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Loading... When I First Held Youby Anstey Harris
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"In 1960s Glasgow, anti-nuclear activists Judith and Jimmy fall in love. But their future hopes are dashed when their protestors' squat is raided and many, including Jimmy, are sent to prison. Pregnant and with no word from Jimmy, Judith is forced to enter an unmarried mothers' home, give up their baby and learn to live with her grief. More than half a century later, Judith's Mending Shop restores broken treasures, just as Judith herself has been bound back together by her late, much-missed partner, Catherine. But her tranquillity is shattered when Jimmy--so different and yet somehow the same--reappears, yearning to unpick the painful past. Realising they each know only half of the other's story, Jimmy and Judith finally break the silence that tore apart what might have been their family. Amid heartbreak and hope, how much can now be mended?"-- No library descriptions found. |
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When I First Held You is a journey of emotional, historical and personal discovery for both its characters and its readers, so I am loathe to pre-empt its several ‘reveals’ in this review. Instead, I will discuss the elements I found most striking and impactful about this story’s execution.
With a captivating alternating first-person narrative, Harris cleverly dials up the volume of the female voice and perspective, specifically incorporating that of a younger generation, that which was historically ‘unheard’. But she does so metaphorically… there is no shouting. And, most importantly, she does so without diminishing the male characters. (In fact, they are wonderful also.) Regardless of gender, their power stems from purpose of action, compassion, endurance and resilience. From seeking to better understand their own, and others motivations; and from supporting each other. Continue reading: https://www.bookloverbookreviews.com/2023/02/when-i-first-held-you-anstey-harris... ( )