Ben, In The World by Doris Lessing

Wissy wrote:Ben, In The World by Doris Lessing

This book is the sequel to Doris Lessing's 'The Fifth Child', a story of a child born into a family that sees it as a destructive changeling of sorts.

'Ben, In The World' starts from when Ben is 18 years old, and follows the trials he undergoes attempting to exist in an often cruel and uncompromising world. He encounters kindness along the way, most often from other socially dispossesed people; an elderly lonely woman, a prostitute and a former prostitute from destitute beginnings In each case they take the time to get to know Ben, and attempt to guide him through life.

The story takes Ben first to France, ad then onto South America. His loneliness and need to find out where he truly belongs is palpable within the pages and touches on the every human's desire to know our origins and find out our place in the world.

It is another short read, but equally as affecting as it's prequel.

It sounds like an interesting read. Thank you