Hand Me Down World
Lloyd Jones
Text Publishing
I devoured this book, finishing it in three days. Hand Me Down World has been receiving plenty of publicity and much praise which is definitely justified.
Hand Me Down World is the story of Ines (not her real name), an illegal African refugee who is washed onto the shores of Italy on a seemingly impossible mission to find her son. With no language and little money we hear her story through the people whose lives momentarily intertwine with hers. Each story is presented as a new piece of a puzzle, fitting into the next to give a clearer picture of this unassuming yet determined woman.
We eventually get to hear Ines's story through her own perspective. And from her we are presented with new takes on the previous stories. Just like the question over her real name, it's never clear which recollection is the truth and which is altered to favour the opinion of the storyteller. One thing that is apparent however, is Ines's single minded determination to be reunited with her son.
Hand Me Down World is a touching and beautiful tribute to the extent of a mother's love for her child. Whilst highlighting the plight of the illegal immigrants and the sometimes ugly nature of man, Hand Me Down World is also a homage to random acts of human kindness, as time and again we encounter men and women who willing to go out of their way to help their fellow man. 4.5 stars.
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