THE BOOK FAIR

Review:

Chris Cleave’s amazing work of fiction spun in mesmerizing detail of an event in Nigeria that forever changed the lives of two women, a refugee and a journalist, their secrets divulged in alternating voices.  The story moves back and forth from present to past.

 

Present Day London:

Little Bee, a Nigerian refugee, seeks asylum in England.  Traumatized by the horror she faced in Nigeria, a life so full of violence that she harbors a ready plan of escape, from any situation.  Her only solace lies in dreams; dreams of the happy childhood with her sister, Nkiruka, before war came to Nigeria.  She describes the detention center in which she lived for the past two years as an odious place where only bribes attain food or safety.  Finally released, Little Bee makes her way walking several kilometers to Sarah and Andrew O’Rourke’s.

 

Before:  London

Sarah and Andrew O’Rourke once lived the good life in London.  Sarah launched her magazine, Nixie, some years before, a pleasing success.  Sarah decides to vacation in Nigeria; she vaguely remembers the Foreign Office warned against travel to Nigeria.  Andrew had not wanted to go.  Determined, Sarah planned the trip insisting that the compound would be safe.

 

Present Day London:

Sarah discovers Little Bee in the kitchen of her home. As Sarah last saw Little Bee, she was running away to avoid the men trying to kill her; she remembers the girl’s feet were bleeding.  Stunned, Sarah asks Little Bee how she found them; how long has she been in England.  Sarah then recalls that terrible day and asks Little Bee what happened to her, and to her sister.

 

Flawlessly written, “Little Bee”, proves an amazing literary work, based on both government politics and humanitarian affairs.  The novel imparts an unforgettable, riveting storyline.