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A review by katykelly
The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell
4.0
Two connected stories in two different times - rather fascinating
Looking back at the book, it's hard to say what really 'happens' in it. I enjoyed my audio listen of it, but would have to summarise it as follows:
In contemporary England, a new mother who underwent a traumatic and dangerous birth struggles to cope with motherhood. In post-war England a young woman leaves her small town for London, meets the love of her life and begins to make her way in the world.
The two show their connections over time, and though other reviewers have found it slow, I really liked the 'new mother' story, having a newborn myself. I found this more relatable than Lexie's story of her new life in London.
I saw coming the connection between characters, but this didn't spoil my enjoyment. Two very different women, two different lives and time periods, it felt like two different books for most of the length. I thought O'Farrell presented the life of a new mother exceptionally well, it felt familiar and fraught and emotional.
The audio CD is well narrated and an easy listen. It's a gentle story overall, sad and bittersweet and does hit home with some small truths.
Looking back at the book, it's hard to say what really 'happens' in it. I enjoyed my audio listen of it, but would have to summarise it as follows:
In contemporary England, a new mother who underwent a traumatic and dangerous birth struggles to cope with motherhood. In post-war England a young woman leaves her small town for London, meets the love of her life and begins to make her way in the world.
The two show their connections over time, and though other reviewers have found it slow, I really liked the 'new mother' story, having a newborn myself. I found this more relatable than Lexie's story of her new life in London.
I saw coming the connection between characters, but this didn't spoil my enjoyment. Two very different women, two different lives and time periods, it felt like two different books for most of the length. I thought O'Farrell presented the life of a new mother exceptionally well, it felt familiar and fraught and emotional.
The audio CD is well narrated and an easy listen. It's a gentle story overall, sad and bittersweet and does hit home with some small truths.