I just finished reading Little Bee, by Chris Cleave. It is a gripping story about the relationship between Udo (who calls herself Little Bee) an asylum seeker from Nigeria, and Sarah, an educated English woman and her four year old son Charlie (who calls himself Batman). You can read the book quickly because you won’t want to put it down.
For someone looking for solitude, Little Bee is a challenge. On one hand the story reminds me that life isn’t about going off to our little cocoon of solitude. No, often the world is a hive of individuals buzzing around, buzzing into each other and getting involved whether they want to or not. Humanity can’t avoid humanity.
On the other hand, the story portrays characters who seem to make life-changing decisions from a place of solitude deep inside them. I believe this is always the way: we start from silence, solitude and simplicity and move to activity, community and complexity, whether we want it or not.
Haven’t we all had times when we thought we’d keep quiet and not get involved, only to find ourselves immersed in something that usurps all our time and energy? Solitude and independence bursting forth at its best into sharing and community…. But along the way we return to our quiet selves.
For someone looking for solitude, Little Bee is a challenge. On one hand the story reminds me that life isn’t about going off to our little cocoon of solitude. No, often the world is a hive of individuals buzzing around, buzzing into each other and getting involved whether they want to or not. Humanity can’t avoid humanity.
On the other hand, the story portrays characters who seem to make life-changing decisions from a place of solitude deep inside them. I believe this is always the way: we start from silence, solitude and simplicity and move to activity, community and complexity, whether we want it or not.
Haven’t we all had times when we thought we’d keep quiet and not get involved, only to find ourselves immersed in something that usurps all our time and energy? Solitude and independence bursting forth at its best into sharing and community…. But along the way we return to our quiet selves.