Seeking refuge from terror

To be honest, the only reason I picked up a copy of Chris Cleave's The Other Hand was because of the extremely vague blurb on the back jacket. The blurb reveals nothing about the book – no names, no plot, nothing – but it had me craving to read it.

It did not disappoint. This captivating novel will get you hooked on right from the beginning and leave you with tears in the end.

The narrators of the story are two women – one is Little Bee, a 16-year-old Nigerian refugee who has spent two years in a detention centre in England, the other is Sarah, an editor of a popular woman's magazine. They meet on a beach in Africa (the only incident mentioned, in passing, in the blurb) and the events that follow turn out to have a tremendous impact on both women.

Even though the story starts on that beach, that isn't the beginning of the novel – nor is it the most important part. The consequences of that meeting make up the bulk of the story, portraying the way both women deal with that one horrific incident.

Haunting novel

The relationship between the two women becomes more complex and yet, understandable, as the story unfolds. The narration of the story combines both past and present events in a manner that is natural and easy to follow.

Apart from the two women protagonists, who come across as strong and independent, the other characters are complicated and interesting, riddled with depression, imagination and humour.

The main theme of the novel revolves around the tragic condition of the villages in Nigeria, and how immigration is dealt with in the United Kingdom.

In spite of the story having a terrorising incident at its core, the novel in itself is light, simple and humourous at times. Little Bee comes across as an innocent yet scarred girl, while Sarah is brave and sacrificing.

The Other Hand is that type of novel that will haunt you for quite a while once you're done with it, and also the type that will motivate you to try to make a difference in the world. Once you have finished reading the book, do give it to your friends to read, but "please don't tell them what happens either ... the magic is in how it unfolds."

Author of the week: Chris Cleave

Background

Chris Cleave was born in London in 1973. He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, where he studied psychology.

His debut novel, Incendiary (2005), was published in 20 countries and won a 2006 Somerset Maugham Award and was shortlisted for the 2006 Commonwealth Writers' Prize.

The movie has been adapted into a feature film starring Michelle Williams and Ewan McGregor.

His second novel, The Other Hand, was released in August 2008 and has been shortlisted for the 2008 Costa Book Awards in the Novel category.

Cleave writes a column for The Guardian newspaper in London.

— The writer is a communications studies student at Mount Carmel College, India.