A controversial Book - a letter to Bin Laden (Incendiary - Chris Cleave)

Member Name: ps8sjk

Product:	Incendiary - Chris Cleave
Date:	28/02/09 (154 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gripping and often thrilling

Disadvantages: Not always an easy read

This was (or is) a controversial book, it is the debut novel by Chris Cleave and is based around the (fictional) traumatic event of a terrorist attack on a football stadium in London. This book was coincidentally published on the day of the London bombings.

It focuses on the story of the main character and narrator who loses her son and husband in the attack - 11 suicide bombers who create an inferno in the Arsenal stadium. This is not always an easy read; it goes into detail of the attack and describes the torment of the people who suffered.

She is filled with guilt as the drama unfolded she was with another man, something she frequently did and they both watched the TV as the stadium exploded. She wrestles with this guilt as she loved her husband but is disgusted with her actions while this was happening. Although far from perfect you do sympathise with her and it is heart-breaking at times as she describes her feelings and immense grief in detail.

A unique part of this book is that it is told through a letter; the narrator writes to Osama Bin Laden to tell him about the effects of terrorism, not only on her family but also the UK as a whole. It is an effective way of writing the book - and it makes you wonder whether he would actually read the book in real-life as well. However, you do sometimes forget that she is writing a letter to him.

Not much actually happens after the dramatic start but it focuses on the narrator trying to rebuild her life which she feels is now empty as she comes to terms with living on her own in an ex-council house.

It is unusual for a middle-class male to write as a working class female but I actually think he does a good job of this - he does seem to understand what life would be like for her and creates a sympathetic character, although not necessarily likeable.

Chris Cleave does not write books which are easy to read, the subject matters are not light-hearted but they are gripping. This book is a mix of genres; part chick lit, part thriller and would probably be classed as contemporary literature so this is a good book if you want to read something original and different.

I would also recommend his other book - 'The Other Hand' which is based on another horrific event which sets off a change of events for a couple but this time it start on an African beach.

Summary: Something a bit unique