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First Love

By Gwendoline Riley
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3.26 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 2,636 ratings, 427 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
First Love by Gwendoline Riley delves into the complexities of a tumultuous relationship. It captures the emotional turbulence and psychological intensity shared between the protagonist Neve and her older husband Edwyn. The narrative intricately explores themes of love, memory, and the often-painful dynamics of intimate relationships.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate emotionally complex narratives that delve into the intricacies of relationships. It offers a keen exploration of love, power dynamics, and personal introspection, presenting a vivid portrayal of characters who navigate the shadows between intimacy and isolation. If you favour introspective and poignant storytelling that challenges perceptions of partnership, this book could be an engaging read for you.

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SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILEYS WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2017 and GOLDSMITHS PRIZE 2017 - A tightly-wound, razor-sharp novel that questions our competing desires for intimacy and for freedom.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILEYS WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2017; THE DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE; THE GORDON BURN PRIZE; AND WINNER OF THE GEOFFREY FABER MEMORIAL PRIZE 2018

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Shortlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 2017

First Love follows Neve, a writer in her mid-30s, married to an older man, Edwyn. For now, they are in a place of relative peace, but their past battles have left scars. As Neve recalls the decisions that led her to this marriage, she narrates stories of other loves and other debts, from her bullying father and self-involved mother to a musician who manipulated her, along with her successive lonely journeys from place to place.

Drawing the reader into the battleground of her relationship, Neve spins a story of helplessness and hostility, an ongoing conflict in which both husband and wife have played a part. Yet, amidst the turmoil, the question remains: is this, nonetheless, also a story of love?

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

First Love by Gwendoline Riley has been generally well-received, praised for its compelling narrative and raw exploration of a troubled relationship. Critics highlight Riley's skill in capturing the nuances of emotional abuse and the complexities of intimate human connections. The novel's prose is often described as succinct and impactful, with some noting its ability to provoke strong emotional reactions despite its brevity.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781783783243

Publisher: Granta Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 September 2017

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Granta Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 130g

Pages: 176

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Gwendoline Riley Literary Fiction

About the Author

Gwendoline Riley was born in London in 1979. She is the author of the novels Cold Water, Sick Notes, Joshua Spassky and Opposed Positions. Her writing has won a Betty Trask Award and a Somerset Maugham Award, and has been shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. First Love was shortlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 2017.

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