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Review
'A powerful piece of art... shocking, exciting and deeply affecting...[a] superb novel... Besides sharp, witty dialogue, an emotionally charged plot and the vivid characters' ethical struggles, THE OTHER HAND delivers a timely challenge to reinvigorate our notions of civilized decency.' (Independent 20080823)
'Exquisitely balanced between terrible sadness and brilliant humour.' (Observer 20080804)
'Big themes, high emotion and cliffhangers aplenty... an enormously affecting investigation of love, guilt and global responsibility, told with a bittersweet urgency.' (Justine Jordan, Guardian 20090201)
'Searingly eloquent.' (Daily Mail 20080803)
'An ambitious and fearless gallop from the jungles of Africa via a shocking encounter on a Nigerian beach to the media offices of London and domesticity in leafy suburbia...Cleave immerses the reader in the worlds of his characters with an unshakable confidence. ' (Lawrence Norfolk, Guardian 20080828)
'totally believable... the author has a knack of explaining human suffering... I look forward to his next offering.' (Daily Express 20080320)
'impresses as a feat of literary engineering... the plot exerts a fearsome grip.' (Daily Telegraph 20080320)
'An exhilarating, disturbing read.' (James Urquhart, Independent (Books of the Year) 20090215)
'You stay in thrall to the bittersweet end.' (Scotland on Sunday 20080728)
'It would be hard not to romp through it.' (Financial Times 20090224)
'By turns funny, sad and shocking' (Sainsburys Magazine 20090224)
'The next Kite Runner.' (Library Journal )
'Warm, witty and beautifully written.' (Sunday Tribune )
'In a novel that tackles serious and uncomfortable subject matter, Cleave's writing makes one laugh and despair in equal measure. (4 stars)' (Time Out )
'I felt the same excitement discovering this as I did Marina Lewycka's A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian and Paul Torday's Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. There is an urgency here, an inability to put it down and a deep sense of loss once finished. It is a very special book indeed. Profound, deeply moving and yet light in touch, it explores the nature of loss, hope, love and identity with atrocity its backdrop. Read it and think deeply.' (Sarah Broadhurst, Bookseller )
'Artfully plotted... [a] strong yarn.' (Sunday Telegraph )
'A better book than Chris Cleave's THE OTHER HAND may be published this year, but I wouldn't bet on it. This exquisitely written story of a Nigerian refugee and a British glossy magazine editor is the most powerful novel I've read in a long time. . . it's also a very funny book about brave, funny people who the reader quickly grows to love. . . But the heart of the book is Little Bee; naïve yet insightful and sophisticated, damaged yet capable of great courage and humour, she is an unforgettable character. I finished THE OTHER HAND in tears, and I still can't get it out of my head. Just read it.' (The Gloss )
'Will blow you away... the best kind of political novel: You're almost entirely unaware of its politics because the book doesn't deal in abstractions but in human beings.' (Washington Post )
'So far it's the best book of 2009, no question.' (Metro (US) )
'Exquisitely balanced between terrible sadness and brilliant humour.' (Observer 20080804)
'Big themes, high emotion and cliffhangers aplenty... an enormously affecting investigation of love, guilt and global responsibility, told with a bittersweet urgency.' (Justine Jordan, Guardian 20090201)
'Searingly eloquent.' (Daily Mail 20080803)
'An ambitious and fearless gallop from the jungles of Africa via a shocking encounter on a Nigerian beach to the media offices of London and domesticity in leafy suburbia...Cleave immerses the reader in the worlds of his characters with an unshakable confidence. ' (Lawrence Norfolk, Guardian 20080828)
'totally believable... the author has a knack of explaining human suffering... I look forward to his next offering.' (Daily Express 20080320)
'impresses as a feat of literary engineering... the plot exerts a fearsome grip.' (Daily Telegraph 20080320)
'An exhilarating, disturbing read.' (James Urquhart, Independent (Books of the Year) 20090215)
'You stay in thrall to the bittersweet end.' (Scotland on Sunday 20080728)
'It would be hard not to romp through it.' (Financial Times 20090224)
'By turns funny, sad and shocking' (Sainsburys Magazine 20090224)
'The next Kite Runner.' (Library Journal )
'Warm, witty and beautifully written.' (Sunday Tribune )
'In a novel that tackles serious and uncomfortable subject matter, Cleave's writing makes one laugh and despair in equal measure. (4 stars)' (Time Out )
'I felt the same excitement discovering this as I did Marina Lewycka's A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian and Paul Torday's Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. There is an urgency here, an inability to put it down and a deep sense of loss once finished. It is a very special book indeed. Profound, deeply moving and yet light in touch, it explores the nature of loss, hope, love and identity with atrocity its backdrop. Read it and think deeply.' (Sarah Broadhurst, Bookseller )
'Immensely readable and moving . . . an affecting story of human triumph'
(New York Times )'Artfully plotted... [a] strong yarn.' (Sunday Telegraph )
'A better book than Chris Cleave's THE OTHER HAND may be published this year, but I wouldn't bet on it. This exquisitely written story of a Nigerian refugee and a British glossy magazine editor is the most powerful novel I've read in a long time. . . it's also a very funny book about brave, funny people who the reader quickly grows to love. . . But the heart of the book is Little Bee; naïve yet insightful and sophisticated, damaged yet capable of great courage and humour, she is an unforgettable character. I finished THE OTHER HAND in tears, and I still can't get it out of my head. Just read it.' (The Gloss )
'Will blow you away... the best kind of political novel: You're almost entirely unaware of its politics because the book doesn't deal in abstractions but in human beings.' (Washington Post )
'So far it's the best book of 2009, no question.' (Metro (US) )
Review
'A powerful piece of art... shocking, exciting and deeply affecting...[a] superb novel... Besides sharp, witty dialogue, an emotionally charged plot and the vivid characters' ethical struggles, THE OTHER HAND delivers a timely challenge to reinvigorate our notions of civilized decency.' -- Independent 20080822 'Exquisitely balanced between terrible sadness and brilliant humour.' -- Observer 20090215 'Big themes, high emotion and cliffhangers aplenty... an enormously affecting investigation of love, guilt and global responsibility, told with a bittersweet urgency.' -- Justine Jordan, Guardian 20081213 'Searingly eloquent.' -- Daily Mail 20080822 'An ambitious and fearless gallop from the jungles of Africa via a shocking encounter on a Nigerian beach to the media offices of London and domesticity in leafy suburbia...Cleave immerses the reader in the worlds of his characters with an unshakable confidence. ' -- Lawrence Norfolk, Guardian 20080809 'totally believable... the author has a knack of explaining human suffering... I look forward to his next offering.' -- Daily Express 20080830 'impresses as a feat of literary engineering... the plot exerts a fearsome grip.' -- Daily Telegraph 20080913 'An exhilarating, disturbing read.' -- James Urquhart, Independent (Books of the Year) 20090101 'You stay in thrall to the bittersweet end.' -- Scotland on Sunday 20080809 'It would be hard not to romp through it.' -- Financial Times 20080823 'By turns funny, sad and shocking' -- Sainsburys Magazine 20080804 'The next Kite Runner.' -- Library Journal 20090201 'Warm, witty and beautifully written.' -- Sunday Tribune 20080803 'In a novel that tackles serious and uncomfortable subject matter, Cleave's writing makes one laugh and despair in equal measure. (4 stars)' -- Time Out 20080828 'I felt the same excitement discovering this as I did Marina Lewycka's A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian and Paul Torday's Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. There is an urgency here, an inability to put it down and a deep sense of loss once finished. It is a very special book indeed. Profound, deeply moving and yet light in touch, it explores the nature of loss, hope, love and identity with atrocity its backdrop. Read it and think deeply.' -- Sarah Broadhurst, Bookseller 20080320 'Immensely readable and moving ... an affecting story of human triumph' -- New York Times 20080320 'Artfully plotted... [a] strong yarn.' -- Sunday Telegraph 20090215 'A better book than Chris Cleave's THE OTHER HAND may be published this year, but I wouldn't bet on it. This exquisitely written story of a Nigerian refugee and a British glossy magazine editor is the most powerful novel I've read in a long time... it's also a very funny book about brave, funny people who the reader quickly grows to love... But the heart of the book is Little Bee; naive yet insightful and sophisticated, damaged yet capable of great courage and humour, she is an unforgettable character. I finished THE OTHER HAND in tears, and I still can't get it out of my head. Just read it.' -- The Gloss 20080728 'Will blow you away... the best kind of political novel: You're almost entirely unaware of its politics because the book doesn't deal in abstractions but in human beings.' -- Washington Post 20090224 'So far it's the best book of 2009, no question.' -- Metro (US) 20090224 'A powerful piece of art... shocking, exciting and deeply affecting...[a] superb novel... Besides sharp, witty dialogue, an emotionally charged plot and the vivid characters' ethical struggles, THE OTHER HAND delivers a timely challenge to reinvigorate our notions of civilized decency.' -- Independent 20080822 'Exquisitely balanced between terrible sadness and brilliant humour.' -- Observer 20090215 'Big themes, high emotion and cliffhangers aplenty... an enormously affecting investigation of love, guilt and global responsibility, told with a bittersweet urgency.' -- Justine Jordan, Guardian 20081213 'Searingly eloquent.' -- Daily Mail 20080822 'An ambitious and fearless gallop from the jungles of Africa via a shocking encounter on a Nigerian beach to the media offices of London and domesticity in leafy suburbia...Cleave immerses the reader in the worlds of his characters with an unshakable confidence. ' -- Lawrence Norfolk, Guardian 20080809 'totally believable... the author has a knack of explaining human suffering... I look forward to his next offering.' -- Daily Express 20080830 'impresses as a feat of literary engineering... the plot exerts a fearsome grip.' -- Daily Telegraph 20080913 'An exhilarating, disturbing read.' -- James Urquhart, Independent (Books of the Year) 20090101 'You stay in thrall to the bittersweet end.' -- Scotland on Sunday 20080809 'It would be hard not to romp through it.' -- Financial Times 20080823 'By turns funny, sad and shocking' -- Sainsburys Magazine 20080804 'The next Kite Runner.' -- Library Journal 20090201 'Warm, witty and beautifully written.' -- Sunday Tribune 20080803 'In a novel that tackles serious and uncomfortable subject matter, Cleave's writing makes one laugh and despair in equal measure. (4 stars)' -- Time Out 20080828 'I felt the same excitement discovering this as I did Marina Lewycka's A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian and Paul Torday's Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. There is an urgency here, an inability to put it down and a deep sense of loss once finished. It is a very special book indeed. Profound, deeply moving and yet light in touch, it explores the nature of loss, hope, love and identity with atrocity its backdrop. Read it and think deeply.' -- Sarah Broadhurst, Bookseller 20080320 'Immensely readable and moving ... an affecting story of human triumph' -- New York Times 20080320 'Artfully plotted... [a] strong yarn.' -- Sunday Telegraph 20090215 'A better book than Chris Cleave's THE OTHER HAND may be published this year, but I wouldn't bet on it. This exquisitely written story of a Nigerian refugee and a British glossy magazine editor is the most powerful novel I've read in a long time... it's also a very funny book about brave, funny people who the reader quickly grows to love... But the heart of the book is Little Bee; naive yet insightful and sophisticated, damaged yet capable of great courage and humour, she is an unforgettable character. I finished THE OTHER HAND in tears, and I still can't get it out of my head. Just read it.' -- The Gloss 20080728 'Will blow you away... the best kind of political novel: You're almost entirely unaware of its politics because the book doesn't deal in abstractions but in human beings.' -- Washington Post 20090224 'So far it's the best book of 2009, no question.' -- Metro (US) 20090224
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a book that from the blurb and cover comments seems to me to have been overly praised. The story begins quite promisingly telling the story of a young asylum seeker from Nigeria in an immigration detention centre in the UK. It is written in the first person from the perspective of two different voices: the Nigerian girl and a young British woman who is a fashion magazine editor who met the Nigerian girl whilst on a beach holiday in Nigeria with her husband. The British couple are drawn unwillingly into becoming part of her story to escape from those trying to remove witnesses to atrocities associated with claiming land on behalf of oil companies looking to exploit oil-rich land in the delta region where native Nigerians were living. I'll say no more about this to avoid a spoiler.
The opening uses the girl's voice in a comic fashion and so is a little reminiscent of Marina Lewycka's novel 'Two Caravans'. However, the comic observations quickly become a little overdone and oppressive for me. The book then changes tone and the use of comic observation vanishes giving the reader the feeling that the story has almost been taken up by a different writer.
Some of the characters and scenarios lacked credibility for me, including the key beach confrontation scene, which is of course the linch-pin of the novel. I also found the character of Lawrence unconvincing and some behaviours inconsistent, particularly those of the Nigerian girl who seems to graduate from innocence to develop something of a Machiavellian streak. The language and Batman fixation of her son also becomes grating. The story seems to waver badly halfway through and lapses into sentimentality. The ending is also rather inconclusive. In summary, a rather unconvincing story, which I'm sure could have been better. It was however fairly easy reading. Don't be too taken-in by the blurb or you will no doubt be disappointed.
The opening uses the girl's voice in a comic fashion and so is a little reminiscent of Marina Lewycka's novel 'Two Caravans'. However, the comic observations quickly become a little overdone and oppressive for me. The book then changes tone and the use of comic observation vanishes giving the reader the feeling that the story has almost been taken up by a different writer.
Some of the characters and scenarios lacked credibility for me, including the key beach confrontation scene, which is of course the linch-pin of the novel. I also found the character of Lawrence unconvincing and some behaviours inconsistent, particularly those of the Nigerian girl who seems to graduate from innocence to develop something of a Machiavellian streak. The language and Batman fixation of her son also becomes grating. The story seems to waver badly halfway through and lapses into sentimentality. The ending is also rather inconclusive. In summary, a rather unconvincing story, which I'm sure could have been better. It was however fairly easy reading. Don't be too taken-in by the blurb or you will no doubt be disappointed.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
After reading all the many gushing comments on the book cover and the "we're not going to tell you what this book is about" synopsis I was expecting an incredible book. After reading it I was worried that I had missed the point. I did enjoy the book but it had too many niggles that stopped it being as brilliant as I was initially led to believe!
I found the character of Sarah to be very contradictory and didn't think the characterisation was credible some of the time. The ending was interesting and without giving any of the story away I didn't really think that Sarah would have taken Charlie with her. Other characters also suffered from contradictory behaviours (in my opinion) that just distracted from the story.
Many parts of the story are thought provoking and I certainly pondered how I would have behaved in the same situations. It was an unusual story and I thought it was very interesting.
So, not a bad book at all and when it was good it was very good but it has several weaknesses that detracted. Deserves 3.5 but doesn't stretch to a 4.
I found the character of Sarah to be very contradictory and didn't think the characterisation was credible some of the time. The ending was interesting and without giving any of the story away I didn't really think that Sarah would have taken Charlie with her. Other characters also suffered from contradictory behaviours (in my opinion) that just distracted from the story.
Many parts of the story are thought provoking and I certainly pondered how I would have behaved in the same situations. It was an unusual story and I thought it was very interesting.
So, not a bad book at all and when it was good it was very good but it has several weaknesses that detracted. Deserves 3.5 but doesn't stretch to a 4.
36 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Few books make me want to lob them across the room in frustration but for me this one had several lobbable moments which ruined the whole reading experience.
I enjoyed Incendiary, Cleave's first novel, but The Other Hand is so uttely disappointing that I will probably never read his work again. For me the book started badly when it became clear that it was an Incendiary rip-off. It's as if Cleave struggled to find a fresh plot for the second book that his publisher demanded of him by deadline day so he pilfered the twists and turns that worked in his first effort. Mother of a young boy? Check. Dead husband? Check. Disillusioned journalists? Check.
It got worse with the dialogue. Stilted, unrealistic and clearly the indulgent imaginings of the author, there were lines in there that I had to disbelievingly read several times before aforesaid lobbing. The worst was where Sarah (naturally, the bereaved mother and disillusioned journalist) claimed to have glowed so much from her extra-marital affair that she tried to hide her new-found loveliness with foundation. It was her self-proclaimed joie de vive, don't you know. Oh, come on! And what about the title of the magazine? And Sarah's believe that her colleague is unfulfilled because she doesn't have a child? And how she is protrayed as a strong, driven woman but every other line of dialogue contains a permutation of "Oh my God, I don't know what's wrong with me/ what to do/ how to fart straight!"
And yes, the editor's note at the start is bewildering. It builds up the book way beyond anything it can actually deliver and I suspect the ed penned it to counteract the poor reviews it would receive. When she asks you not to tell your friends what it is about she really means that she'd prefer you to keep your gob shut about how awful the book actually is.
Seriously, I so rarely write book reviews but this one has been gnawing at me. Why? Because all the hype about the book is just way off beam. It really is Emperor's new clothes territory. Just don't be fooled by it, OK?
I enjoyed Incendiary, Cleave's first novel, but The Other Hand is so uttely disappointing that I will probably never read his work again. For me the book started badly when it became clear that it was an Incendiary rip-off. It's as if Cleave struggled to find a fresh plot for the second book that his publisher demanded of him by deadline day so he pilfered the twists and turns that worked in his first effort. Mother of a young boy? Check. Dead husband? Check. Disillusioned journalists? Check.
It got worse with the dialogue. Stilted, unrealistic and clearly the indulgent imaginings of the author, there were lines in there that I had to disbelievingly read several times before aforesaid lobbing. The worst was where Sarah (naturally, the bereaved mother and disillusioned journalist) claimed to have glowed so much from her extra-marital affair that she tried to hide her new-found loveliness with foundation. It was her self-proclaimed joie de vive, don't you know. Oh, come on! And what about the title of the magazine? And Sarah's believe that her colleague is unfulfilled because she doesn't have a child? And how she is protrayed as a strong, driven woman but every other line of dialogue contains a permutation of "Oh my God, I don't know what's wrong with me/ what to do/ how to fart straight!"
And yes, the editor's note at the start is bewildering. It builds up the book way beyond anything it can actually deliver and I suspect the ed penned it to counteract the poor reviews it would receive. When she asks you not to tell your friends what it is about she really means that she'd prefer you to keep your gob shut about how awful the book actually is.
Seriously, I so rarely write book reviews but this one has been gnawing at me. Why? Because all the hype about the book is just way off beam. It really is Emperor's new clothes territory. Just don't be fooled by it, OK?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Naive
This book shows the hopelessness of refugees, and at the same time shows the naivity of the British tourist. Read more
Published 11 days ago by Sheila B
Dull
The characters are flat, not particularly likable or believable and the story itself meanders along slowly and inconsequentially. Read more
Published 18 days ago by Martyn Beardsley
Doesnt live up to the hype
This story had interesting moments, and seemed a genuine attempt to draw the reader's attention to the plight of immigrants, which it started to do with reasonable success. Read more
Published 1 month ago by minidiva
The other Hand
An excellent read that will leave you feeling a range of emotions, not one of them will be disappointment. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Gonul
Godsmacked
Just finished reading it. "Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens either. Read more
Published 1 month ago by a.j. shacklock
Harrowing
The following MAY be described by some as spoilers, so be warned!
If publishers were compelled to list ingredients on books, this is what The Other Hand's label would say:... Read more
If publishers were compelled to list ingredients on books, this is what The Other Hand's label would say:... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Gobble de book
A short story?
I finished this book a few days ago and have been trying to work out why it doesn't entirely work for me as a full-length novel. Read more
Published 3 months ago by catsatcastle
I'm glad I didn't read the reviews first
I enjoyed this book. It's not worth five stars but it was good nonetheless.
I think that, for a male, the author did well with the character of Little Bee. Read more
I think that, for a male, the author did well with the character of Little Bee. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Karen
Shocking insight
Shocking insight into the raw realities of conflict in the developing world and the UK asylum system, wrapped in a plausible tale of white middle class liberalism. Read more
Published 4 months ago by JoTownhead
A wonderful, unique and extremely well written novel
I loved this book and was held from the very first paragraph. How many books can you say that about? Just read the first sentence and see what you think. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mrs. S. A. Blane
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