December 2010 Good Housekeeping selection.

Good Reading for Christmas by Caroline Lucas...

'Earlier this year I read The Ot her Hand by Chris Cleave, and was drawn in by the blurb on the back cover, “We don’t want to tell you too much about this book… Once you have read it, you’ll
want to tell your friends about it.” Enough said.’

Sarah Broadhurst's view...

One of my favourite books of the year.  It’s about an African immigrant who, fleeing the atrocities of her country, comes over here to find the family who tried to save her sister.  What she finds is more pain and uncertainty.  The core of this impressive novel is immigration but at its centre is such a major question of gender strength that I have had to recommend it to both sexes and then ask the reader – What would you have done?  This is powerful stuff, beautifully delivered.

Comparison: Khaled Hosseini, Linda Grant, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award 2008.

Costa Book Awards 2008 Judges' comment: "A richly original novel full of shocks and wonders."

Synopsis

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 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 friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens either. The magic is in how it unfolds.

Reviews

'Totally believable.' -- Daily Express

'It would be hard not to romp through it.' -- Financial Times

'Impresses as a feat of literary engineering...the plot exerts a fearsome grip.' -- Telegraph

About the Author

Chris Cleave was born in 1973 and graduated from Balliol College, Oxford with a First in Experimental Psychology. After trying out various career paths, including sailing in the Mediterranean and bar work in Melbourne, he worked at the Daily Telegraph for three years, and then for Martha Lane Fox at lastminute.com. He left there in 2003 to concentrate on writing full time. He lives in Paris with his wife and son. More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation