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The Vanishing of Margaret Small: An uplifting and page-turning mystery

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Over the last few years, we met frequently at the University’s west gate. Pushing her foldable bike through the crowd (never cycling when there were too many pedestrians around her), that came out of the train station, donning her high viz-west and deep in thoughts – until she saw a familiar face; this is when her unique smile came on, a smile that felt like a ray of sunshine on a cold day, a smile that always made me feel good. This is how I will remember her. Bob Mortimer wins 2023 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction with The Satsuma Complex a b Pohl, Nicole (2001). "Review of Circles otf Power: Shifting Dynamics in a Lesbian-centered Community". Utopian Studies. 12 (2): 301–303. ISSN 1045-991X. Margaret tells her story over two timelines. She is now in her 70s and living in a flat and supervised by her support worker, Wayne. Wayne is a lovely, caring person, fully invested in enabling Margaret to live her best possible life. We need more Waynes in this world.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bonnier Audio UK for an audio ARC of The Vanishing of Margaret Small, written by Neil Alexander and narrated by Annie Aldington, for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

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There are some plot points, mainly about Margaret’s younger years, that are brushed off hastily. I would have loved some more details on these gaps. The main impact of her first term was economic. Inheriting a weak economy, she reduced or eliminated some governmental regulations and subsidies to businesses, thereby purging the manufacturing industry of many inefficient—but also some blameless—firms. The result was a dramatic increase in unemployment, from 1.3 million in 1979 to more than double that figure two years later. At the same time, inflation doubled in just 14 months, to more than 20 percent, and manufacturing output fell sharply. Although inflation decreased and output rose before the end of her first term, unemployment continued to increase, reaching more than three million in 1986. This poignant story tells of people whom life has denied any of the advantages that we take for granted today. People with few or no choices about their own lives. It speaks to the unfairness of life, while simultaneously being hopeful thanks in no small part to Margaret's naivety and positive outlook.

While reading, I wondered if Margaret was really as 'slow' as they made her out to be. If her grandmother had shown her any real love and guidance perhaps she would have learned to read and write. Though, the sad truth was that the grandmother's getting rid of Margaret as an unwelcome reminder of her daughter's transgressions seemed inevitable in a way. The sadistic treatment of the patients at the long term care institution was distressing to read. Margaret lived there from the age of seven until she was forty-one years old! All the while being told she was incapable of learning - and she had no schooling. Okay, call me gender-biased, but I am not a fan of men writing women; most of the times, they mess up female representation. So imagine my surprise when I discovered that this is written by a man! What a beautiful and sensitive portrayal of the female characters! There was no scene where I felt like the writing went stereotypical. So yeah, I admit, there are some good male writers in contemporary fiction. I hope some more of them come my way. ( Sorry for being so presumptive in my dismissal of male authors! It’s a case of ‘Multiple times bitten, perennially shy.’) Thatcher led the Conservatives to a decisive electoral victory in 1979 following a series of major strikes during the previous winter (the so-called “Winter of Discontent”) under the Labour Party government of James Callaghan. As a prime minister representing the newly energetic right wing of the Conservative Party (the “Dries,” as they later called themselves, as opposed to the old-style moderate Tories, or “Wets”), Thatcher advocated greater independence of the individual from the state; an end to allegedly excessive government interference in the economy, including privatization of state-owned enterprises and the sale of public housing to tenants; reductions in expenditures on social services such as health care, education, and housing; limitations on the printing of money in accord with the economic doctrine of monetarism; and legal restrictions on trade unions. The term Thatcherism came to refer not just to these policies but also to certain aspects of her ethical outlook and personal style, including moral absolutism, fierce nationalism, a zealous regard for the interests of the individual, and a combative, uncompromising approach to achieving political goals. Margaret's current story is interspersed with the story of her life in St. Mary's, a residential home for the intellectually challenged and mentally disturbed. A tender, thought-provoking and totally gripping novel from a wonderful storyteller…deserves to be a huge hit!’– Matt Cain, author of The Secret Life of Albert EntwistleMany thanks first of all must go to Tracy Fenton who wrote such an intriguing and captivating review that I knew I just had to read The Vanishing of Margaret Small. Without her, I wouldn’t have discovered one of the most interesting and beautifully written characters I’ve read about in a very long time. I will miss Marga enormously, for so many reasons: her humanity; her constancy; her cheer; her memorable facebook updates; and her unfailing ability to get into improbable tussles with the Arts Building lifts and almost every unfortunate piece of technology she ever laid hands on. She was my only fellow-bearer of a Celtic accent in the department; she was almost my twin in terms of birthdate. The loss is deeply painful, personally and professionally. Worse still, I keep wanting to turn to Marga, because it’s in this very sort of situation that she’d be such a tremendous strength. The agony of her own family, especially Joel, Clara and Douglas, is worst of all though. Marga and Joel were one of the best-matched couples I know; they adored each other, and together had created one of the most loving, happy families I’ve ever seen. Their loss is beyond all description. My only hope is that in time, that pain of loss is somewhat tempered by happy memories of an amazing wife and mother whose legacy is one of pure goodness and love. Imagine also my surprise when I discovered that this is a debut work. It is far more complex and nuanced than many of the established works I have read.

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