The Other Hand (UK)
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“Most days I wish I was a British pound coin instead of an African girl.” READ THE FIRST CHAPTER OF ‘THE OTHER HAND’ “Shocking, exciting and deeply affecting” – THE INDEPENDENT “There’s one true story in particular that made me determined to write the novel.” “We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret” “Where can I learn more about Nigeria, London, and the real world of refugees and asylum seekers?” |
* SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER * Shortlisted for the 2008 Costa Novel Award * Nominated for the 2009 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Book * Longlisted for IMPAC Dublin Literary Award * A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice |
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| Note: THE OTHER HAND is published in the US and Canada as LITTLE BEE | |||
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I think everyone in the UK should read this book. It makes me cry with exasperation that so many ignorant reactionary fools can pedal all the lies about asylum seekers and refugees living lives of luxury at the taxpayers expense, and never stopping to think for one second what those real human beings have been through, the terror, the pain, the loss, and then to face the cruelty of our “welcome” and for that to be better than what they’ve escaped.
We suffer in the UK from our liberal democracy, it leaves us with no concept of what else life can be like, and for some of us, shamefully, it destroys empathy and compssion.
You could also add the Refugee Council to your links http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/.
Dear Cleave,
Must say it is a very beautiful book. It is really touching, and the way the story unfolds is nothing short of magic. I am half way through it now.
What amazes me is that being a guy, you could write a narrative from 2 women’s perspectives. That is something…!
dear chris
when are we going to get a new book ?. your two books are probably some of the best i have ever read, i loved incendiary it was so unique, and the other hand was so touching but shocking, i keep looking on various web sites but no news. i have recommended your books to so many people. In a good way, i buy a lot of my books from charity shops, but often smile when i see yours there because they have been read then sent on for others to enjoy. I cant wait to see what unique subject you will pick for your next novel, i dont know of any other person that writes like you do. We have a book swap at work and it was here that i picked up incendiary, i couldnt put it down and even my other half read it. Many thanks mandy
Dear Cleave
Reading your novel was such an inspiration,and believe me,I never felt this way before reading a book.Thank you for your sensibility about this drama so brightly exposed.
Congratulations for all the characters but I can’t forget the amazing and funny little Charlie.
Cumpliments from Portugal
Mandy-
Haven’t you read Little Bee? An amazing, touching, beautifully written book. A must read. Anxiously awaiting another Cleave masterpiece…
Hi Chris
I’m rather embarrassed to admit I wasn’t familiar with your writing until I picked up a copy of ‘The Other Hand’ on display in Waterstones a few weeks ago. What a brilliant story, I couldn’t put it down. Not surprisingly I returned to Waterstones today to buy Incendiary. Perhaps next time you’re in school you’ll sign my copy. LOL
Best wishes
Elaine Rodgers
I read the whole of “The Other Hand” yesterday. You have mastered the art of the storyteller from the donkey work of research to the difficulty of finding a conclusion. Credible and moving. I will be recommending your book to everyone.
Hi Ruth – thank you very much. I really appreciate that!
Dear Cleave!
I am reading your amazing book (The other hand), not finished it yet, but I gotta tell you I don’t remember the last time I was enjoying reading a book with this excitement and pleasure. I have huge respect for you for this masterpiece, and I already recommended your book to my friends and planning to buy one for my girlfriend! It’s a beautiful (sad thou) story, but it sure has a lot of messages for us humans to learn how to act like humans should. I appreciate you for that! Much love and respect!
Thanks Hrach – I appreciate your taking the time to send such a kind message.
Chris
I’ve just finished reading “the other hand”. I was touched by your flow of words and the simplicity with which you tell the story from 2 peoples persepctives. I was hooked from the first few pages. It is a very powerful and moving story…..which makes me appreciate all that i have in my simple but content life. i havent enjoyed a book like yours in years………but it has made me far more discering in what i’ll accept as a baseline as there’s too much junk out there
Hi Chris, I just wanted to ask you what did you mean by the word “wahala” in the sentence “There was plenty wahala, that girl done use her bottom power to engage my number one son and anyone could see she would end in the bad bush. “?
I was very much impressed by reading THE OTHER HAND, it’s simply amazing!
Dear Chris,
I’ve enjoyed so many books throughout my life and, I’m ashamed to say, it had never occurred to me to write to the author and tell them exactly what impact their story has had upon me. I’ve just finished reading The Other Hand and to say that it is one of ‘the best books I’ve ever read’ just doesn’t feel good enough! The struggles and difficulties I’ve had in my life are nothing in comparison to the characters in The Other Hand. Yet, the strength and determination you created in Little Bee and Sarah has certainly inspired me. I’m an English teacher and only wish I taught 6th Form and not Primary so that I could recommend this book to them as I have done to so many friends!
Thank you for a wonderful read. I’m currently half way through Incendiary and I can’t even begin to use words to describe how much I am enthralled, saddened, gripped and determined for each character.
I hope you read this and thank you once again for bringing two wonderful stories to my half term! x
I found the writing fantastic, easy, free flowing. But I am left highly frustrated by the portrayal of those from developing countries, which suggests under-education. Under-eduction in whose society you might ask? In some sections Little Bee appears to wise of western life, yet in others she is the little mud hut girl that doesn’t know a thing. It is disappointing that the editors of the book did not pick up such poor inconsistencies. I thought the first chapter was excellent. After that I was lost and frustrated with the lack of reality — I know that the author meant well with this book, and after all it is a work of fiction, I just feel he could have done so much more if he’d done a bit more research on the things he was writing about. In many respects this book gives misinformation on some of the key issues the author is trying to address. To the western reviewers, who are unlikely to know much about the issues the author addresses, this is a great book. To anyone who knows the issues first hand, the book is a step backward. It could have been so much more, but as I said, this book is just fiction, so not sure what I was expecting really, perhaps the truth? Very disappointed.
Dear Cameron, Thank you for reading the book and for taking the time to leave a comment. In fact the novel is extensively researched and I hope I would be able to defend it against any specific criticism you cared to make. However, you’re not making specific criticisms here. If you can provide examples of passages that offend, I will be happy to look at them and respond to you in the light of your comments. Kind regards, Chris.
Dear Chris,
I am very surprised to discover that you are a man.
After finishing the Other Hand, and wiping away my tears, I jumped on your website to find out more about you and bam! There you were – quite obviously not the woman I had assumed you were, from your fantastic narration by not one, but two, very remarkable and believable female characters.
That is the second thing I wanted to say to you. The first, before your photo caught me by surprise, is THANK YOU.
Your book – the characters, the horror and the tenderness, and the beautiful, captivating narration – caught me off-guard, like your photo, and from the very first paragraph I lost myself wholeheartedly into its pages, I drank it in with big thirsty gulps. It not so much reminded me of what I love about fiction – plenty of other books have done that – but it reminded me of what I love about real life and real people. It is stirring, realistic and rare. Thank you so much.
Kimika
Tasmania, Australia
PS. I have read and love your short story Fresh Water too. Wonderful! Where can I get a copy of Sea Stories?
“It was disorienting, like having the entire contents of one’s address book dressed in black and exported into pews in nonalphabetical order” (24). I think that is one of the best sentences I have ever read — and I read a LOT! What a story! very moving, funny, believable, bittersweet, filled with astute observations…
Mr. Cleave,
I’ve read your wonderful book fluently, without giving it up in five days. It was possible to read it in a shorter time period because of its easy reading, but I wanted to give me an extra time to live the book by myself also.
In Turkey, a new book has been published recently by a well-known famous writer-singer-film director-newspaper corner writer (all in one ). While reading it, I felt that I was reading a Chris Reave book. Its design and planning is highly similar with ”The Other Hand”.
Please take a notice for this situation.
Name of the book in Turkey is ”SERENAD”, and the writer(?) is ”ZÜLFÜ LİVANELİ”. The publisher is ”DOĞAN KİTAP”
Dear Chris,
A beautiful, beautiful book. The only book that has ever brought me to tears. Thank-you for this and thank-you for drawing attention to these issues, I only hope one day I will be able to do something too.
Lucy
Dear Chris,
I have read many books but have never felt the need to write to the author. I have three children aged 5, 3 and 4months but i still found the time to read this book faster than i have read any book before. i even learned how to hold the baby and feed her with just one hand so i cold hold the book in the other hand and carry on reading as i fed her. i borrowed the book after buying it for my sister and do not want to give it back because I want the story to stay in my house. I cried when it ended, for two reasons i think, one because of what i think happened next and two because the book was finished. i have recommended the book to everyone i am friends with on facebook. i feel everyone should read it. it reminded me of ‘Do they hear you when you cry’. surely your story should be made into a drama so more people can access it. i have looked into volunteering at a refugee charity and have chaned my will to leave money to such a charity. this book is truly inspiring
Reading this book was one of the best just not reading experiences but life experiences. I hope you write more books soon. I’ve read lot lot lot of books in my life but this is definitely THE Best. Thank you for this beautiful gift to us. God bless you.
(sorry for my bad english)
An african girl from Finland
Henrienne – wow: I’ve read a lot of comments in my life but this is definitely THE best. It means a great deal to me – thank you.
Living in Africa but being British I was able to see so many wonderful elements being brought together in this truly stunning novel. I’m afraid in our little town in Tanzania there is no book shop so my constant chat about your novel is encouraging readers but not sales for the moment! I will write a review for my blog though. Anyway, just wanted you to know I was blown away. If I could get my novel to reflect just a little of the poetry you put into your prose I’ll be on my way to getting published (so far I’m mostly busy discovering how much tougher it is to please the mass market than I thought! – judging by the amazing comments on here you have easily mastered that!). Thank you for your art. I will certainly keep reading! Best wishes, Mel
Hi Melissa – thanks for your very kind words, and all good wishes for your own writing. If it’s any help to know, I wrote several novels which weren’t quite there before I found my stride. It took me about ten years of slow improvement before my style started to come together, and I still find the writing process frightening and difficult. Also, I don’t think it’s worth worrying about how to please the market. I just tend to write stuff to please myself, and if other people like it then so much the better. There are fashions in literature as in everything else, and I think one just has to accept that one’s style will come in and out of fashion. I reckon that if we as writers are true to our own vision of things, then people (and hopefully a lot of people!) will from time to time be interested in what we have to say.
Yello Daddy Chris Cleave
I got a glimpse of your book THE OTHER HAND during a radio house’s impact converge.I only skimmed through the chapter one and a few others.I have searched all bookshops around my locality as a child searches for a missing toy,yet to find this gripping book of yours.I want to read it.I know that its worth the comments ABOVE.What else ?I am dumbfounded as I only starved my taste buds.I MUST FIND IT…NO MATTER HOW LONG..I MUST READ IT…..I am an aspiring writer….hoping to exceed my expectations…ride on!your best is yet to come.keep walking on the paths of heroes.TAKE CHARGE.
THANKGOD EBOH
NIGERIA
Hi Thank-God – thank you for your excellent comment, which has made my day. I have spare copies of the book so I can send you one if you like. I could mail it to your local bookstore for you to collect if you can post the address. Hope you will enjoy it! All good wishes, Chris
HI,
I have just finished your book through a bucket of tears. I fell in love with the characters and didn’t want to leave them. Once again I am reminded of how lucky I am to live in this country (even though our government are behaving like a bunch of monkeys at the moment!), to have the freedom to choose the way in which we live.
I will recommend your book to anyone who will listen and will be going back to the bookstore to buy your other book.
Thank you for a wonderful story.
Cheers
Christine from Australia
I beleive everything happens for a reason, and I found this book by accident, it was amongst a donation to my bookshop, I read it in two days. I sobbed, raged and laughed and marvelled at the beauty of it. It gives me hope that we can change the world with how we feel. Thank you Chris for a truly mind blowing book, there are people out there that care after all x
Thank you Christine – cheers to you too!
Thanks Annette – delighted there are still people out there who care about books.
Why the different titles and cover photos?
Little Bee vs The Other Hand
thanks,
michele
Dear Chris
I have just finished your absolutely fantastic book!
I’m a young girl whose interest in and passion for literature has always been great, but unfortunately there is often far between the really good and unforgettable novels. However, I now have been so privileged to have had the opportunity to let myself empathize in your novel – one of the best, most relevant and touching novels I’ve read for a very long time. It has made me laugh and cry. A true masterpiece! Your book will always has a place in my bookshelf. Your writing style is simply superb, the story is extremely compassionate, touching and relevant to society, your characters gain their own lives and will keep on living in the reader’s thoughts for a very long time after the final crucial – but beautiful – page of the book is reversed …
All the best
Marie
(from Denmark)
Hello dad,I would be glad to recieve a copy of your book ‘THE OTHER HAND’ as you promised above_22 feb 2012.You can send it to my local church’s address:Emmanuel anglican church,umuchiaku Lowa,p.o.box 154,ihitte/uboma L.g.a,imo state,Nigeria.send it with my dad’s name: Lambert Eboh ’cause he’s known there.don’t mind my grammatical errors.my heart is hanging.i can’t wait.have a blissful day 2nd dad.
hope you autograph it.thanks
Dear Chris,
I read The Other Hand several years ago and have reread it several times since. Every second spent with this book is a revelation and a road to self discovery and I cherish it deeply.
The Other Hand touched my heart and my mind in a way that I only remember happening once before – when I read A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner.
I am hopeful for the future of a world where people like you exist and share their gift with their readers in such a profoundly intimate, sincere and unforgettable way.
I look forward to GOLD as I am sure it is as a powerful and full experience, as The Other Hand and Incendiary.
Please do not ever stop writing and giving us those incredible stories!
Thank you for being!
Hi Martina – thank you – I really appreciate your comments. I hope you’ll enjoy GOLD.
Hi Thankgod, thank you for the address – I will put the book in the post today. I hope you’ll enjoy it! All good wishes – Chris
I just finish the book. I mean, a minute ago. I must say that I couldn’t make any connection with it, I read it to the end waiting for the moment in which I will understand the conflict and it all will make sense, but I didn’t find it. Maybe I am living a totally different life and I just don’t get it. I am a latin american 30yo guy living in Taiwan, and maybe I just jumped all the culture in between.
But I also must say that beyond the fact that the story didn’t make any click on me, I read the book with a pencil by my side and I marked around 35 beautiful ideas that you expressed on it. I also liked the mixed chapters with both characters stories, but usually I tried to read Sarah’s faster because Little Bee was much more interesting.
Thank you……I will surely enjoy it as the first page of chapter one gripped me…..I know your book will give me a kick…for me to begin my writing adventure on a million causes of tears in Nigeris.
Dear Chris Cleave,
I am a student in germany and we read “The other hand” in the English lesson and I thibk it’s brilliant, because it is written in basic English, so we all understood it. We discussed about what you might wanted to say with your book and many said that you were critisizing the European governments. Many people don’t know about what is happening to immigrants and the people who know about it, are either scared of critisizing or they just don’t care about that.
I think it’s a good book. I am writing some books in English, too, but nobody wants to read them here, because only a few are very god in English to understand it. When I read your book, I noticed that I have many mistakes in my book. I hope I will be a successful author like you one day. If I can find your other books in germany I will read them, too.
nice greetings
Hi Chris,
As I told you in my previous tweets that I have some views on your novel “The Other Hand”.
First of all, I am very interested in the way and the style you present such a new theme which, as far as I know, has never been discussed by any other modern writer.In other words, the story appears to be a way of saying how do other think about UK and what it looks like when it comes to reality, in particular young people who always dream of immigrating and settling there.This is clear at the beginning when the four girls, including Little Bee, were released from the detention centre.Each one of them was thinking of UK as she always dreamt or told about it.
Another thing is that I do not like the way the male characters behave especially Andrew.Charlie the little boy seems to be confused about real life wearing t “Batman costumes” which indicates that this child does not want to live that life of adults which is full of “baddies” and has no “goodies” to make it deserves living it in reality.
Females on the other hand are restless dealing with men as differently.Take in comparison Sarah and Little Bee.Sarah thinks that everything she has done so far in her life is not her choice including her marriage from Andrew and her job as well as being a mother.She likes the idea that having the affair with Lawrence as the only good choice in her life, however at sometime she appears to be uncertain about her relationship with him as he is selfish as any other male.
Little Bee does not want to be in contact with males and smile at them as they do in her village.She had bad experience of them.This can be the reason to make her escape from the idea of being in touch with them.When she saw Andrew hanging himself, she said to herself “let him die” as he did not want to cut his finger to save me or my sister.
In general, I think this story is a modern style to deal with some issues in way that enables anyone to understand its theme in the way he/she likes it.
Thank you for this wonderful story looking forward to reading many other ones of such high quality as one.
Finally, here is a little bit about myself.I am Sudanese.I obtained the BA in English language & literature in 1995.I have been a teacher, Arabic/English interpreter and translator for a long time.I am here in UK to do an MA in teaching or linguistics.
Best Regards
Hi Chris,
As I told you in my previous tweets that I have some views on your novel “The Other Hand”.
First of all, I am very interested in the way and the style you present such a new theme which, as far as I know, has never been discussed by any other modern writer.In other words, the story appears to be a way of saying how do other think about UK and what it looks like when it comes to reality, in particular young people who always dream of immigrating and settling there.This is clear at the beginning when the four girls, including Little Bee, were released from the detention centre.Each one of them was thinking of UK as she always dreamt of or told about.
Another thing is that I do not like the way the male characters behave especially Andrew.Charlie the little boy seems to be confused about real life wearing “Batman costumes” which indicates that this child does not want to live that life of adults which is full of “baddies” and has no “goodies” to make it deserves living it in reality.
Females on the other hand are restless dealing with men as differently.Take in comparison Sarah and Little Bee.Sarah thinks that everything she has done so far in her life is not her choice including her marriage from Andrew and her job as well as being a mother.She likes the idea that having the affair with Lawrence as the only good choice in her life, however at sometime she appears to be uncertain about her relationship with him as he is selfish as any other male.
Little Bee does not want to be in contact with males and smile at them as they do in her village.She had bad experience of them.This can be the reason to make her escape from the idea of being in touch with them.When she saw Andrew hanging himself, she said to herself “let him die” as he did not want to cut his finger to save me or my sister.
In general, I think this story is a modern style to deal with some issues in a way that enables anyone to understand its theme in the way he/she likes it.
Thank you for this wonderful story looking forward to reading many other ones of such high quality.
Finally, here is a little bit about myself.I am Sudanese.I obtained the BA in English language & literature in 1995.I have been a teacher, Arabic/English interpreter and translator for a long time.I am here in UK to do an MA in teaching and linguistics.
Best Regards
Hi Chris, I was wondering if I had your permission to use the image of this book for my website as I am writing a review for it? I would be very grateful as I am a huge fan of the novel.
Kind Regards,
Sarah
Hi Sarah, thanks for reviewing the book – much appreciated. I’ll look forward to reading it. Yes, it’s fine to use the cover of the book in a review – no problem at all.