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Incendiary
Incendiary | Chris Cleave
16 posts | 27 read | 28 to read
At once a novel and an open letter to Osama bin Laden, Incendiary is a shocking, hilarious, and heartbreaking debut that crashes head on into huge questions of right and wrong, good and evil, madness and sanity. Incendiary is the story of a working class woman who likes her simple life: watching Arsenal matches on the telly with her husband and little boy, fishsticks for dinner in their small flat, the occasional trip to the pub. One spring afternoon the woman, whom we know only by the nickname Petal, watches her husband and their son head happily off to Ashburton Grove, Arsenals brand new stadium, to see their favourite team play. A few hours later the horror of a terrorist bombing plays out on her television the bombing of Ashburton Grove. Petal tells her own story in an extraordinary voice, one both desperate and sharply funny, speaking directly to the man responsible for the bombing. She shows the reader an incredible world, a London that is not quite real, in a time that is not quite our own. And as deeply enmeshed as the reader becomes in her reality, a tiny, persistent doubt begins to creep in about just what is reality and what is a manifestation of her griefstricken and distraught imagination. Dear Osama they want you dead or alive so the terror will stop. Well I wouldnt know about that I mean rock n roll didnt stop when Elvis died on the khazi it just got worse. Next thing you know there was Sonny & Cher and Dexys Midnight Runners. Ill come to them later. My point is its easier to start these things than to finish them. I suppose you thought of that did you? Theres a reward of 25 million dollars on your head but dont lose sleep on my account Osama. I have no information leading to your arrest or capture. I have no information full effing stop. Im what youd call an infidel and my husband called working class. There is a difference you know. But just supposing I did clap eyes on you. Supposing I saw you driving a Nissan Primera down towards Shoreditch and grassed you to the old bill. Well. I wouldnt know how to spend 25 million dollars. Its not as if Ive got anyone to spend it on since you blew up my husband and my boy. excerpt from Indendiary From the Hardcover edition.
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AmyK1
Incendiary | Chris Cleave
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Pickpick

After a woman loses her husband and son in a terrorist attack, she writes a letter to Osama describing what his actions have done and her mental state as a result. An emotional, raw story.

I liked Little Bee better but this is still 3.5 ⭐️ for me.
Letter I for #litsyAtoZ and my #doublespin book for May.
@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Sounds too sad for me! 4y
25 likes1 comment
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erzascarletbookgasm
Incendiary | Chris Cleave
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Here‘s a book associated with #MayDay #MagicalMay
Incendiary centers around a May Day terrorist attack during a soccer match. The novel is told in a letter-form to Osama bin Laden from the point of a view of a mother whose husband and son were killed during the attack. The novel is known for its ‘eerie similarities to the plot of a series of terrorist bombings throughout London on July 7, 2005, the same day it was released.‘
(Image from google)

Eggs Fascinating 👏🏻🤗📚 4y
59 likes1 comment
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Come-read-with-me
Incendiary | Chris Cleave
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Pickpick

This gut-wrenching story of a woman who carries on in the face of senseless loss and trauma was amazing. The book is part letter to a dictator/part journal of redemption. An amazing read. Paired with Little Bee, this helps to cement Chris Cleave as a powerful and insightful author who tackles horrific subjects with a gentle but honest eye. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lcsmcat I loved Little Bee. Stacked. 5y
Come-read-with-me @Lcsmcat I think you‘ll love it just as much. 5y
50 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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whatrebeccasread
Incendiary | Chris Cleave
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Pickpick

An emotional and heavy read, Chris Cleave's "Incendiary" looks at the aftermath of a terrorist attack and how grief, guilt and loss can affect a person. I didn't love it as much as "Little Bee" but it's still 4 stars from me.

My full review is up on my blog now ?

81 likes4 stack adds
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janeycanuck
Incendiary | Chris Cleave
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Pickpick

A difficult read, as expected.

29 likes1 stack add
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janeycanuck
Incendiary | Chris Cleave
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Man, January just flew by! Time for my #FebruaryTBR - got lots left over from Jan plus my #girlybookclub book and four more #ReadMyOwnDamnBooks books. I doubt I‘ll make it through everything but I‘ve got a couple of days of reading while my SO snowboards next week so I‘ve got a good shot at making a solid dent in the stack.

Laughterhp Haha I love your hashtag #ReadMyOwnDamnBooks! 5y
janeycanuck @Laughterhp it‘s an ongoing struggle 😉 5y
Laughterhp Oh I hear ya!! 5y
38 likes3 comments
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BookaholicNatty
Incendiary | Chris Cleave
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Incendiary by Chris Cleave is the last book I got today! I have never seen this cover but I had to get it because it matched Little Bee which I already had on my shelves! I read it earlier this year which is why my book is all banged up and it was a great book that I recommend to everyone. I have a feeling Incendiary will be another heart wrenching story as well! Has anyone read this one? Is it as good as Little Bee?

Judybskt I have it but still haven‘t read it. 5y
Judybskt I loved Little Bee. 5y
Reviewsbylola I have both and have read neither. 😂 5y
dragondrool I loved Little Bee. The only other Cleve I've read is Gold.. 5y
98 likes1 stack add4 comments
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MrBook
Incendiary | Chris Cleave
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#TBRtemptation post 10! #PhillyMeetUp #bookswap edition! Proudly displayed by @Lmstraubie ! In this stunning debut novel, a massive suicide bomb explodes at a London soccer match. A woman loses her 4-year-old son and her husband. But the bombing is only the beginning. One thing is a letter to Osama bin Laden. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

Cinfhen Hope you enjoy this one @Lmstraubie it's sad so wait for winter time to read it! 7y
Lmstraubie @Cinfhen Thank you for it! These are the types of books that are powerful & meaningful, but hard to say you like. I am looking forward to reading it! 7y
99 likes5 stack adds2 comments
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Lmstraubie
Incendiary | Chris Cleave
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My #bookswap book from @Cinfhen. I'm looking forward to it! Thank you! #litsymeetup

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Cinfhen
Incendiary | Chris Cleave
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#RockinMay Day 17 #LondonCalling This was a bookclub read a few (many) years back...I remember people either HATING or LOVING this book...then there was me, smack in the middle. This book follows an unnamed narrator who is suffering from PTSS following a London bombing where she loses her son & mate. I've never lived in London but reading this novel I found a real sense of place and class. The language & tone really set the atmosphere. #tissues

TrishB I really enjoyed this one 👍 7y
Cinfhen You're a Londoner @TrishB Did u feel the book was authentic?!? 7y
shawnmooney Oooh, I hadn't heard of this one. Staaaacked! 😘 7y
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Cinfhen @shawnmooney this might be a bail for you.... lots of readers HATE this book - I'll be watching and holding my breath..... 7y
TrishB No -I'm from Liverpool 😀 but I did think it felt genuine - we need a real Londoner to say! 7y
Cinfhen Sorry, I knew that!!! You have the whole BEATLES connection 💕💕💕 @TrishB (edited) 7y
Reviewsbylola Actually I'm pretty sure I own this! I don't know much about it but now I'm curious. 7y
97 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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Mackenzieb0193
Incendiary | Chris Cleave
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Pickpick

I flew through this book and I'm not sure if I loved it or hated it. It felt so unrealistic yet I needed to know what happened next. One of the wackiest books I've ever read.

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Sweettartlaura
Incendiary | Chris Cleave
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At under 250 pages, I'll definitely squeeze this in before 2017 hits😊

41 likes3 stack adds
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Michellesibs
Incendiary | Chris Cleave
Pickpick

Wow. I'm really not sure how I feel about this book. I want to say it's unrealistic but it's not and that's scary. I want to say it's funny, and it is in a very sad way. And I want to say it's sad and it is but it a funny way. Each time I put it down I wanted to pick it up again and continue reading. Strangely compelling.

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