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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
An extraordinary book of a young illegal immigrant from Nigeria and of the white (British) woman who wants to save her. Beautifully written, smart as a whip, often funny-- charming and infuriating. The only flaw is the improbable ending.
novel about 2 worlds colliding--a girl from Nigeria meets a husband and wife from Britain on holiday in Nigeria, the girl escapes to Britain and is held in a detention cell for 2 years, when she gets out she goes to see the couple, whose lives have also changed
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder
Minor: Excrement
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can see where this book could be divisive as it provides fault to almost every character. They are not moral paragons or even likeable in many circumstances (even the author admits he didn’t like Sarah much through the process). However, this is delves deep into questions about what we would quantifiably do to save the life of someone we don’t know. To me, the examination long distance sympathy versus the reality of someone from these countries that we “white-saviorize” in our heads showing up on our doorstep was interesting, and I liked the open endedness of the book. Little Bee will sit with me for a long while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation
Gorgeous, haunting story. A slightly vague, disappointing ending, but totally worth a read.
I feel like this book might be more of a 2 1/2. I enjoyed reading it -- particularly at the beginning -- and felt drawn to the story and the plight of the refugees. I think the biggest thing that bothered me was the claim on the back of the book that revealing anything at all about the story would ruin it for the reader. As I read, I couldn't help but keep thinking, "That could have been on the back -- interesting without revealing too much." The story was not that earth-shattering. And the back of the book set me up for something much grander.
The author did surprise me multiple times as I was reading, which was great. And I felt like the storytelling was a a creative way to unfold the story. But somehow the characters sometimes didn't ring true for me.
The author did surprise me multiple times as I was reading, which was great. And I felt like the storytelling was a a creative way to unfold the story. But somehow the characters sometimes didn't ring true for me.
Spoiler
And I was frustrated by the ending -- it angered me to think of it all ending the way it did. The hubris of the mother (forgot her name already) to think her presence alone would save Little Bee (while at the same time risking her son's life). And the fact that they went to the beach because of a dream Little Bee had -- the use of dreams to resolve books never really satisfies me.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I don't know how a white dude wrote the voices a sixteen-year-old Nigerian refugee girl and a thirty-two-year-old Surrey born magazine editor woman and mother so well, but he nailed it. This is one of those books where not much happens at all, but so much happens throughout. The pages turn easily; the dialogue is so realistic that you fail to notice you're reading dialogue; every scene is believable that you don't even have to 'buy in' to anything. As a writer, I was pretty much jealous of Chris Cleave the entire time. I think that says enough.
I liked the story, really I did, but I didn't love it. The plot was a little too all over the place, and the characters just didn't feel realistic to me. Especially Sarah.
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes