This book is about two women who come into contact in a rather terrible way. One, Sarah, goes on to continue with her ordinary privileged life, while the other, Little Bee, runs in order to save her life, and ends up a detained asylum seeker. Two years later, they come into contact again, where this story begins.
I have no idea how to review this book without spoiling it. I mostly just want to tell you to go buy it and read it now, but I like to be more detailed than that.
So first, I will say, I had my doubts about the author. Chris Cleave is a white male reporter, and the narrators of the book are women. One of them is an illegal immigrant from Nigeria, and I had no idea how the author was going to make her believable. But he did, and I honestly forgot that the author of the book was a white guy. Little Bee was an incredibly compelling character and I just loved her voice. It seemed perfect to me as she drew me into this story that is half horrific and half hopeful. My heart broke and then I smiled two pages later. She’s an amazing character, and both she and Sarah, the other woman, are so fantastically well drawn.
Even when finishing I had my doubts about the authenticity of the narrative. Even though the story was beyond powerful, I didn’t know if this sort of thing actually happened. And then I saw that Little Bee’s character was based on interviews of real women, and many of the incidents described especially in the beginning were taken from reality, even though this story itself and the locations mentioned are largely fictional. I can’t even describe how sad this made me.
It also made me angry. This is a book that will make you want to change the world. It’s a book about how many people are wrong, and even though we like to think we’re doing things right, maybe we’re not. But maybe we are – and maybe we can do better if we try. It’s about the strength that individual people have, and how seeing and loving makes a difference. It left me with tears on my face (a rare occurrence) but I still had hope. I hope that people like this can actually exist. These characters spoke to me so deeply that I wanted to be like them, I wanted to know I would make the sacrifices that they did.
I loved The Other Hand and right now, it’s my favorite book of the year.
I am an Amazon Associate. This book is known as Little Bee in the US. I purchased this book.
I loved this book! It was one of my favourite reads last year, so I’m really pleased that you enjoyed it too. I recently bought Incendiary and am hoping that it is just as good.
.-= Jackie (Farm Lane Books)´s last blog ..My favourite author: David Mitchell =-.
I absolutely loved this book too! I am very anxious to discuss it later today because I think we are going to have a very interesting meeting. I think this book might polarize us!
Wow! Fabulous review. I can’t wait for our discussion — I felt that the important human rights issues were lost behind the stories of three people whom I didn’t like. I wonder if I will feel the same about the book after our meeting.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Featuring . . . The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zama =-.
Your review is fantastic! I loved this book too and think we’re going to have a great discussion today.
I really really need to read something by Chris Cleave. I have heard such wonderful things about Little Bee, and I really think it will offer me a perspective (and a subject) that I generally don’t see in my regular fiction choices. So glad you enjoyed it so much!
.-= Steph´s last blog ..What We Watched: Feb 8 – March 5 =-.
Have you ever read any Nigerian authors? Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is one of my fave authors ever, and Helen Oyeyemi and Chris Abani are both incredible too.
.-= Eva´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: the High Gear Post =-.
This sounds like a powerful but hard book. I’m glad you made peace with the author’s perspective and voice.
.-= Pam´s last blog ..[TSS] I love the 60’s…the 1860’s =-.
Crazy coincidence – I just purchased Little Bee today. I didn’t read your review too closely because I plan on reading it soon. I’ll be back to see what you have to say. Just saying it’s the best book of the year thus far is quite a compliment.
.-= Literate Housewife´s last blog ..Ready, Set, March! =-.
I was just about say I saw a book titled Little Bee in the bookstore-is it related to this one?
And what’s an asylum seeker?
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Novels & Gender =-.
Oh, wait, I know what it is now. Duh, Tasha.
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Novels & Gender =-.
I really enjoyed this. I did feel slightly gulty for chuckling at some bits, considering the subject matter.
I read incendiary too, and thought that was slightly better, although just as horrific.
.-= jo´s last blog ..The Bird Room by Chris Killen =-.
Powerful review! I know how sometimes books can really have that kind of super strong impact on you – making you wish you could live with the characters, be like them, know them, be changed by them. And that’s definitely one of the reasons I read – so I can be introduced to those characters.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Book Blogger Hop =-.
This book is really dividing people, isn’t it? Seems to be a love it or ‘eh’ it sort of book, nobody seems to think it is good but not great.
.-= Jen – Devourer of Books´s last blog ..The Scarlet Lion – Book Review =-.
Did this book ever go by another title? I ask because one of the characters and the story seem very familiar to me, but the book I am thinking of had a different title. I think it was called Little Bee. I have been interested in the book since I have read several great reviews of it, and the fact that you loved it so much sways me over the edge. I am going to try to pick up a copy soon….as soon as I get the title situation all figured out!
.-= zibilee´s last blog ..Raven Stole the Moon, Review and Giveaway** by Garth Stein – 464 pgs =-.
This one has been pretty heavily promoted in my local Waterstones, but I didn’t really know much about it.
Sounds an amazing book though, so I’ll definitely look out or it next time I’m in there.
.-= Darren @ Bart’s Bookshelf´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday =-.
I’ll admit that since I knew I wouldn’t be able to be at the book discussion I haven’t yet read LITTLE BEE (or it’s across-the-pond twin, THE OTHER HAND). People seem to come down on one side or another with this book; I’ll take your “go out and buy it” recommendation.
.-= Dawn – She is Too Fond of Books´s last blog ..Book Review: *The Opposite of Me* by Sarah Pekkanen =-.