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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
I am not sure, what to think of this book. The plot is quite ingenious, but sometimes the style felt forced. He takes the perspective of two persons very distinct of himself and I am not sure he hits the mark all of the time. Still an enjoyable, intriguing, and fear-installing story.
If I could it a half star it would be a 2 1/2.
The Good: I read the whole book in one day, so it wasn't boring.
The Bad: Most of my disappointment was due to the way the book was marketed. It created expectations that the book didn't meet.
The Good: I read the whole book in one day, so it wasn't boring.
The Bad: Most of my disappointment was due to the way the book was marketed. It created expectations that the book didn't meet.
I'm glad I read it b/c it was the Seattle Reads books (the public library program). However, it felt to me like it was lacking something, some depth of character or depth of story. I felt like they could have added another 50 pages and gone into the whole thing a little more. I did like the way he told the story from the perspective of 2 different characters.
Beautifully written, powerful story. I could not put it down. The visual imagery created by Chris Cleave's writing style has left a lasting memory.
DNF @ 55%, Skimmed through to end.
I WILL NOT TELL YOU MUCH ABOUT THIS BOOK.
There was nothing special about this story and there is nothing to spoil.
Nevertheless, read it if you must, but before you do I feel compelled to say this:
It is extremely funny that the author/editor would find this book 'extremely funny'. I found it attempting melodrama and the African beach scene, while attempting to be horrific, played out like a bad movie, attempting to make us feel something by shocking us with a awfully written telling of a 'horrific' event. My emotions reading that scene probably weren't what was aimed for, and not because I'm an unfeeling person, quite the opposite, I felt manipulated and forced.
The story starts there, but the book doesn't live up to its hype.
And it's what happens afterward that is most important, and yet, I couldn't find myself caring for the characters. Little Bee was ignorantly voiced, as were all the 'Black' voices and that annoyed me. Has this author EVER had a long conversation with anyone from Nigeria or Jamaica?? His writing in 'native tongue' was insulting and disgusting. Sarah was boring and whiny, and her life falling apart was almost comedic, in the most pathetic of ways. I didn't know enough about Andrew to care about his story. Lawrence was... sigh... just awful. And what the hell was up with 'Batman'??
Once you have read it, you'll want to chuck it across the room and curse the author (luckily I got this from the library and didn't waste my money on it). When you do, even though I warned you not to, please tell everyone else not to waste their time. The magic is there is no magic. What a waste of time.
I will not look to this author for reading material again.
I WILL NOT TELL YOU MUCH ABOUT THIS BOOK.
There was nothing special about this story and there is nothing to spoil.
Nevertheless, read it if you must, but before you do I feel compelled to say this:
It is extremely funny that the author/editor would find this book 'extremely funny'. I found it attempting melodrama and the African beach scene, while attempting to be horrific, played out like a bad movie, attempting to make us feel something by shocking us with a awfully written telling of a 'horrific' event. My emotions reading that scene probably weren't what was aimed for, and not because I'm an unfeeling person, quite the opposite, I felt manipulated and forced.
The story starts there, but the book doesn't live up to its hype.
And it's what happens afterward that is most important, and yet, I couldn't find myself caring for the characters. Little Bee was ignorantly voiced, as were all the 'Black' voices and that annoyed me. Has this author EVER had a long conversation with anyone from Nigeria or Jamaica?? His writing in 'native tongue' was insulting and disgusting. Sarah was boring and whiny, and her life falling apart was almost comedic, in the most pathetic of ways. I didn't know enough about Andrew to care about his story. Lawrence was... sigh... just awful. And what the hell was up with 'Batman'??
Once you have read it, you'll want to chuck it across the room and curse the author (luckily I got this from the library and didn't waste my money on it). When you do, even though I warned you not to, please tell everyone else not to waste their time. The magic is there is no magic. What a waste of time.
I will not look to this author for reading material again.
It was an entertaining enough read, but it falls flat in so many places. Sometimes you read a book and you just feel like it should take your breath away, and that's what I expected from this book. Unfortunately it just seems to fall apart.
Very boring. I admit I did not finish this book. blech.
I loved reading this book. It was well-written from the perspective of two very different women. I was surprised that it was a page-turner, as the subject material was extremely dark.
This is a very absorbing and compelling read, but I'm a little stumped as to what message Cleave is trying to convey through this work. The overriding theme seems to be that the longer developed nations continue to turn a blind eye to the severe poverty and horrifying strife they helped to create in many parts of Africa, the more inevitable it is that we will eventually reap what we have sown in our own back yards. However, there seem to be other hugely important points being made about, among other things, the shocking treatment of refugees in the co-called "civilized" world, the deliberate suppression of information by powerful and rich corporations, and ultimately, what responsibility one human being bears for another.
If I had to guess, I would say that I believe Cleave is making the case for literature being the vehicle for positive change - that telling a story can change the world. When I think of that, though, I think of a very compelling talk I saw by Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie on TED.com, called "The Danger of a Single Story." As I read this book, I kept thinking, "this is the definition of a single story."
If I had to guess, I would say that I believe Cleave is making the case for literature being the vehicle for positive change - that telling a story can change the world. When I think of that, though, I think of a very compelling talk I saw by Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie on TED.com, called "The Danger of a Single Story." As I read this book, I kept thinking, "this is the definition of a single story."
Loved it, loved it, loved it! This is a story about a Nigerian refugee and a white British woman and how their lives get entangled.