The Other Hand - Chris Cleave

"We don't want to tell you what happens in this book. It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it." This is the first line of the blurb on the back of this book. It goes on to give minimal details of what the story is roughly about because "you need to know enough to buy it". Whilst trying to write this review, I was torn as to whether I should share the books secrets, because the last line of the blurb says "Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens either. The magic is in how it unfolds." However, after reading the book, I feel ...  Read the complete review

This book is currently in the best-sellers list, and I bought it purely because of the blurb. The blurb basically says 'we don't want to give away what this book is about, but it is really good, so please read it, then give it to someone else without telling them what it's about'. I am not stupid: I know a marketting ploy when I see one, but on the other hand I found it interesting enough to pick up for the bargain price of £3.50 at Tesco, and I dove into it. So here I will tell you what the blurb doesn't: what it's about. The story basically focuses on two women: Sarah and Little Bee. They take it in turns to narrate the story chapter by chapter, ...  Read the complete review

"The Other Hand" by Chris Cleave is a book about which there has been a lot of hype. It was shortlisted for the 2008 COSTA Novel Award. The back of the book continues the hype by saying "We don't want to tell you what happens in this book. It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it....... Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens either. The magic is in how it enfolds." Personally I think this is a marketing ploy to get you to buy the book. I wouldn't read any book and tell someone everything that happens as it would spoil the story. I don't think ...  Read the complete review

I read a lot of books and tend to select them based on people's recommendations or when they are on special offer. The Other Hand by Chris Cleeves was one such book, half price and a Costa Coffee award implied I would be in for a good read. The blurb was different from most, not telling you about the story but simply that the writer wanted to let the story unfold as you read it and that it was based around two women. I like a book that dares to be different and was thoroughly intrigued by the confidence that a reader doesn't require a blurb with too much information merely a hook to pull them into purchasing it. Had this daring tactic been followed through ...  Read the complete review

As I wandered into my local Waterstones on that fabled Friday to treat myself to my monthly fresh book - much as I adore and live through second hand books, nothing beats that new book smell - I came face to face with this little number. I don't own it in bright orange, but the design of the cover was interesting enough that I picked it up. Yes I do judge a book by it's cover. The blurb reads as follows: "We don't want to tell you what happens in this book. It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it. Nevertheless, you need to know enoguh to buy it so we will just say this: It is extremely funny, but the African beach scene is ...  Read the complete review