The Other Hand aka Little Bee

The cover of this novel says only one thing about the plot: two women’s lives collide one day when one has to make a terrible choice. Two years later, they meet again. This is where the story starts.

This is a novel which doesn’t want you to know about it before you read it. That’s somewhat difficult- how do you know you want to read it? (My tip was the Staff Recommendation from my local bookstore). I can say this: You do want to read this novel. It’s powerful, provocative, mesmerising. There are moments when your breath will hold and your heart will beat in anticipation. You know this novel is not going to end the way you hope it will, yet you cannot pull away…

Without giving anything away, this is the story of two women who are strong in every way you can imagine. Little Bee is a Nigerian refugee; Sarah is a British journalist and mother. ‘United they stand, divided they fall’ is the phrase that springs to mind when speaking of their relationship. Fate brings them together in unimaginable ways.

There is so much I want to say about this story yet I won’t. You need to discover the intertwining secrets for yourself. The cover describes this as “magic” but it is far from any definition of magic I know; perhaps the magic of the human desires for freedom and survival?

I cannot praise this book highly enough. It weaves the story around you until you are but a witness to your imagination. I will say this though: if anyone out there has a book club- read this book. Form a facebook group and let me participate!

The Other Hand (known as Little Bee in the US) by Chris Cleave. You won’t want to put it down.