Comments on: The Other Hand (UK) http://www.chriscleave.com Chris Cleave Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:34:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Chris Cleave http://www.chriscleave.com/the-other-hand-little-bee/comment-page-5/#comment-101658 Chris Cleave Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:52:06 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=55#comment-101658 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. 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.

]]> By: Melissa Kay http://www.chriscleave.com/the-other-hand-little-bee/comment-page-5/#comment-101656 Melissa Kay Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:44:04 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=55#comment-101656 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 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

]]> By: Chris Cleave http://www.chriscleave.com/the-other-hand-little-bee/comment-page-5/#comment-100570 Chris Cleave Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:24:56 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=55#comment-100570 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. 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.

]]> By: Henrienne Mutshipule http://www.chriscleave.com/the-other-hand-little-bee/comment-page-5/#comment-100569 Henrienne Mutshipule Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:21:25 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=55#comment-100569 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 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

]]> By: Adele http://www.chriscleave.com/the-other-hand-little-bee/comment-page-5/#comment-82355 Adele Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:39:56 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=55#comment-82355 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 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

]]> By: Lucy http://www.chriscleave.com/the-other-hand-little-bee/comment-page-5/#comment-81187 Lucy Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:57:29 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=55#comment-81187 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,
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

]]> By: barış http://www.chriscleave.com/the-other-hand-little-bee/comment-page-5/#comment-78541 barış Sat, 12 Nov 2011 08:25:10 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=55#comment-78541 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'' 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”

]]> By: Sharon http://www.chriscleave.com/the-other-hand-little-bee/comment-page-5/#comment-78238 Sharon Fri, 11 Nov 2011 02:33:15 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=55#comment-78238 "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... “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…

]]> By: Kimika http://www.chriscleave.com/the-other-hand-little-bee/comment-page-5/#comment-76021 Kimika Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:41:37 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=55#comment-76021 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? 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?

]]> By: Chris Cleave http://www.chriscleave.com/the-other-hand-little-bee/comment-page-5/#comment-75696 Chris Cleave Mon, 31 Oct 2011 06:11:33 +0000 http://www.chriscleave.com/main/?page_id=55#comment-75696 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 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.

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