By: Chris Cleave.
Someone told me I should read this book, and I am glad I did. It really stimulated my desire to write again. Cleave is an excellent writer. He keeps the same writing voice throughout the story and it flows. The book is actually a letter to Osama Bin Laden, written by a lower middle class British woman whose son and husband are blown up in a terrorist attack on a soccer stadium in London. Her voice is very emotional. You can hear her screams from the pain of loss, yet she uses wit that will give you a good chuckle. The story includes an upper class couple and a police chief that comes into her life and creates many interesting moments throughout her whole ordeal. The setting of London is explained so well you can imagine being there. The conflict of class, which is an ever present issue in England, is apparent in this book from the perspective of the mother. I am babbling on here. But this is a great read. Period. There is a movie made from this book with the same title. I didn't like the previews and would not like to see the movie if is not exactly like the book. The book is too deep and intricate to be lost to a Hollywood depiction. Please read this book. I have started on Cleave's most recent novel, Little Bee. I will review that one soon. Review by Kevin. (Fiction) 07/10/09
