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philippakmoore's review against another edition
4.0
Magical, quirky and beautifully written, and one of the most original things I've read in ages. It aches with the real pain of grief, loss and wanting to belong. It was very funny in places too - I loved that Jesus could drink 29 pints and still not be drunk.... :)
jessica_patient's review against another edition
4.0
Great story, great cover, great typography, great writer :)
catladylover94's review against another edition
3.0
really a weird book, ending is not what i wanted, did not get the closure i was looking for, but other then that it was good
snoakes7001's review against another edition
5.0
I do like a book that has a bit of the 'other'. You know what I mean, a bit different, a touch of supernatural, something that makes it stand out from more pedestrian stories with their roots grounded in reality. Not that there's anything wrong with these, I just like a bit of the 'other' sometimes. This then delivers in spades. Nina is travelling back to Malta, the island of her birth. When we meet her she is overwhelmed with grief and we aren't sure whether she has come home in order to find a way through, a way back to herself, or whether she doesn't intend to leave the island again. But spirits also come to Malta to heal and some of these are charged with helping Nina deal with her grief and guilt and convince her to find a reason for living. If you like something packed with emotion and a sprinkling of fantasy then this is for you.
sourbean's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
jennrych's review against another edition
3.0
This book was SO weird, and kitschy, and kind of hilarious (Who knew Jesus paints his toenails and chugs beer?!), but also really good. It was fun and interesting, and slightly poetic. I found this so randomly at the library - I'm glad I did, it's worth a read!
katheastman's review against another edition
5.0
You know that feeling you sometimes get when you step off an aeroplane in a Mediterranean country and the warm air envelops you like a deep sigh? Your whole body relaxes and that’s the moment when you realise that you’re in a foreign country, and now properly away from home.
That’s how it feels to open the pages of Like Bees to Honey and start reading.
Like Bees to Honey is a wonderfully poignant and beautifully written story about loss and redemption and families and belonging.
If the beautiful cover alone doesn’t convince you, then the blurb on the back cover promises that “Like Bees to Honey … is a magical tale that will live with you long after you finish reading.” It is, and does. And the beauty of such a book is that you only ever have to reach for it and open it to find yourself right back in amongst the magic all over again. I hope you find your way there very soon because it’s a wonderful place to spend some time.
That’s how it feels to open the pages of Like Bees to Honey and start reading.
Like Bees to Honey is a wonderfully poignant and beautifully written story about loss and redemption and families and belonging.
If the beautiful cover alone doesn’t convince you, then the blurb on the back cover promises that “Like Bees to Honey … is a magical tale that will live with you long after you finish reading.” It is, and does. And the beauty of such a book is that you only ever have to reach for it and open it to find yourself right back in amongst the magic all over again. I hope you find your way there very soon because it’s a wonderful place to spend some time.
onmelsshelves_'s review against another edition
2.0
I actually didn't mind too much the storyline and plot of this book.
Following the death of her son, Chrisopher 6 years previously, main character Nina travels back to her home country of Malta to help her with her grief and to try to mend relationships with her estranged family. Along the way, she meets several spirits, including Jesus, who try to convince her that despite her loss, she still has everything to live for and her remaining family, husband Matt and daugher Molly still need her.
My favourite character was, by far, Tilly, the angst ridden lesbian ghost. I found myself, wanted to know more about her story rather than Nina's.
However, the author's style of writing incredibily annoying and off putting. For example, when the main character Nina would walk anywhere in her flip flops she would:
Flip
Flop
Flip
Flop
And when Jesus drank some of the beer he would
Gulp
Gulp
Gulp
Gulp.
The constant repetion of the Maltese translation was also pretty irritating. We didn't need to be told on everypage the translation of "my heart" or a description of Cisk beer.
Following the death of her son, Chrisopher 6 years previously, main character Nina travels back to her home country of Malta to help her with her grief and to try to mend relationships with her estranged family. Along the way, she meets several spirits, including Jesus, who try to convince her that despite her loss, she still has everything to live for and her remaining family, husband Matt and daugher Molly still need her.
My favourite character was, by far, Tilly, the angst ridden lesbian ghost. I found myself, wanted to know more about her story rather than Nina's.
However, the author's style of writing incredibily annoying and off putting. For example, when the main character Nina would walk anywhere in her flip flops she would:
Flip
Flop
Flip
Flop
And when Jesus drank some of the beer he would
Gulp
Gulp
Gulp
Gulp.
The constant repetion of the Maltese translation was also pretty irritating. We didn't need to be told on everypage the translation of "my heart" or a description of Cisk beer.
leahmichelle_13's review
4.0
Nina is off to Malta, with her son Christopher in tow, so she can visit her aging parents one last time. Her last visit to Malta didn’t end well, after Nina was disowned for falling pregnant whilst at University in England. Malta is nothing like Nina expects though because it transpires that Nina is able to see recently deceased spirits. It turns out Malta is some sort of transit lounge for the dead and as well as Nina being able to help the spirits by listening and learning all about them, they can help her just as much. But what exactly is it that Nina is running scared from?
The first time I came across Caroline Smailes, it was when I reading Chat magazine a few years ago. She was featured on the first page and it told of how she began to write her debut novel In Search of Adam. I then remember reading on Caroline’s blog that the article was in fact false. I didn’t think Caroline’s books were to my taste, so I never managed to pick up either of her first two books but after seeing the beautiful cover for her latest book Like Bees To Honey, as well as reading Caroline’s personal story and how close it is in relation to the book, I decided it was time to give one of Caroline’s books a try as I figured my earlier worry over it being not my kind of thing was probably completely wrong.
I have to say I’ve been sitting here since I finished the book wondering how on Earth I was going to review it sufficiently without spoiling certain parts of the book. This will be, hands down, the hardest book review I’ve ever written because the book is rather complex. The first thing I’d like to mention is the book cover. It is so beautiful. It features lots of things relating to Malta – a postcard, an airline ticket and a bottle of Cisk, the local beer. I admit that it is what drew me to the book in the first place. It looks beautiful in pictures but when you actually see it in reality, it’s so much better.
Another thing I will say about Like Bees To Honey is that I’ve never read anything like it in my life. I wouldn’t even begin to catergorise the book bar the fact it’s fiction. It’s uncategorisable, in a good way. Nina, the central character of Likes Bee To Honey, is like no character I’ve encountered before. She’s confused; about life, about her life, about her history and where she came from and about Malta, her birthplace. Nina is also trying to come to terms with a huge loss she’s suffered. In a bid to overcome that loss, and after seeing Jesus (more on that later), Nina heads off to Malta with her son in tow in a bid to find out answers to all of the questions she has. Once Nina gets to Malta though, it transpires that – to paraphrase a well-known movie – Nina can see dead people.
Like Bees To Honey encompasses many issues: death, religion, loss, love, guilt, yet it doesn’t seem as heavy a book as you might expect. Yes, it can be a difficult read at times; some of the things Nina admits to doing are quite cringe-worthy but what Nina’s confessions do is enable us to see why she feels such enormous loss and guilt. The book deals heavily with religion. If I’d known that I may not have picked up the book because I’m not at all religious; I’m ambivalent on the fact of whether I believe in God, I don’t go to Church at all, so when Nina says she saw/heard Jesus I thought “Oh no, this isn’t going to be to my liking” but actually, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Yes some of the religious aspects confused me, but on the whole it didn’t cloud my judgement of the book because it wasn’t gratuitous religion, it was necessary to Nina’s beliefs. Jesus is depicted in quite a way throughout Like Bees To Honey, it may well offend overly religious people, however I thought it was really interesting and it gave him a bit of a quirky spin.
The book is ridiculously well written. I constantly hear books being referred to as lyrically written and I’ve never understood what they mean by that, until I read Bees. Like Bees To Honey is lyrically written and Caroline Smailes is a hugely talented writer and I ploughed through Bees at quite a pace. The book is mostly about Nina, however there are a few short stories throughout from some of the spirits Nina sees. They add an interesting dimension to the book and make it a more rounded read for sure. I must also mention the type-setting of Caroline’s books. Bees isn’t just a regular run-of-the-mill typeset book, no, it has some interesting ways of laying out the text. For example:
“He looks at me but does not speak. We both know that the plane is ready to lift us off the ground.
the engines are whirring.
~wh-hir.
~wh-hir.
~wh-hir.
and as my head falls back to the head-rest, the engines whir some more.
~wh-hir.
~wh-hir.
then the plane darts forwards, upwards, it tickles into the back of my throat. I swallow, forced gulps.” (Page 16.)
Which I have to say is such a unique way to write your book and to then type-set it so it looks fantastic, too. There is also a spattering of Maltese phrases throughout the book as well as their translations, so the readers don’t get confused. It certainly helps to get the feel of Malta, which is beautifully described by Caroline, I must say! Caroline has made Malta sound like such a beautiful country, and she has definitely made me interested in visiting the country one day.
Overall I hugely enjoyed Like Bees To Honey. It certainly wasn’t what I expected but what I got was stunning. I even found myself tearing up towards the end of the book. There were certainly some sad scenes towards the close of the book and it was rather unexpected to find I almost had tears in my eyes due to those scenes. I certainly recommend Like Bees To Honey and I can’t wax lyrical enough about it. The writing, the plot, the style, everything will blow you away, but mostly the writing which is incredible. I will definitely be checking out Caroline’s previous books, not to mention keeping an eye on any future reads she produces.
The first time I came across Caroline Smailes, it was when I reading Chat magazine a few years ago. She was featured on the first page and it told of how she began to write her debut novel In Search of Adam. I then remember reading on Caroline’s blog that the article was in fact false. I didn’t think Caroline’s books were to my taste, so I never managed to pick up either of her first two books but after seeing the beautiful cover for her latest book Like Bees To Honey, as well as reading Caroline’s personal story and how close it is in relation to the book, I decided it was time to give one of Caroline’s books a try as I figured my earlier worry over it being not my kind of thing was probably completely wrong.
I have to say I’ve been sitting here since I finished the book wondering how on Earth I was going to review it sufficiently without spoiling certain parts of the book. This will be, hands down, the hardest book review I’ve ever written because the book is rather complex. The first thing I’d like to mention is the book cover. It is so beautiful. It features lots of things relating to Malta – a postcard, an airline ticket and a bottle of Cisk, the local beer. I admit that it is what drew me to the book in the first place. It looks beautiful in pictures but when you actually see it in reality, it’s so much better.
Another thing I will say about Like Bees To Honey is that I’ve never read anything like it in my life. I wouldn’t even begin to catergorise the book bar the fact it’s fiction. It’s uncategorisable, in a good way. Nina, the central character of Likes Bee To Honey, is like no character I’ve encountered before. She’s confused; about life, about her life, about her history and where she came from and about Malta, her birthplace. Nina is also trying to come to terms with a huge loss she’s suffered. In a bid to overcome that loss, and after seeing Jesus (more on that later), Nina heads off to Malta with her son in tow in a bid to find out answers to all of the questions she has. Once Nina gets to Malta though, it transpires that – to paraphrase a well-known movie – Nina can see dead people.
Like Bees To Honey encompasses many issues: death, religion, loss, love, guilt, yet it doesn’t seem as heavy a book as you might expect. Yes, it can be a difficult read at times; some of the things Nina admits to doing are quite cringe-worthy but what Nina’s confessions do is enable us to see why she feels such enormous loss and guilt. The book deals heavily with religion. If I’d known that I may not have picked up the book because I’m not at all religious; I’m ambivalent on the fact of whether I believe in God, I don’t go to Church at all, so when Nina says she saw/heard Jesus I thought “Oh no, this isn’t going to be to my liking” but actually, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Yes some of the religious aspects confused me, but on the whole it didn’t cloud my judgement of the book because it wasn’t gratuitous religion, it was necessary to Nina’s beliefs. Jesus is depicted in quite a way throughout Like Bees To Honey, it may well offend overly religious people, however I thought it was really interesting and it gave him a bit of a quirky spin.
The book is ridiculously well written. I constantly hear books being referred to as lyrically written and I’ve never understood what they mean by that, until I read Bees. Like Bees To Honey is lyrically written and Caroline Smailes is a hugely talented writer and I ploughed through Bees at quite a pace. The book is mostly about Nina, however there are a few short stories throughout from some of the spirits Nina sees. They add an interesting dimension to the book and make it a more rounded read for sure. I must also mention the type-setting of Caroline’s books. Bees isn’t just a regular run-of-the-mill typeset book, no, it has some interesting ways of laying out the text. For example:
“He looks at me but does not speak. We both know that the plane is ready to lift us off the ground.
the engines are whirring.
~wh-hir.
~wh-hir.
~wh-hir.
and as my head falls back to the head-rest, the engines whir some more.
~wh-hir.
~wh-hir.
then the plane darts forwards, upwards, it tickles into the back of my throat. I swallow, forced gulps.” (Page 16.)
Which I have to say is such a unique way to write your book and to then type-set it so it looks fantastic, too. There is also a spattering of Maltese phrases throughout the book as well as their translations, so the readers don’t get confused. It certainly helps to get the feel of Malta, which is beautifully described by Caroline, I must say! Caroline has made Malta sound like such a beautiful country, and she has definitely made me interested in visiting the country one day.
Overall I hugely enjoyed Like Bees To Honey. It certainly wasn’t what I expected but what I got was stunning. I even found myself tearing up towards the end of the book. There were certainly some sad scenes towards the close of the book and it was rather unexpected to find I almost had tears in my eyes due to those scenes. I certainly recommend Like Bees To Honey and I can’t wax lyrical enough about it. The writing, the plot, the style, everything will blow you away, but mostly the writing which is incredible. I will definitely be checking out Caroline’s previous books, not to mention keeping an eye on any future reads she produces.
thecosynook's review
1.0
This is one of those books that I picked up in a charity shop because I liked the title and the cover looked interesting aswell. Don’t get me wrong I wasn’t expecting it to be the bee all and end all (hehe no pun intended) however I thought it would be a cute little summer read
In this book we follow Nina and her son Christopher as they fly to Malta to visit her parents after a tragedy has occurred. Nina has faced a loss of her own and finds that in Malta the living and the dead can communicate – and even help each other come to terms with the difficulties they have faced.
This book is definitely…quirky. I was expecting sadness and learning about moving on and letting go. Instead I just felt confused, nothing was properly explained, descriptions were vague and at quite a few points in the book I had no idea who was alive or who was dead
Our main character Nina is a bit weird, I get she’s been through a loss but her whole character didn’t make sense to me, I didn’t think she was in mourning, I just got the feeling that her character needed to be sad so the character acted sad if that makes sense. Nothing about her character shouted “I’ve just suffered a great loss”
Then we have the ghosts – not exactly the sort of ghosts I was expecting, I found their stories incredibly boring and quickly forgot most of the characters. I liked the plot idea of them being there and people being able to see them but other than that I didn’t find anything particularly fun about them. They were boring, their stories were boring and they didn’t really seem to have a purpose in the story.
I think I definitely expected more from this book, I was expecting a sad but ultimately uplifting book however what I actually got was a character I wasn’t interested in at all and ghosts which didn’t really provide anything to the story and just made it drag further
Then we have the writing style which some Goodreads reviewers say is beautiful and magical – did we read the same book?! Every page there is some sort of description of a sound (I don’t know how describe it) basically a character will be walking in flip-flops down a street flip-flop-flip-flop, a character is then drinking a drink slurp slurp slurp like its just not necessary and I wouldn’t mind but it happened on every single page! It got incredibly repetitive, like we all know the noise flip flops make, you don’t have to explain the sound!
Then we have the translations, throughout the book a character would say something in…Maltese? (I may have just made up a new language) and then the book would explain what was said in English, again great the first few times but it happened frequently throughout the book, its just unnecessary and it really annoyed me because sometimes the same word was said 3 or 4 times on a page and after every time it would be explained in English – NO.
Overall I wouldn’t recommend this book, the story is dull and the writing annoyed the hell out of me, nobody needs repeated translations multiple times on a page and if I read flip-flop-flip-flop one more time I may go mad. There are better books about ghosts and loss out there – go read one of those
In this book we follow Nina and her son Christopher as they fly to Malta to visit her parents after a tragedy has occurred. Nina has faced a loss of her own and finds that in Malta the living and the dead can communicate – and even help each other come to terms with the difficulties they have faced.
This book is definitely…quirky. I was expecting sadness and learning about moving on and letting go. Instead I just felt confused, nothing was properly explained, descriptions were vague and at quite a few points in the book I had no idea who was alive or who was dead
Our main character Nina is a bit weird, I get she’s been through a loss but her whole character didn’t make sense to me, I didn’t think she was in mourning, I just got the feeling that her character needed to be sad so the character acted sad if that makes sense. Nothing about her character shouted “I’ve just suffered a great loss”
Then we have the ghosts – not exactly the sort of ghosts I was expecting, I found their stories incredibly boring and quickly forgot most of the characters. I liked the plot idea of them being there and people being able to see them but other than that I didn’t find anything particularly fun about them. They were boring, their stories were boring and they didn’t really seem to have a purpose in the story.
I think I definitely expected more from this book, I was expecting a sad but ultimately uplifting book however what I actually got was a character I wasn’t interested in at all and ghosts which didn’t really provide anything to the story and just made it drag further
Then we have the writing style which some Goodreads reviewers say is beautiful and magical – did we read the same book?! Every page there is some sort of description of a sound (I don’t know how describe it) basically a character will be walking in flip-flops down a street flip-flop-flip-flop, a character is then drinking a drink slurp slurp slurp like its just not necessary and I wouldn’t mind but it happened on every single page! It got incredibly repetitive, like we all know the noise flip flops make, you don’t have to explain the sound!
Then we have the translations, throughout the book a character would say something in…Maltese? (I may have just made up a new language) and then the book would explain what was said in English, again great the first few times but it happened frequently throughout the book, its just unnecessary and it really annoyed me because sometimes the same word was said 3 or 4 times on a page and after every time it would be explained in English – NO.
Overall I wouldn’t recommend this book, the story is dull and the writing annoyed the hell out of me, nobody needs repeated translations multiple times on a page and if I read flip-flop-flip-flop one more time I may go mad. There are better books about ghosts and loss out there – go read one of those
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