Little Bee

Now that I'm done with my thesis work, and all the editing and re-editing is DONE, it is such a pleasure to enjoy reading as a hobby again. For a while there, it felt more like a chore!

As you probably know, I recently reread the Harry Potter series for the third time. I think every time I reread that series, I'm reminded of how wonderfully written it is -- and how vastly inferior the Twilight series is in comparison. If you've been reading my blog for a long time, you know that at the height of the Twilight frenzy, I was a huge fan. But something happened over time -- it's like I grew weary of sparkly vampires and hormonally challenged shape-shifters. Of course the fact that everything media-related became over-saturated with Twilight didn't help.

But I will say this -- even at the height of its popularity, the Harry Potter has never ceased being fascinating and amazing for me. I think that's the mark of a well-written book series, don't you?

Now that I'm done with Harry Potter (again), I've been turning my attention to new books. I recently read Little Bee by Chris Cleave. And by recently I mean last night. I first picked it up around 7 PM yesterday, and when I got home at 10 PM, I decided to read a page or two more before going to bed. One or two pages turned into a hundred. Then two hundred. And before I knew it, it was 3 AM and I had finished the book.

It's obviously a page-turner!

Have you read Little Bee? I don't want to say much about it in case you haven't read it, because to discuss the plot would give away the experience of  finding it out yourself. It's not so much that the novel contains a twist as it harbors secrets, secrets that a discussion might reveal prematurely for anyone who hasn't yet read the book. So let's save the discussion to the comments. If you HAVE read Little Bee, I want to know your thoughts on the novel. I've been dying to discuss it with somebody ever since I finished reading it!

If you haven't read Little Bee, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. It's terrifying, beautiful, and poignant all at once. It's one of those books that stays with you long after you've put it down.



Up next on my reading list is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. What are you reading right now? :)

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4 comment(s):

g2 (la pianista irlandesa) said...

I'm buried in all sorts of work, but I've been trying to squeak in "reading"/listening to Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book. I decided on it because it's the current Nerdfighter Blurbing Book Club book (read a book, write a ten word book-jacket blurb on it.... don't think I'll finish it in time to properly blurb, but I'm going to get through it, dangit!), and for a while I've been vaguely interested in Gaiman's work, though this is my first time really experiencing his work.

I'm liking it because, not only is it a good read, it's read by the author, and he's one of those folks who have a fantastic reading voice (it may or may not help that he's British ^^). Curious thing: About a day after listening to the first part, I was walking from the library back to my room, and I noticed it was a clear sky, half a moon, and I thought, "huh, this is just like that first part of Graveyard Book, the one that starts 'There was a hand in the dark, and it held a knife.'" Not the most assuring thing to think at 21:30, I'll tell ya.

angelina la dawn said...

i read this a couple years ago! and it's such an amazing story. parts of it still stick with me. and i love girl with the dragon tattoo! i think you have great literary taste :)

Unknown said...

I am a Junior in High school and I just finished reading this book. I thought it was too adult for someone my age that has never been exposed to these adult matters. But, for an individual like me, who has delt with rape, murder, suicide, and sexual affairs, I felt it was very accurate. It was very well written and it opened my eyes to what is happening in third world countries and how malicious it is. A lot of the subject matters in this book helped me be a better person and made me realize how easy I have it in this world. I absolutely loved this book and I am planning to read "Incendiary" which is also written by Chris Cleave because he is a very good author.

Unknown said...

@Morgan: I don't know if this is a book I'd want my junior students to read, but if they are as mature and well-read as you appear to be, I don't have much of a problem with it. I am also planning to pick up Incendiary now. Here's hoping it's as good as Little Bee! :)