The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell (potential spoiler alert)

[Baconsarnie]

I've just finished it. I was in bits by the end. Absolutely loved it. Anyone else?

it's good isn't it?

read it in about a day, which is unusual for me these days

I have just devoured it, she is definitely back on form. I would heartily recommend it. Did anyone else guess the identity of Ted's stepmother before the big reveal, do you think we were meant to?

I sort of guessed before she revealed it, because we knew Lexie wasn't going to make it to old age so once Theo came into it, I was wondering what would happen to him. I think Maggie O'Farrell is amazing. I don't know how she managed to write the sequence in Lyme Regis, it was sad enough reading it.

First time posting on this thread, but this book has had me gushing.

I loved it so much I wrote her an embarrassing email .

I have to admit I have always considered myself to enjoy books more literary than M O'F [twat emocion] as I read her first one and thought it was rubbish. I've now ordered her last book, Esme something or other, to give that a go. Is it like the hand that first held mine?

The Esme Lennox book is similar in that it has a duel narrative & timeline

It's a good read

i meant dual obviously, but you knew that, right

Ooh, I really wanted to write her an email, did you go via her agent, logrrl? Esme Lennox book is great, but didn't have me crying like THTFHM. More to mull over though, I think.

I've been thinking about writing an e-mail too. Starting with "I don't usually write these kind of e-mails..."

I loved it.

The paragraph about how motherhood changes you was brilliant. I love the phrase "and we put down our heads and keep pushing the pram up the hill".

Loved it.