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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
How did I miss this engrossing novel when my 3B Book Club read it several years ago? Published in 2008, Little Bee served a purpose; instilling genuine compassion for refugees. Such is the power of stories.
I particularly enjoyed the Author Q&A at the end of the novel. Christopher Cleave wrote, "Life is savagely unfair. It ignores our deep-seated convictions and places a disproportionate emphasis on the decisions we make in split seconds."
I like that he put "savagely" in there because it is the strongest word to express how unfair life gets.
Cleave, who is British, also wrote that Americans are going to understand this story quicker than a lot of British people will. "You have an extraordinary history of immigrants coming to America - either forcibly or voluntarily- and striving to find their place within it…This is a story that is written deep in your national identity, and my own country would be better off if we took a page out of your book."
When Cleave wrote this in the past decade, was it from a scholarly admiration of U.S. History, or an attempt to brown nose Americans into buying his book? (We Americans do like to be flattered) Either way, little did Cleave know what was coming just around the corner for America; a decade ridden by internal strife in which immigration was a polarizing topic that pitted American against American in public discourse. Lest we forget, United States of America, the greatest country, was built by people with Little Bee’s essence.
That is why the ending was just unbearable.
A few plot- related questions, though…
1. If Andrew was not going to chop his own finger off, why didn't he hold on to the machete to defend himself, his wife and the girls? While he was at it, why didn't he make a split second decision attempt to grab the guard's gun before the goon had a chance to react? In the most dangerous of circumstances when death seems imminent, aggressively fighting back makes for better odds of survival.
2. When Charlie went missing, did that despicable Lawrence purposely give the phone to Little Bee, and demand she call the police, knowing that it would inevitably lead to deportation for her? Further yet, did he somehow stage Charlie’s disappearance to manipulate that situation?
3. Forget research for a book. Forget collecting stories for the time being. Forget a sentimental excursion to coastal Nigeria. Highest priority should have been squaring everything away legally for Little Bee. Resources of time and money needed to go towards immigration lawyers, and getting through the complex immigration process for Little Bee. Only when Little Bee’s status was secured would it be safe to research, to collect stories and to confront the past.
I particularly enjoyed the Author Q&A at the end of the novel. Christopher Cleave wrote, "Life is savagely unfair. It ignores our deep-seated convictions and places a disproportionate emphasis on the decisions we make in split seconds."
I like that he put "savagely" in there because it is the strongest word to express how unfair life gets.
Cleave, who is British, also wrote that Americans are going to understand this story quicker than a lot of British people will. "You have an extraordinary history of immigrants coming to America - either forcibly or voluntarily- and striving to find their place within it…This is a story that is written deep in your national identity, and my own country would be better off if we took a page out of your book."
When Cleave wrote this in the past decade, was it from a scholarly admiration of U.S. History, or an attempt to brown nose Americans into buying his book? (We Americans do like to be flattered) Either way, little did Cleave know what was coming just around the corner for America; a decade ridden by internal strife in which immigration was a polarizing topic that pitted American against American in public discourse. Lest we forget, United States of America, the greatest country, was built by people with Little Bee’s essence.
That is why the ending was just unbearable.
A few plot- related questions, though…
1. If Andrew was not going to chop his own finger off, why didn't he hold on to the machete to defend himself, his wife and the girls? While he was at it, why didn't he make a split second decision attempt to grab the guard's gun before the goon had a chance to react? In the most dangerous of circumstances when death seems imminent, aggressively fighting back makes for better odds of survival.
2. When Charlie went missing, did that despicable Lawrence purposely give the phone to Little Bee, and demand she call the police, knowing that it would inevitably lead to deportation for her? Further yet, did he somehow stage Charlie’s disappearance to manipulate that situation?
3. Forget research for a book. Forget collecting stories for the time being. Forget a sentimental excursion to coastal Nigeria. Highest priority should have been squaring everything away legally for Little Bee. Resources of time and money needed to go towards immigration lawyers, and getting through the complex immigration process for Little Bee. Only when Little Bee’s status was secured would it be safe to research, to collect stories and to confront the past.
Well, I learned about an event in world history that I didn't know happened, which always humbles me. What an ignorant world citizen I am. It was quite graphic and disturbing, however, and while it was certainly not gratuitous violence, it was too much for me. Particularly since I was listening to it on my ride to and from work. I ended up in tears more than once, quickly rubbing my face clean before I entered the building.
As for the characters, I liked Little Bee, but wasn't overly fond of anyone else. And the plot dragged in spots. From a learning perspective, I'm glad I read it, but it didn't do much for me as a story.
As for the characters, I liked Little Bee, but wasn't overly fond of anyone else. And the plot dragged in spots. From a learning perspective, I'm glad I read it, but it didn't do much for me as a story.
This novel fell flat for me. It felt like the author was trying too hard to make something powerful. I wasn’t sold with Little Bee’s voice coming from a white man. It felt like Sarah had white savior complex.
So many layers to this devastating book. I found myself angry with both women, at different points, and wondered what on EARTH I would do on a beach with a machete, five men, two girls, and ten fingers. The cost of white guilt, the cost of choosing not to know the truth, or tell the truth. Affairs, suicide, refuge, terror, knowing in every room how to kill yourself before the men can get to you. Also a potty-training presechooler, and the United Kingdom, and the flavor of tea, and journalism. This is an exceptional book. Gorgeously written. The descriptions of sunlight, the way Little Bee speaks the Queen's English and Sarah is not embarrassed to be in love with her lover.
Highly, highly recommend.
Highly, highly recommend.
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation
Moderate: Rape
Like others have said, I wanted to like this book. The first third was good, but it started a slow and laborious slide downhill. I wasn't ever quite sure why the author included the character of Lawrence. He was unnecessary. I also felt that the author didn't do a good job of writing about emotions. There were a lot of tears both for sadness and happiness however Cleave didn't really tell us more than there were tears rolling down checks. It felt flat. It was a great plot but not a great book.
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A really enjoyable read, as I suspect any book that includes a four year old who refuses to wear anything but a Batman costume and to be referred to as Batman might be. I'm going with three stars instead of four because things fell apart for me a little at the end; Cleave's strength is in his mordant observations of the minutiae of modern life, in this case as observed through the very proper English of a Nigerian refugee, and the pace of the last chapter or two leaves no room for the original, completely engaging prose of the rest of the novel. Nonetheless, I'd recommend it to a friend.
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
informative
An interesting plot with well defined characters. An interesting insight into Nigeria and detention centres