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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

MAGGIE O'FARRELL - AFTER YOU'D GONE



I thought the cover did not do justice to this story but surprisingly so many thought the cover was very nice.  The story starts at the end - Alice sees something that throws her off so very much that she either deliberately steps in front of a moving car or is so taken aback that she does not really know what she is doing. It could be either and we never know.

It is a sort of moment when the compere says "take it away" or something like that because then we begin the actual story of going back in time - a period of over 20 years to find out how/why/what and when things happened which brings you to the event of the day.

We have Ann and Ben Alice's parents and then we have siblings - from the very onset it is remarked and mentioned that Alice is different - not just physically but in temperament poles apart and you get an inkling that this may be the pivot on which this story spins. 

I cannot go on as it will be a spoiler for anyone who wants to read it but the story is one of family, love - lots of it -, heartbreak, grief loads of it and how one does survive. It turned me upside down as well because the grief is so near the surface and one you could always empathize with. The love I could easily manage! it was the sadness that upset me.

A beautifully written book. Ms O'Farrel has written five books - I've now read two of them. I am definitely looking out for the rest.

4 comments:

  1. I know I've read one of her other novels but the title escapes me at the moment. I'll add this to my list as I'm intrigued by your review.

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  2. I haven't read any books by this author, but this one does look intriguing!!

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  3. Sounds intriguing - I like the idea of startin at the end and then working backwards.

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  4. Sounds like a lovely read Mystica - thanks for sharing it

    Shelleyrae @ Book'd out

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