Book Review: Little Bee by Chris Cleave

This is the first novel I have read in awhile, and certainly the first in a looong time that isn’t a “classic” novel. A former teacher sent this to me, thinking I might like it. I am so glad she did! As she said in her letter to me, “I don’t want to write much about this book, because I don’t want to give away any of the story. But it’s great.” And that is about what I will say. It is the story of two women- a Nigerian refugee and a successful editor of a London fashion magazine editor in London- whose lives intersect briefly in a rather traumatic and life-altering way. The story starts as they meet again two years after that fateful day.

I rarely have difficulty putting down a book, but I just could not stop reading this story! It gripped me in a particular way, and I simply needed to know what would happen next! I will say that it is hard and rather disturbing to read in some parts, and even though it is fiction, it is sadly a very plausible story. Perhaps that makes it all the more absorbing. It’s not a “light” read in that sense, but it is well-written and easy to read in the traditional sense. It is a rich story of identity, betrayal, devotion, friendship and good and evil. Reading this makes me want to check out Cleave’s other book “Incendiary.” Perhaps I shall give it a read!