The Hand That First Held Mine

O’Farrell opens the novel with a quote from Matthew Arnold: “And we forget because we must.” Aside from the theme of The Effect of Trauma on Memory, what does the novel suggest about the nature of memory in relationships? Consider especially Innes’s near perfect memory and the contrasts between what Elina and Ted remember about their relationship.

What role does the omniscient narrator serve? Where does the text slip into omniscient narration, and what is the significance of this?

Discuss the politics of relationships in the novel. Does the novel present marriage as desirable or necessary for romantic relationships or parenthood? Why or why not?