The Hand That First Held Mine

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Critics

• The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell

  In the 1950s, Lexie abandons rural Devon for Soho and her married lover. In the present day, Elina, an artist, and her partner, Ted, struggle with work and parenthood. Gradually the links between these complex lives are teased out. The narration and ... (read full critics)

  guardian.co.uk published on Fri, 24 Sep 2010

• The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell

  With her last novel, The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, Maggie O'Farrell pulled off a smart step-change. The books that came before it – a trio of intense, elegant relationship novels – had established her as a purveyor of smart, affecting women's fic ... (read full critics)

  guardian.co.uk published on Fri, 24 Sep 2010

6 Reviews

• 1 person find this helpful

  

  how to take revenge on your mother-in-law in the most definitive way - and remember, if you write you will always be posthumously vindicated. but the real question is: why do i keep reading stuff as useless as this? do i know more now? did it make me think? the answer is: no.

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  Elsastella said on Mar 26, 2011 about the Hardcover edition | Add your feedback

• 

  Although there are isolated passages in this novel about the love-hate relationships of three generations set in two parallel narratives that spark intense observational craft and outstanding penmanship, they can't hide the fact that the story is basically conventional melodrama with a high concept. ... (continue)

  Although there are isolated passages in this novel about the love-hate relationships of three generations set in two parallel narratives that spark intense observational craft and outstanding penmanship, they can't hide the fact that the story is basically conventional melodrama with a high concept. While the structure of the book is special at first glance- jumping between two time frames and sets of characters without ever mentioning their connection- the final reveal can't come as too big a shock to the readers as it's the only way the endless back-and-forth will make any sense at all. Of course the gradual conjunction of the two narratives, the inevitability it carries and the grand emotional scale it brings when everyone finally finds his place in the big context are thrilling at times, but the author didn't manage to create a rhythm that really brings out the power of her storytelling. Too much attention was paid to inconsenquential descriptions (especially of how a monster baby tortures her poor mother), which really drags down overall readability of the book.

  Elsewhere I also find the characterization mostly problematic. Both the "good guys" (ill-fated lovers or parents) and the "bad guys" (evil spouse and vengeful offprings) are painted in such broad strokes and one-sided lights that they more or less all become bloodless caricatures in the end. A general lack of originality in the plot development also disappoints.

  What really salvaged the book eventually is, besides the abovementioned sparks of writing rowess, the concentrated depiction of a mother's love for her child, and how such a force of nature affects a woman from within and leaves an indelible mark on the child for life. The title sums up this age-old yet perennially true relationship with a beautiful image and is probably the author's greatest achievement of all.

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  Tony Su said on Mar 13, 2012 | Add your feedback

• A book I could instantly forget after reading it

  I often feel uneasy reading books with more than one set of characters and more than one storyline going on at the same time. For me, this book was weakened by it. In my opinion, one set of characters were a lot stronger than the other so the book seemed unbalanced. There are some really great passa ... (continue)

  I often feel uneasy reading books with more than one set of characters and more than one storyline going on at the same time. For me, this book was weakened by it. In my opinion, one set of characters were a lot stronger than the other so the book seemed unbalanced. There are some really great passages, and incredible descriptions but overall I'd consider it as an 'alright' novel - nothing amazing.

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  Danielle said on Feb 17, 2012 about the eBook edition | Add your feedback

• 

  A lovely book containing two stories that come together at the end. Very believable storyline and characters.

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  lankylad said on Jun 26, 2011 | Add your feedback

• 

  Be warned, the opening is strong stuff if you have recently given birth or are pregnant. But it is a great, great book - very powerful, a great strong woman at the centre, lovely atmosphere of 1950s Soho and a very satisfying ending with all loose ends tied up.

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  cina said on Mar 17, 2011 | Add your feedback

• 

  London - 1950's - 1960's - present

  I found this book quite disturbing and I have mix feelings about it: interesting plot and characters but all the relationships described (between women and men, mothers and babies, fathers and babies) left me a sensation of uneasiness.

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  Mati said on Jan 20, 2011 about the Others edition | Add your feedback

Book Details

• Rating:
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• English Books
• Paperback 384 Pages
• ISBN-10: 0755308468
• ISBN-13: 9780755308460
• Publisher: Headline Review
• Pub date: Feb 03, 2011
• Dimensions: 1264 mm x 826 mm x 181 mm Just how big is that?
• Also available as: Hardcover, Others and eBook
• In other languages: other languages Libri Italiani

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ISBN	Edition	List	Sale	Seller
9780755308460	Paperback	$12.40	$11.90	The Book Depository
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