Winner of the 2010 Costa Novel Award, THE HAND THAT FIRST HELD MINE is a gorgeously written story of love and motherhood, a tour de force from one of our best loved novelists

When the sophisticated Innes Kent turns up on her doorstep, Lexie Sinclair realises she cannot wait any longer for her life to begin, and leaves for London. There, at the heart of the 1950s Soho art scene, she carves out a new life. In the present day, Elina and Ted are reeling from the difficult birth of their first child. Elina struggles to reconcile the demands of motherhood with sense of herself as an artist, and Ted is disturbed by memories of his own childhood that don't tally with his parents' version of events. As Ted begins to search for answers, an extraordinary portrait of two women is revealed, separated by fifty years, but connected in ways that neither could ever have expected.

My thoughts
I loved loved LOVED this book. Fantastic characters I could picture in my head easily and two great stories which merge into one as it all unfolds. I found it so touching, and even shed a little tear. I think this would work so well as a film or a drama. I'd love to see Lexie and Innes' Soho brought to life on the big or small screen.

Taking along to a little gathering in Beaconsfield on Thursday 10th January :0)

Won in the bookswap game at tonight's wee gathering at the White Hart. Strong recommendation from Beqi - looks good :-)

I've not read any Maggie O'Farrell before. I love the way she writes and the characters she creates, convincing and complex. This is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster and not at all what I expected. I found myself wondering how on earth the two stories were in any way connected, but the link is gradually and subtly introduced. An exploration of relationships - attraction, loss and the power of memory. I loved the evocation of a past era and place and what it tells us about how the roles of men and women have changed over the last 50 years.

Taking to this Sunday's meet up at The Bell

Not as bad as first feared.

Left in the entrance foyer of the training centre.

Didn't my enjoy the style Of writing to begin with but soon got used it.Not my usual type of book but lovely story and I enjoyed it.