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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
Incredibly addictive. Although the ending seems a little abrupt, it also seems very appropriate. I appreciate the subject matter and that is why I did just like the mass of reviews told me to... talk about it with all my friends and pass it on.
Non-stop action, this book keeps you deeply enthralled. I was, however, challenged by what did not appear to be deep research by the white author on his Nigerian characters. Perhaps the timing of my reading this book immediately after finishing Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is part of what made this incredibly apparent to me. The depth of the Nigerian characters was limited to their experience in war, colored by very little other personal characteristics. This is typical of white western authors telling the single story of how awful conditions are in Africa - and it felt uncomfortable and apparent throughout.
While the story kept me captured, it made me question who gets to write stories about various cultures. The book I was reading had a review comparing it to "The Kite Runner" - yet how can anyone compare a white author writing about Nigerian refugees to Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini writing about what he knows, experienced, grew up with?
This book is an example of how we as readers can question intention, appropriateness, and representation when choosing authors to support and their books to read.
While the story kept me captured, it made me question who gets to write stories about various cultures. The book I was reading had a review comparing it to "The Kite Runner" - yet how can anyone compare a white author writing about Nigerian refugees to Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini writing about what he knows, experienced, grew up with?
This book is an example of how we as readers can question intention, appropriateness, and representation when choosing authors to support and their books to read.
Doesn't live up to the hype of "oh my god I can't tellyou what it's about!!!" I see no reason to hide from people that this is the story of a Nigerian teenage refugee who seeks out the British couple she encounters on a fateful day in her home country. It spoils nothing. Overall, this story has a lot of easy tricks, nothing suprising or "new". Still, a pleasant way to spend my Sunday afternoon, and a lovely passage about the human spirit towards the end.
If your find Little Bee disturbing, it’s because these events, these moments, these people really exist. Chris Cleave based this story on his actual time spent working with asylum seekers. The story may be fiction, but the events are someone’s reality. Characters may enter and leave with abruptness, but that is their life.
Little Bee had a strong beginning with excellent character and plot development. However, it lost its depth and direction about halfway through. Had so much potential, but ended up just hovering around mediocrity.
So I found this book very challenging to read, both because the author tries to emphasize the foreign dialect of one of the characters, and because of the subject matter. The author wants the plot of the book to remain a secret and I guess I will play along, although I don't think it REALLY needs to be kept a secret... but I would recommend this book. Just know that it's an emotional read, it might make you tear up or cry, and it kind of haunts you a little bit.
I was very excited to read this book. The concept of the plot was very interesting. The very beginning was intriguing and I immediately was drawn in. However, the next few chapters seemed to go over points that you knew already occurred. And then, just when the book began to pick up again, it seemed to abrudtly end. Overall, I would recommend this to a friend, but I would say that the finished result left you wanting for a conclusion.
great book...was scared because the back of the book didn't give any description as to what it was going to be about, but i was very pleased! If only goodreads made 1/2 stars this would be a 4.5
I remember the first page absolutely captivating me. The language was so beautiful. And as I continued to read, I had very high hopes. But somewhere, the story began to falter. The magic began to disintegrate and the novel became more typical than anything else. The book was entertaining, I did really enjoy reading it. I would even recommend it to others because I did feel the story was unique and powerful. I loved the beginning and I loved the end. It was just the middle that was a problem area (not a beer gut, but rather a sloppy storyline). Some aspects of the story seem to be unnecessary. Cleave surely does love writing female leads who cheat on their husbands, doesn't he? But was it necessary? Did it really help along the story? I suppose I just felt that part was too drawn out. That being said, I applaud this book for touching on the atrocities committed by immigration laws. Read this one if only for its message.