Review: Little Bee
Editorial Review - Kirkus ReviewsCleave follows up his outstanding debut (Incendiary, 2005) with a psychologically charged story of grief, globalization and an unlikely friendship. The story opens in a refugee detention center outside of London. As the Nigerian narrator—who got her nickname "Little Bee" as a child—prepares to leave the center, she thinks of her homeland and recalls a horrific memory. "In the immigration detention center, they told us we must be disciplined," she says. "This is the discipline I learned: whenever I go into a new place, I work out how I would kill myself there. In case the men come suddenly, I make sure I am ready." After Little Bee's release, the first-person narration switches to Sarah, a magazine editor in London struggling to come to terms with her husband Andrew's recent suicide, as well as the stubborn behavior of her four-year-old son, Charlie, who refuses to take off his Batman costume. While negotiating her family troubles, Sarah reflects on "the long summer when Little Bee came to live with us." Cleave alternates the viewpoints of the two women, patiently revealing the connection between them. A few years prior, Sarah and Andrew took a vacation to the Nigerian coast, not realizing the full extent to which the oil craze had torn the country apart. One night they stumble upon Little Bee and her sister, who are fleeing a group of rapacious soldiers prowling the beach. The frightening confrontation proves life-changing for everyone involved, though in ways they couldn't have imagined. A few years later Sarah and Little Bee come together again in the suburbs of London, and their friendship—in addition to that between Little Bee and Charlie—provides some salvation for each woman. Though less piercing and urgent than his debut, Cleave's narrative pulses with portentous, nearly spectral energy, and the author maintains a well-modulated balance between the two narrators. A solid sophomore effort, and hopefully a sign of even better things to come.
Review: Little Bee
Editorial Review - Bookreporter.comWe don't want to tell you too much about this book. It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it. Nevertheless, you need to know something, so we will just say this: It is extremely funny, but the African beach scene is horrific. The story starts there, but the book doesn't. And it's what happens afterward that is most important. Once you have read it, you'll want to tell everyone ... Read full review
Review: Little Bee
Editorial Review - Bookreporter.comLittle Bee by Publication Date: February 16, 2010 : 271 pages Publisher: ISBN10: 1416589643 ISBN13: 9781416589648 Recommend Twitter Email Print ShareThis Comment Read full review
Review: Little Bee
User Review - Mandy - GoodreadsLittle Bee is the story of 16 year old Nigerian orphan refugee who escaped to England and Sarah Summers O'Rourke, a journalist who's just buried her husband. Their lives intertwine one day on a beach ... Read full review
Review: Little Bee
User Review - Kristen - GoodreadsI have an almost uncanny ability to bring the absolute wrong books on vacation. Particularly if it's a trip to a tropical destination, or a trip to a developing country (for example, reading ... Read full review
Review: Little Bee
User Review - Natalie - GoodreadsSo what was all the hype about this book? What a huge disappointment. ******spoiler alert****** Let's chat!!! Little Bee's relationship with Lawrence is completely bizarre and inconsistent with her ... Read full review
Review: Little Bee
User Review - Shannon - GoodreadsLittle Bee Little Bee is an astounding book. The author, Chris Cleave, wrote this book to address his audience on what is very possibly happening overseas. This book was also for pleasure reading and ... Read full review
Review: Little Bee
User Review - Asha Rajan - GoodreadsYou shouldn't be put off reading this novel because of the sloppy marketing by the publisher. The blurb on the back of this novel gives no clues to the author's extraordinary ability to speak with the ... Read full review
Review: Little Bee
User Review - Mona - GoodreadsOh dear! I'm wondering how the discussion at our book club of Little Bee will go next week. We always start by going around the group, one by one. each person who read the book giving a 1-10 rating ... Read full review
Review: Little Bee
User Review - Linda - GoodreadsI read this for my book club. Sarah was so naive. How could she go back to the beach again? Give me a break. And I don't believe people are allowed to just walk out of a refugee detention facility ... Read full review
