Vanished
by Mary McGarry Morris
Nominations: National Book 1988, PEN/Faulkner 1989
Date Read: September 11, 2020
Vanished is like reading about a train wreck that you know is going to happen and you keep reading knowing it’s all going to crash. Throw in a man that is clearly cognitively impaired and a woman who is most likely mentally ill, plus one kidnapped child and there’s a recipe for disaster. And disaster is what it indeed becomes.
The premise is unique – what happens if you meet someone who’s draw has power over you in a way you can’t overcome? Aubie doesn’t mean to leave his life behind, he just gets so distracted and loses track of time. I will never understand why Dotty kidnaps the child, but she quickly learns how much work and effort raising a child is.
The entire way through my heart breaks for Canny, who has to live with these two parental figures who don’t have her best interests at heart. Sleeping in a truck, not taking her physical health seriously, not understanding when Canny tells Aubrey that she was molested - the list goes on and on. And it’s all ugly and it’s all heartbreaking. At least it ends well for Canny.
Morris’ writing is superb. I can smell the cigarette smoke and liquor breath, visualize stained sheets, collapsing boxes and filthy children. She masterfully crafts a world that far too many people in this world don’t have to read about because they are living it. I am incredibly privileged to only read about it.
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