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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Bees was such a heavy, mind-blowing read, that I dare say it was like being smoked in a bee-hive. You are surrounded by sensation, the sounds of the hive, the sugary-delirium of the cluster, the fear as Flora fights for every minute of her short life. The research that must have gone into this book is staggering, but the writing felt as light as the buzz of wings. The book was so original, so intense and so beautifully described that when I closed the book, I leaned back for a minute and clutched it to my chest, knowing that I would not read something like this ever again in my lifetime.
I feel like I was supposed to get a deeper meaning out of this book. The author seemed to be trying to warn of hierarchy systems, of blind following, of ‘Big Brother’, the corruption inherent in such a system, the power dynamics of a totalitarian society, and the concept of a surveillance society. The ‘deeper meaning’ within this book fell flat, in my opinion. This isn’t to say that the novel was bad. Not since Charlotte’s Web have I felt as much for a bug as I do for Flora 717 the honeybee. On top of that, I feel that the setting as well as the storytelling is very creative.
While the story started fairly slow and boring, it picked up quickly after the first quarter of the book and kept my attention throughout the rest of the novel. The imagery of particularly action-packed events were really good. I especially liked scenes with the wasps, scenes in which Flora collected pollen, and the scene when the beekeeper collected the honey. Unfortunately, I felt that the story also ended flatly. I was rather disappointed with the climax and its resolution. It felt forced and contrived. Overall, it was a nice read but I can’t rate is as an overall favourite by any means, and it even falls short of four stars, for me.
While the story started fairly slow and boring, it picked up quickly after the first quarter of the book and kept my attention throughout the rest of the novel. The imagery of particularly action-packed events were really good. I especially liked scenes with the wasps, scenes in which Flora collected pollen, and the scene when the beekeeper collected the honey. Unfortunately, I felt that the story also ended flatly. I was rather disappointed with the climax and its resolution. It felt forced and contrived. Overall, it was a nice read but I can’t rate is as an overall favourite by any means, and it even falls short of four stars, for me.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
There are very few books that the minute I put them down I am on Google seeking out information on the structure of bee hives. I felt pulled in to every detail as if it were fact. The dichotomy of the hive is well written, and the personalities of bee types are wonderfully crafted. Laline Paull drafts a creative and engaging story that pulls the reader along and causes them to personally invest in the hive. As a women, I am drawn in by the matriarchal society and find myself overwhelmed by the hive mind. I highly recommend you read this unique twist on a dystopian novel.
I've never read a novel from the perspective of bees before, so that was interested. I learned a lot about bees but was never bogged down by information or back story. I learned by observing and by living life through a bee's eyes, which is a nice way to learn.
In the beginning of the story I struggled to figure out the plot. I had no idea where the story was going. And not in an exciting, on the edge of your seat way, but in kind of a confused, unsatisfied way. That feeling kind of lingered on - stuff happened, but it never felt like the story was moving towards anything. Even when Flora expressed (to the readers and herself) her desire to lay and raise an egg (which prompted me to google "bee reproduction"), there lacked forward motion. Perhaps the goal of the story was just to chronicle a year in a beehive. If so, well done.
In the beginning of the story I struggled to figure out the plot. I had no idea where the story was going. And not in an exciting, on the edge of your seat way, but in kind of a confused, unsatisfied way. That feeling kind of lingered on - stuff happened, but it never felt like the story was moving towards anything. Even when Flora expressed (to the readers and herself) her desire to lay and raise an egg (which prompted me to google "bee reproduction"), there lacked forward motion. Perhaps the goal of the story was just to chronicle a year in a beehive. If so, well done.
I genuine couldn't put this book down. I picked it up in Waterstones and wasn't sure what to expect - and I am so glad I bought it. It's an excellent read.
Wonderfully written, this novel takes you into the mind of a bee! The descriptions are amazing.