The Other Hand / Little Bee

Last summer a few friends came through town for a visit and waffle sandwiches. Quickly the conversation turned to my friend's new book. Naturally, I asked, "What's it about?" "I can't tell you" she very quickly replied, "but you have to read it." It seems that the editor believed so strongly in the unfolding of the story that she requested readers not spoil it for others.

Several months later I came across The Other Hand by Chris Cleave while browsing the bookshop. I flipped to the back and read, "We don't want to tell you what happens in this book." Immediately I thought of that summer day eating our waffles at a picnic table and my friend's very mysterious book recommendation.

After a little research I discerned that indeed it was the same book only under a different title. It was published as Little Bee in North America and The Other Hand worldwide. (Why?)

Since I can't give you a recap of the story... here's a bit more from the back of the book from where I left off:

"It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it. Nevertheless, you need to know enough to buy it so we will just say this:

This is the story of two women. Their lives collide one fateful day, and one of them has to make a terrible choice. Two years later, they meet again - the story starts there...

Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your frinds about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens either. The magic is in how it unfolds."

So there you have it.

Recommendation: When you're ready for a quick engaging read that just might possibly give you night sweats, let this be it.

Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters

I've suddenly found that my reading resources are somewhat... limited. Not only are books expensive in this bit of the world, the title selection is lacking. Since I've kept track of the books I've read over the past few years, I've learned that I have quite the eclectic reading habit. I might be reading a biography one day and children's literature the next. Not having such a wide variety to choose from led me to the classics section while I was looking for a book to bring with me to Thailand. Thankfully I noticed a new-to-me title in the petite J. D. Salinger section... and that's how I found, Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters.

This publication is bundled with another short story, Seymour: An Introduction... but I won't mention that here.

Raise High is another story detailing the life of members of the Glass family. A family whose dinner table I would love to join, for the record. This time Buddy is telling about Seymour's wedding. Buddy attends the wedding and later finds himself in a stuffy car with the bride's aunt, the angry matron of honor and her husband, and a small man in a dashing top hat. What an uncomfortable place to be for the brother of the absent groom! You see, Seymour never arrived...

The bulk of the story is comprised of the time spent in the car and the intrigue is housed in the question of whether the party will discover Buddy's connection to the groom... a fact he has skillfully sidestepped.

As with all of Salinger's writing, I was immediately captivated. I appreciated being let in on Buddy's "little joke" of a concealed identity and almost forgot the fictitious nature of the Glass family, in general.

And I can't close without mentioning Salinger's death just days before my reading of the selection. I didn't learn of the news until after returning from Thailand but was saddened altogether to hear it.

Recommendation: Fans of Salinger will be delighted but start with Nine Stories if you haven't yet.