Scan barcode
A review by luluwoohoo
The Other Hand by Chris Cleave
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The Other Hand by Chris Cleave
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌥️
For a book that emplores you to go in blind, I'm glad I did! I wouldn't go as far as the book cover hype which says it will 'change your life', but it is beautifully written, almost fantasy like, in its scope and perspective. The weaving of these two women's lives with each other was touching and did leave a mark.
Both perspectives had a clear voice and built up the worlds of Little Bee and Sarah viscerally. There are several passages I had to pause and savour for their beauty and poignancy. Cleave's prose is really wonderful.
The plot was a little meandering at times and some reveals came on a bit too strong, but this feels in tune with the fantasy-adjacent read I had on this novel, so in that sense it wasn't as jarring as it could be. It felt more like wish fulfillment put together with the unfortunate harshness of reality.
I really enjoyed the journey this story took me on and the messages it conveyed. It's lovely when a book can surprise you like that.
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌥️
For a book that emplores you to go in blind, I'm glad I did! I wouldn't go as far as the book cover hype which says it will 'change your life', but it is beautifully written, almost fantasy like, in its scope and perspective. The weaving of these two women's lives with each other was touching and did leave a mark.
Both perspectives had a clear voice and built up the worlds of Little Bee and Sarah viscerally. There are several passages I had to pause and savour for their beauty and poignancy. Cleave's prose is really wonderful.
The plot was a little meandering at times and some reveals came on a bit too strong, but this feels in tune with the fantasy-adjacent read I had on this novel, so in that sense it wasn't as jarring as it could be. It felt more like wish fulfillment put together with the unfortunate harshness of reality.
I really enjoyed the journey this story took me on and the messages it conveyed. It's lovely when a book can surprise you like that.
"I found the little bottle of nail varnish at the bottom of a charity box. It still had the price ticket on it. If I ever discover the person who gave it then I will tell them, for the cost of one British pound and ninety-nine pence, they saved my life. Because this is what I did in that place, to remind myself I was alive underneath everything: under my steel toecaps I wore bright red nail varnish."