Baba's Reviews > The Other Hand
The Other Hand
by
Although almost fantasy like at times with the plot directions and some of the supporting cast, Cleave paints a bleak (true?) view of the British immigration system and an even better critique of how we in the West could be at the root of some of the violence in the Developing World through secondary and tertiary actions resulting from the demands of our global corporations. The hub of the book, and what makes it special, is that alternate chapters are taken from the points of view of Little Bee and Sarah, using their human (female) experience to really tell this story.
Is this book essentially about how the West itself creates the migration of refugees from the developing world.. or is it about the commonalities and friendship between an illegal Nigerian refugee and an English couple after suffering a linked traumatic episode! This feels like a book written by a middle aged man, in the voices of two women, where he had to truly empathise and learn to see the world through their eyes to make this book as good as it is. On this reread I had to increase my rating by a point to 9 out of 12, Four Star Read.
2021 and 2009 review
by
Baba's review
bookshelves: contemporary
Mar 23, 2020
bookshelves: contemporary
Read 2 times. Last read April 22, 2021 to April 23, 2021.
Although almost fantasy like at times with the plot directions and some of the supporting cast, Cleave paints a bleak (true?) view of the British immigration system and an even better critique of how we in the West could be at the root of some of the violence in the Developing World through secondary and tertiary actions resulting from the demands of our global corporations. The hub of the book, and what makes it special, is that alternate chapters are taken from the points of view of Little Bee and Sarah, using their human (female) experience to really tell this story.
Is this book essentially about how the West itself creates the migration of refugees from the developing world.. or is it about the commonalities and friendship between an illegal Nigerian refugee and an English couple after suffering a linked traumatic episode! This feels like a book written by a middle aged man, in the voices of two women, where he had to truly empathise and learn to see the world through their eyes to make this book as good as it is. On this reread I had to increase my rating by a point to 9 out of 12, Four Star Read.
2021 and 2009 review
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Reading Progress
June 2, 2009
–
Started Reading
June 7, 2009
–
Finished Reading
March 23, 2020
– Shelved
March 23, 2020
– Shelved as:
contemporary
April 22, 2021
–
Started Reading
April 23, 2021
–
Finished Reading
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P.B.
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09 déc. 2023 15:41
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Thanks PB. it not only humanises 'illegal' immigrants, it takes a long hard look at the causes of emigration from the Developing World, and the West's role in fermenting it. It's also a great story :)
Thank you Mimi; it is the type of book that I think a reader will get a new insight from :)
Thanks Rosh, I do feel that that is the ultimate test of any book, its re-read-ability :)
As ever, thank you Yun :)