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The Hand That First Held Mine

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The Hand That First Held Mine

By: Maggie O'Farrell
Narrated by: Samantha Bond
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About this listen

A gorgeously written story of love and motherhood with stunning emotional punch - this is Maggie O'Farrell doing what she does better than anyone.This is the story of two women - Lexie and Elina, a journalist and a painter - separated by fifty years, but linked by a story of love, family secrets and deception, that touches powerfully on the theme of motherhood. It is acclaimed and bestselling author Maggie O'Farrell's most emotionally satisfying novel to date.

©2010 Maggie O'Farrell (P)2010 Headline Audiobooks
Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction
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What listeners say about The Hand That First Held Mine

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Good story, exceptional reading by Samantha Bond.

Samantha Bond was excellent. The story is good but took me a while to get into it and care about the characters.

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Enjoyable hadn’t realised this was abridged

Excellent narration.
Very different genre to The Marriage Portrait!
Good story.
Right, what’s next then?!

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Dear Maggie

I know you are a professional and by now quite used to gushing reviews from your readers/listeners, but.....
You are so bloody good ! That ending was sublime. The story quite complicated until you worked your magic.
Samantha Bond, quite amazing.
Thank you both.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Spellbinding

Maggie O’Farrell just ‘gets’ life and people. It is always such a joy to read her work.

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A wonderful listen

A totally absorbing tale of motherhood. I cried and smiled. The juxtaposition between the two families was fascinating and I did work out the relationship. Beautifully written and narrated.

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Consummate narration

Samantha Bond is a brilliant narrator, as you would expect from such an actor. I recognised one line in the story lifted from "The L-shaped Room", the midwife's comment at the birth.

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1 person found this helpful

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Brought to life by Samantha Bond’s narration

This book was so beautifully read by Samantha Bond that I felt part of it. As a mother myself & having worked as a midwife & health visitor, Maggie O’Farrell’s descriptions of the responsibilities of having a new baby to care for, particularly after a difficult birth experience are crafted to perfection. How she weaves the lives of the main characters together is addictive as you gradually realise how the relationships have evolved. I loved this book & became totally immersed in the narrative.

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Wonderfully read

I struggled to keep up with who was who several times, but that happens when I'm listening while working.

Lovely but incredibly sad story, had me crying at the end.

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