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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 Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Emotion

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

Good story, exceptional reading by Samantha Bond.

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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.

Dear Maggie

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

Enjoyable hadn’t realised this was abridged

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

Spellbinding

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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.

A wonderful listen

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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.

Consummate narration

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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.

Brought to life by Samantha Bond’s narration

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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.

Wonderfully read

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