Lexie Sinclair, young, singularly independent, ruled by her head but susceptible to an impulse from the heart, leaves her Devon home in the mid-1950s to work in London on the arts magazine elsewhere. Her boss is Innes Kent, suave and sophisticated art collector, at home in bohemian Soho, and it's clear from the off that an affair between the two is inevitable. As Lexie moves up in the world from office girl to respected journalist, it is her relationships which will determine not just her fate but that of others connected to her.
The second strand of Maggie O'Farrell's The Hand That First Held Mine is set in the present day where new mother Elina is struggling to cope with her baby after a very difficult birth. Her partner Ted is keen to help but he is troubled by strange flashbacks and memories of something and someone which are not part of his 'received' childhood. The key line here is the epigraph, Matthew Arnold's "And we forget because we must".
The two stories are obviously linked, but in what way? There are tantalising crossings of paths, but otherwise there's a large gap which must be bridged - how will that be achieved? Let's just say that it is done with finesse and skill, and all is resolved most satisfactorily.
In addition to the central mystery of the story, both narratives are quite compelling. What is most striking, though, is the deftness of the writing - its apparent effortlessness. It's like watching a pianist's fingers flying over the keys, executing fast and intricate runs with never a wrong note. In that sense it's a 'light' book, by which I mean reading it is like travelling with the wind behind you - the author has done her job so beautifully that the reader is driven gently through the story; no puffing and panting up the inclines, just coasting downhill all the way.
This has gone straight on my books of the year list, and I'm now keen to read all Maggie O'Farrell's other novels. Can you recommend a favourite?
I have never read any Maggie O'Farrell but this looks fantastic - I am writing it down on my 'to get from the library list'!
Posted by: Bloomsbury Bell | 17 August 2010 at 10:25 AM
Her first novel, After You'd Gone, absolutely floored me. Brilliant book. I still find myself pressing it into people's hands years after I read it.
That aside, for me there is a curious trend in MOF's novels. I only seem to enjoy her every other book. So, I adored her first, didn't like her second AT ALL, really liked her third (The Distance Between Us), wasn't all that struck on number four. By that reckoning, then, I will love this. I have it at home, atop Mount TBR.
Posted by: Kirsty | 17 August 2010 at 10:40 AM
She's a corking writer but my favourite of hers is The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox which has the extra bonus of being set in Edinburgh! All are brilliant and you could just work your way through all of them. Afer YOu'd Gone is terrific.
Posted by: adele geras | 17 August 2010 at 11:05 AM
I would second Adele. After You'd Gone and the Vanishing Act... are excellent. I so agree with your post and her ease of writing.
Posted by: Claire | 17 August 2010 at 12:34 PM
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox and After you'd gone are my two favorates also. Edinburgh gets a look in too in After you'd gone and The Distance between us. Really looking forward to reading this latest book with anticipation.
Posted by: henrietta | 17 August 2010 at 02:32 PM
As almost everyone else has said, AFTER YOU'D GONE and THE VANISHING ACT of ESME LENNOX. Both are quite wonderful.
And what a strange piece of serendipity ... I had time to look at your blog today for the first time in two thousand years, and I've just finished reading THE HAND THAT FIRST HELD MINE (yesterday). I agree with everything you say. She is a magician of a writer and it is a wonderful book.
Posted by: Angela Young | 17 August 2010 at 02:42 PM
I have to concur with everyone who hs mentioned The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, its just superb. It was my first foray into O'Farrell and I thought it was quite, quite brilliant.
Posted by: Simon (Savidge Reads) | 17 August 2010 at 02:55 PM
I so enjoyed The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox.I was delighted to find others who had read the book so |I could talk about what they thought. I am really looking forward to The Hand That Once Held Mine.
Posted by: anne | 17 August 2010 at 05:30 PM
I've become a great fan of Maggie O'Farrell's so am glad you enjoyed this Cornflower! I've enjoyed each of her novels, but I think my favourite so far is After You'd Gone.
Posted by: Sarah | 18 August 2010 at 12:01 AM
I have read all her books but would particularly recommend After you'd Gone and The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox - both brilliant reads (plenty of tissues required for After you'd Gone!)
Posted by: Alison | 18 August 2010 at 11:14 AM
I think I like The Distance Between Us slightly better than The Hand, and both slightly better than Esme. Thankfully I have two other O'Farrells in the TBR.
Posted by: Thomas at My Porch | 18 August 2010 at 05:24 PM
Will chime in and say that I agree that After You'd Gone is a wonderful read!
Posted by: Danielle | 18 August 2010 at 05:49 PM
Loved this one and Esme Lennox and Kirsty has been nagging me about After You'd Gone for ever now so perhaps I'll read that next.
Posted by: dovegreyreader | 19 August 2010 at 01:24 PM
It has to be After You'd Gone. A wonderful and moving story with well-conjured London/ Scotland settings. Afterwards I read all of Maggie's other books and became a kind of Maggie-dealer to my friends.
Posted by: Essy | 19 August 2010 at 02:18 PM
I am super looking forward to reading this. So many have recommended, and now you! :D
Posted by: claire (kiss a cloud) | 19 August 2010 at 05:59 PM
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox is my favourite. Shall certainly read this new one. She had become one of my 'definite buy' authors.
Posted by: Susie Vereker | 20 August 2010 at 08:01 AM