Book #5 - Little Bee

Little Bee
Chris Cleave

Blurb:  We don't want to tell you what happens in this book.
It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it.
nevertheless, you need to know enough to buy it, so we will just say this:
 
This is the story of two women. Their lives collide one fateful day, and one of them has to make a terrible choice, the kind of choice we hope you never have to face. Two years later, they meet again - the story starts there ...

Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens. The magic is in how the story unfolds.(From Goodreads)

Opening Sentence:  "Most days I wish I was a British pound coin instead of an African girl.  Everyone would be pleased to see me coming.  Maybe I would visit with you for the weekend and then suddenly, because I am fickle like that, I would visit with the man from the corner shop instead - but you would not be sad because you would be eating a cinnamon bun, or drinking a cold Coca-Cola from the can, and you would never think of me again.  We would be happy, like lovers who met on holiday and forgot each other's names."

Length: Medium - 266 pages

Notes:  I don't really know what to say about this book.  It was touching and eye opening and disturbing all at the same time.  It is a tragic story for both girls that the book is about.  It was definitely a little depressing, but then again, the subject matter is not light at all.  I almost completely loved this book.  The beginning chapters especially really drew me in.  But I did have a couple of problems with it.  First - the language.  I should have known, since it is by a British author (what is it with the British and their language???)  And without going into detail or giving anything away, what happened to Little Bee in her last days in the UK - well, it wasn't very believable for me.  I felt for Sarah and her character, and I really did understand most of her actions, but I wish the whole Lawrence part wouldn't have been there.  It was a bit distracting to me, and made me not want to empathize with her as much and made her much less likable.  I guess this is another book that I would love to discuss with other people!!

Random quote:  "We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, 'I survived'."

Recommend: yes

Have you read this book? Share your feelings!