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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Slow start, maybe because I’ve never read a book from the pov of a bee. But it was interesting and ultimately I quite enjoyed it. The end picks up steam and I found myself trying to find out what happens next and found the ending satisfactory and unforced.
Bizarre. I don't even known if I liked it or not. The author makes the bees so human-like at times and then in the next instant reminds you how totally crazy town bees are and it is jarring. I liked the bee education I acquired (I had no idea bees were so grossly fascinating), but I did not really like the story.
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
A tentative 3.5 stars
This was one of the more unique books I've read of late. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect coming into this, but what I got was some Frankenstein-esque combination of The Handmaid's tale, Watership Down, and Cinderella? And I think I liked it? I'm not entirely sure yet.
This book was a lot gorier than I anticipated; I was honestly deeply disturbed at some parts. That made it better, I think. It did, at most parts, feel like the story was about actual bees and not anthropomorphized humans (read: The Bee Movie). I think the story touched on issues affecting the bee population very well, though it did lead to a somewhat bleak narrative. Our polluted world through the perspective of a little bee is very depressing.
I liked the characters in general, even if the narrative did become a little convoluted and confusing at some parts. I really liked that the narrative did not revolve a romance, because I'm tired of that in general and to be honest I would hate to read a love story between bees. The looming threat of a potential bee love story kept me on edge the entire book, and I was very relieved to see that was not the direction that Laline Paull was going for.
This was one of the more unique books I've read of late. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect coming into this, but what I got was some Frankenstein-esque combination of The Handmaid's tale, Watership Down, and Cinderella? And I think I liked it? I'm not entirely sure yet.
This book was a lot gorier than I anticipated; I was honestly deeply disturbed at some parts. That made it better, I think. It did, at most parts, feel like the story was about actual bees and not anthropomorphized humans (read: The Bee Movie). I think the story touched on issues affecting the bee population very well, though it did lead to a somewhat bleak narrative. Our polluted world through the perspective of a little bee is very depressing.
I liked the characters in general, even if the narrative did become a little convoluted and confusing at some parts. I really liked that the narrative did not revolve a romance, because I'm tired of that in general and to be honest I would hate to read a love story between bees. The looming threat of a potential bee love story kept me on edge the entire book, and I was very relieved to see that was not the direction that Laline Paull was going for.
I loved the premise of this book - written from the perspective of a worker bee, Paull creates an entire society in the bee hive. It reads like a dystopian futuristic novel, where the world has slightly different rules than the one in which we live, which, when followed to its conclusion, has some nefarious outcomes. While I thought it was innovative and quite well-written, I did think it dragged on at some points and didn't keep me in its grips. It did make me want to learn more about bees!
adventurous
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes