So here we are turning the other hand

The Other Hand by Chris Cleave

In a nutshell: in accordance to the blurb on the cover which gives no information on the plot and asks one to do the same, I will keep this nutshell to a minimum - two very different 21st century women with opposite backgrounds are reunited as both go through life-changing times and events.

The blurb: An interestingly constructed book as each chapter alternates the two women's very different narratives. The real story- this book recounts its consequences through the eyes of the protagonists- happens three years previously, when the women meet for the first time in extraordinary circumstances. When the book starts, we follow one of the women and meet the second, and slowly their common story, and its aftermath, unfolds. 'Nuf said.

IMHO this is a little jewel of a book. Knowing nothing about the plot, one is captivated as one tries to understand why the women are where they are, and what binds each to the other. As the truth slowly leaks out, a grim tale emerges that makes one question a plethora of assumptions, from responsibility and politics to what constitutes friendship and humanity. Given the serious nature of many aspects of the story, it could have been a rather stark book, but the incredible, funny, poetic voice of the main protagonist makes it as light as a romantic comedy, which it almost isn't. A lingering book, very highly recommended.