The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell

"An intricate story of two women whose lives, loves and lies all coalsece into one of the most satisfying and shocking plot twists I've come across in awhile. O'Farrel's style is quick and immersive and once the story grabs you, you don't want to let go. This was a great read and I'm eager to see what else O'Farrell has to offer."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pros: O’Farrell has a very immersive style, you’re dropped right into the scene/That plot twist with the Pollack painting was 󠅓fantastic.

Cons: Since you’re seeing things as they happen, sometimes it’s hard to find a good stopping point or you’re afraid you’ll forget what's going on/Innes could be a bit cocky and infuriating at times.

Full Review:

This book follows two storylines. The past where Lexi, a young girl who decides to move to London and start living her life and Elina, who's just recently had an emergency C-section and is having a hard time adapting to life with a newborn.

At first things are a little stilted, it's hard to fit the two narratives together, though they're both entertaining on their own.

Lexi runs into Innes Kent again, the man who was more or less the reason she moved to London. He'd been having car troubles and they had a brief, flirtatious moment that was soundly interrupted by Lexi's overbaering mother. A few days later, Lexi finds a note from Innes in the hedge and that decides it. She's going to London and starting her life. And once she meets up with Innes again things will never tbe the same.

Meanwhile, in the present day, Elina and her boyfriend, Ted, are struggling. Neither of them is sleeping, Ted is constantly worried about Elina because of the horrifyingly difficult birth. Elina is constantly worried about the baby. They're both stressed, exhausted and strangely enough, Ted has started having memories, almost flashbacks of his childhood that he's had no memory of before. It's disconcerting and as the story progresses becomes more and more alarming.

When the two narratives collide it is with the most satisfying but utter, "Whoa, wait, what" moment and I loved it. I literally blinked, paused and then nodded because it all made perfect sense.

O'Farrell's writing style took a bit of getting used to but once I did, it flowed effortlessly. I didn't just want to know what happened to Lexi, Elina, et al, I needed to know, I was well and truly hooked. O'Farrell grabbed me and refused to let go but I just held on and enjoyed the ride. There were times of true tenderness and love and other moments that had me tearing up. I'm so glad I gave this book a chance and I'm eager to see what else O'Farrell has to offer.

Comments

Animal Farm by George Orwell

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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

"Arnold Spirit, Jr, or "Junior" as he's known on the Rez, does something no Spokane Indian has ever done. He enrolls in Reardon High School and begins the long and often painful process off navigating not only high school and adolescence but also being an outsider. Alexie handles it all with grace, humor and honesty. This was a great read. I would recommend it to anyone." 5 Stars Pros: Alexie handles the ups and downs of not only adolescence, but tragedy and loss in a stark, honest but gut wrenchingly relatable way. Cons: Some of Junior's all-consuming guilt, though understandable was a little repetitive but it's all part of being a teenager. Full Review: It all starts when Arnold Spirit Jr, or Junior, throws a textbook across the classroom. When he opened the book he saw his mother's name, her maiden name and it enrages him. He's furious that the reservation is so poor that they're learning from thirty-year old textbooks. He doesn't...

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