Comments on: Explore the issues http://www.chriscleave.com Chris Cleave Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:34:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Anna Wardell http://www.chriscleave.com/little-bee/get-involved/comment-page-1/#comment-96796 Anna Wardell Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:11:19 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=753#comment-96796 Hi Chris, I work for a refugee organisation and am soon going into schools to talk about the issues surrounding refugees and asylum seekers. I am looking for videos by refugee children about their experiences and it seems as though you used to have some by the Refugee Council on your website, but I'm told the website given is "not found" when I try to access it. Can you recommend any? The Other Hand was by far one of the best novels I have ever read, and further cemented my determination to work to help refugees and asylum seekers. Thank you, this beautiful book literally did change my life. Anna Hi Chris,

I work for a refugee organisation and am soon going into schools to talk about the issues surrounding refugees and asylum seekers. I am looking for videos by refugee children about their experiences and it seems as though you used to have some by the Refugee Council on your website, but I’m told the website given is “not found” when I try to access it. Can you recommend any?

The Other Hand was by far one of the best novels I have ever read, and further cemented my determination to work to help refugees and asylum seekers. Thank you, this beautiful book literally did change my life.

Anna

]]> By: Christine Momberg http://www.chriscleave.com/little-bee/get-involved/comment-page-1/#comment-78157 Christine Momberg Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:17:54 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=753#comment-78157 Hi Chris, I am an English and History student from Germany and I am planning to write a term paper about the depiction of the detention center in "Little Bee." The seminar is about total institutions in general and at the moment we are reading several scientific texts about total institutions (e.g. Goffman) and there are a lot of aspects that remind me of "Little Bee." I already looked through your recommandated links, but I am unable to find anything about the towels, it would be great of you to tell me where I can find the transcript of Loraine Bayley about the fire at Yarl's Wood you mentioned in the notes. If you have any other articles or sources you used for the specification of the detention center, I would of course also be greatful for that, too. I think the message of your book is really great and we should do more to help those in need. Best regards and greetings from Germany. Hi Chris,

I am an English and History student from Germany and I am planning to write a term paper about the depiction of the detention center in “Little Bee.” The seminar is about total institutions in general and at the moment we are reading several scientific texts about total institutions (e.g. Goffman) and there are a lot of aspects that remind me of “Little Bee.”
I already looked through your recommandated links, but I am unable to find anything about the towels, it would be great of you to tell me where I can find the transcript of Loraine Bayley about the fire at Yarl’s Wood you mentioned in the notes. If you have any other articles or sources you used for the specification of the detention center, I would of course also be greatful for that, too.
I think the message of your book is really great and we should do more to help those in need.

Best regards and greetings from Germany.

]]> By: marci morgan http://www.chriscleave.com/little-bee/get-involved/comment-page-1/#comment-57813 marci morgan Thu, 15 Sep 2011 03:45:49 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=753#comment-57813 i just finished "the other hand"...i don't know when a book has moved me so...however, i am overwhelmed with sadness i can't seem to shake...the end was very disturbing, probably because i am used to "happy endings"...thank you for a great read i just finished “the other hand”…i don’t know when a book has moved me so…however, i am overwhelmed with sadness i can’t seem to shake…the end was very disturbing, probably because i am used to “happy endings”…thank you for a great read

]]> By: RS http://www.chriscleave.com/little-bee/get-involved/comment-page-1/#comment-57484 RS Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:02:23 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=753#comment-57484 Thank you for writing this amazing and powerful book. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. However, the ending left me wanting more. I still am thinking about what happened to Little Bee. I had tears of joy when Sarah and Charlie boarded the plane with Little Bee, yet at the end of the book, she was taken away by the soldiers leaving me in tears of sadness. Thank you for posting this wealth of information. After reading the book, I wanted to read about issues your book explores and your website provided me with a great start. Thank you for writing this amazing and powerful book. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. However, the ending left me wanting more. I still am thinking about what happened to Little Bee. I had tears of joy when Sarah and Charlie boarded the plane with Little Bee, yet at the end of the book, she was taken away by the soldiers leaving me in tears of sadness.

Thank you for posting this wealth of information. After reading the book, I wanted to read about issues your book explores and your website provided me with a great start.

]]> By: Liz Hoffman http://www.chriscleave.com/little-bee/get-involved/comment-page-1/#comment-54863 Liz Hoffman Sun, 28 Aug 2011 01:18:11 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=753#comment-54863 I wanted to ask why you ended "Little Bee" the way you did? I feel like there is something missing. Was the reader supposed to guess that Little Bee was taken away by the armed men and put in prison or killed? I really liked the story but I was left hanging at the end. I wanted to ask why you ended “Little Bee” the way you did? I feel like there is something missing. Was the reader supposed to guess that Little Bee was taken away by the armed men and put in prison or killed? I really liked the story but I was left hanging at the end.

]]> By: Mary Naber http://www.chriscleave.com/little-bee/get-involved/comment-page-1/#comment-43329 Mary Naber Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:48:17 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=753#comment-43329 Hi, I am using this book in an English writing and fiction course I am teaching. The students love the book and have lots of questions. One is why does Yevette speak in such a mocking tone to Little Bee. What is the significance of her being from Jamaica and Little Bee being from Nigeria? What is her perception of Little Bee because she is from Nigeria? Thanks so much, Mary Hi,
I am using this book in an English writing and fiction course I am teaching. The students love the book and have lots of questions. One is why does Yevette speak in such a mocking tone to Little Bee. What is the significance of her being from Jamaica and Little Bee being from Nigeria? What is her perception of Little Bee because she is from Nigeria?
Thanks so much,

Mary

]]> By: Jo http://www.chriscleave.com/little-bee/get-involved/comment-page-1/#comment-42019 Jo Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:07:16 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=753#comment-42019 Hi Chris, I've just finished reading "the other hand" and Chinua Achebe's "Things fall apart" is next on my reading pile! I just wanted to tell you how moving your writing is, how eye-opening Udo's story is to the harsh realities that are the bitter oil wars and their innocent victims. I will be reading more into the issues raised in your book. The final pages made me cry as Little Bee watched Charlie, also when Little Bee was on the plane looking out of the window and her friends were there with her. One of my newest friends is half Nigerian, she is a very strong person and great with children - just like Little Bee is with Charlie! As an aspiring writer myself, I'd love to be able to arrange words as powerfully as you do in your writing... Amazing book, I pronounce it "un-put-down-able" as well as agreeing with the quotes from the newspapers reviews on the cover :) thank you very much, I'll have to take "incendiary" on holiday, it's one of those books that always catches my eye in bookshops... Best wishes, Jo Hi Chris, I’ve just finished reading “the other hand” and Chinua Achebe’s “Things fall apart” is next on my reading pile! I just wanted to tell you how moving your writing is, how eye-opening Udo’s story is to the harsh realities that are the bitter oil wars and their innocent victims. I will be reading more into the issues raised in your book. The final pages made me cry as Little Bee watched Charlie, also when Little Bee was on the plane looking out of the window and her friends were there with her. One of my newest friends is half Nigerian, she is a very strong person and great with children – just like Little Bee is with Charlie! As an aspiring writer myself, I’d love to be able to arrange words as powerfully as you do in your writing… Amazing book, I pronounce it “un-put-down-able” as well as agreeing with the quotes from the newspapers reviews on the cover :) thank you very much, I’ll have to take “incendiary” on holiday, it’s one of those books that always catches my eye in bookshops… Best wishes, Jo

]]> By: JC http://www.chriscleave.com/little-bee/get-involved/comment-page-1/#comment-38564 JC Fri, 20 May 2011 22:55:42 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=753#comment-38564 I just read your book Little Bee for our book club. I had no idea that this happened in Nigeria. I want to know how they (corporations) can get away with this? Isn't there a "watchdog: so to speak in our world who can stop this from happening? Also does the oil companies pay the families so they be relocated if they chose too? Are any of these people, companies brought up on criminal charges for the murder of these innocent people? This is another form of holocaust as far as I see it the killing of innocent people for oil by Big Greedy oil corporations. I don't know how they can sleep at night. If there is a god I hope he makes people like this pay. I just read your book Little Bee for our book club. I had no idea that this happened in Nigeria. I want to know how they (corporations) can get away with this? Isn’t there a “watchdog: so to speak in our world who can stop this from happening? Also does the oil companies pay the families so they be relocated if they chose too? Are any of these people, companies brought up on criminal charges for the murder of these innocent people? This is another form of holocaust as far as I see it the killing of innocent people for oil by Big Greedy oil corporations. I don’t know how they can sleep at night. If there is a god I hope he makes people like this pay.

]]> By: John http://www.chriscleave.com/little-bee/get-involved/comment-page-1/#comment-32298 John Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:14:00 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=753#comment-32298 Hi Chris, A blast from the past!! I am still plugging your wonderful novel at every opportunity - I still say, truthfully, that it is the best book I have ever read. The reason for this note is to inform you that after six years if fighting my Jamaican friend has finally been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK. Thank you for your encouragement in the darkest of times. John Hi Chris,
A blast from the past!! I am still plugging your wonderful novel at every opportunity – I still say, truthfully, that it is the best book I have ever read. The reason for this note is to inform you that after six years if fighting my Jamaican friend has finally been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK. Thank you for your encouragement in the darkest of times.
John

]]> By: Katy Birchall http://www.chriscleave.com/little-bee/get-involved/comment-page-1/#comment-23850 Katy Birchall Fri, 11 Feb 2011 11:24:21 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=753#comment-23850 Dear Chris, Firstly I would like to thank you for writing such an incredible book. Secondly I wanted you to know that I was so inspired by 'The Other Hand' that I have chosen to write my Masters Dissertation on it. I'm at the University of Manchester doing a masters in Post-1900 English Literature and my thesis will be on 'The Other Hand', the presence of oil companies in Nigeria and the relation between aesthetics and politics. I want to write about the power of literature to change the way we think and how novels that are not necessarily didactic are sometimes the most thought-provoking and powerful of all. So, really I just wanted to say thanks for changing my life and potentially my career as I'm now determined to research the journalism and reports from the Nigerian oil wars. I look forward to reading more of your brilliant work. Katy. Dear Chris,
Firstly I would like to thank you for writing such an incredible book. Secondly I wanted you to know that I was so inspired by ‘The Other Hand’ that I have chosen to write my Masters Dissertation on it. I’m at the University of Manchester doing a masters in Post-1900 English Literature and my thesis will be on ‘The Other Hand’, the presence of oil companies in Nigeria and the relation between aesthetics and politics. I want to write about the power of literature to change the way we think and how novels that are not necessarily didactic are sometimes the most thought-provoking and powerful of all.
So, really I just wanted to say thanks for changing my life and potentially my career as I’m now determined to research the journalism and reports from the Nigerian oil wars. I look forward to reading more of your brilliant work. Katy.

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