margaret's story will stay with me for a long time, you simply cannot forget a character like Margaret easily at all.

Margaret, 75, is a Cilla Black mega fan and when she starts receiving letters signed ‘C’, Margaret is convinced they are from Cilla. The story reflects back of Margaret’s childhood where she is institutionalised or ‘vanished’ for being having learning difficulties. The story depicts Margaret’s life events and friendships while institutionalised. In the present day, her social worker, Wayne, encourages Margaret to think back over her life as to who ‘C’ could really be.
Such a pleasant, feel-good book, you really warm to Margaret and her innocence. A cosy read with happy vibes.

Lovely audiobook, an excellent narrator and a very touching story.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for my review.

Last year I wrote an article for The Bookseller about wanting to see disabled characters take centre stage in books, so it was an absolute delight to listen to the audio version of The Vanishing of Margaret Small and discover a book that's fulfilled that wish so triumphantly. Margaret is such a loveable character and both timelines of her story were so compelling I longed to listen to this story. The narrator also did a tremendous job and this has to be one of favourite books of 2022 and as I'm finishing it on the first day of 2023, there's every chance it'll hold that crown for this year as well. Neil did a considerable amount of research for this book over a number of years and I look forward to his next... however long it will take, it's bound to be a gem. The 2022/2023 debut of the year for me!

This not my usual listen I am a psychological thriller fan but this was a nice story that had me really routing for Margaret Small ,
Based on some true stories of how people often very young children with learning difficulties found them selves placed in homes along side others with mental health issues and these places were not nice places.
Nurses dishing out punishments rather than care
Margaret's story spans over 60 years in an institution with no real understanding of why she was put there in the first place , Yes Margaret can't read or write but that's because she was never taught and she's naive because she has only known the home but she is a hard worker and kind and its though provoking of how many people ended up like Margaret and as you follow her story and her life it unfolds and you just want the best for her
Her love for Cilla Black shines through and in later life when her life finally changes for the better and when she meets Wayne her lovely care worker who genuinely cares for her so helps her look for some answers it makes her story is both heartbreaking and uplifting..
I totally enjoyed this Audio book

This was an absolutely wonderful listen and I would go so far as to say that it is a very important book. The narration was fantastic and this is a beautiful and very emotionally powerful story set alternately in the protagonist's childhood / youth, and 2015 when she is in her 70s. Very moving and also very funny. Fabulous characters. One of my top books of 2022 - truly brilliant.
With grateful thanks to Netgalley for my copy of the audiobook.