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emilb's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Overall I really loved this book. The slow meandering prose is fully a matter of taste - I loved how it jumped ahead only to loop back in a few chapters so we slowly develop a fuller understanding of what's happening. It reminded me of the dance of bees at times.
The one thing I found hard to deal with was the depiction of class and race. I am not from Mexico, so I don't have an instinctive line to the culture in the way many others will have. What I found a shame was that the only non-white characters who were sympathetic were the loyal servants and labourers who found purpose and happiness in serving the blue eyed fair skinned land owners, while the story did what it did to the indigenous main villain. I wish we had seen more nuance in this aspect.
The one thing I found hard to deal with was the depiction of class and race. I am not from Mexico, so I don't have an instinctive line to the culture in the way many others will have. What I found a shame was that the only non-white characters who were sympathetic were the loyal servants and labourers who found purpose and happiness in serving the blue eyed fair skinned land owners, while the story did what it did to the indigenous main villain. I wish we had seen more nuance in this aspect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Ableism, Murder, Death, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Racism, Rape, and War
stephyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Death of parent, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Blood, Death, Medical trauma, and Murder
jedore's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“…she feigned strength, as she would do for a long time, and by feigning it she would end up believing it, and by believing it, she would make it a reality.”
Segovia's writing is simply stunning. Just like Isabel Allende, she weaves a rich and slow-burning story with a bit of magical realism and fascinating characters that stick with you even when you’re not reading.
Narrated by an elderly man recalling his childhood growing up with his adopted brother in Linares, Mexico, the story is mostly touching, sometimes tense and sad, and ends on a seriously bittersweet note.
The book came so close to making my all-time favorites list…the only reason it didn’t is because I was inexplicably reluctant to pick it up at times despite adoring it. I blame social media for speeding up my brain!
Read this book! It’s absolutely beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Classism, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Animal death
sloopitsteady's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
slow-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Physical abuse
liyaeshetu's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Torture, Death of parent, Death, Murder, Violence, and War
idk_indigo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-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? Yes
4.75
This book was just so beautiful; a story about love & loss & grief. The first 1/3 of the book was, as other reviewers describe, very confusing. We don't figure out exactly who the narrator is until quite a ways through, though there are little hints here & there. We know he has some connection to the characters, and also that he is telling the first part of the story from a point in time where he is not yet born. I thought the reveal of him as the narrator was perfect. It was like a lightbulb moment. Very nice.
The prose was beautiful, if a little bit disjointed; but honestly, I think it made the story that much more interesting, and also made sense if this is from the POV of an old man who was, in the first half, not yet alive; and in the second half, a small boy. The closing scene was a little bit ambiguous, and I think it may come across as unsatisfying. I'm not sure if I'm fully satisfied, but I'm not unsatisfied either, if that makes sense? As in, I think the story ended in a fine place.
Simonopio as a character was sooooo cool; I loved him. I loved how nuanced he was, how little he bothered with others' expectations or beliefs of him. I loved the "adoption" storyline, and also the parallels between him as a young boy always running off & never being able to stay put in a bed or in a house; and Francisco, who was the same way but to a different degree. He was so lovable, and also so protective. And the fact thathe cared so deeply about Francisco Jr. that he "let him go" because he knew that it was the best way to ensure a fulfilling life for the little boy he loved so much... while also making the space for himself to stay in Linares; he knew that was where he belonged. I am so glad they made their way back to each other in the end!
Also, the opening few chapters of this book are so amazing; I started this book in December of 2021 (now February 2024, lol) & ended up DNF'ing it for various reasons (its slow pace, for example, bc oh my it is quite a bit sloooooooooooow). But I was drawn so much to the opening chapters that I just had to reopen it, and I'm so glad I did. What a beautiful story of brotherhood and of family!
#proudmemberoftheSimonopiofanclub
The prose was beautiful, if a little bit disjointed; but honestly, I think it made the story that much more interesting, and also made sense if this is from the POV of an old man who was, in the first half, not yet alive; and in the second half, a small boy. The closing scene was a little bit ambiguous, and I think it may come across as unsatisfying. I'm not sure if I'm fully satisfied, but I'm not unsatisfied either, if that makes sense? As in, I think the story ended in a fine place.
Simonopio as a character was sooooo cool; I loved him. I loved how nuanced he was, how little he bothered with others' expectations or beliefs of him. I loved the "adoption" storyline, and also the parallels between him as a young boy always running off & never being able to stay put in a bed or in a house; and Francisco, who was the same way but to a different degree. He was so lovable, and also so protective. And the fact that
Also, the opening few chapters of this book are so amazing; I started this book in December of 2021 (now February 2024, lol) & ended up DNF'ing it for various reasons (its slow pace, for example, bc oh my it is quite a bit sloooooooooooow). But I was drawn so much to the opening chapters that I just had to reopen it, and I'm so glad I did. What a beautiful story of brotherhood and of family!
#proudmemberoftheSimonopiofanclub
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, and Gun violence
marypaz13's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Format: Audiobook/Audio libro
Resource: Libby
Narrator(s): Humberto Solórzano
Resource: Libby
Narrator(s): Humberto Solórzano
*Reseña en español hacia al final*
Basic Story:
This is the story of Simonnopio, a boy who was abandon and when found, he was next to a beehive. Many thought of him as a monster, someone kissed by the devil himself, but his adoptive family loved him, and so did his bees.
The story follows the family Morales. It narrates between the historical/storytelling voice (3rd person), the thought process of Simonopio (3rd person), and that of the 3rd Morales child, Francisco Morales, Jr. (1st person). The story encompasses major points in Mexican history: Mexican Revolution, La Reforma, etc.
Thoughts & Notes:
I listened to the audio.
The storytelling was very lyrical in parts.
It's full of superstition, religious beliefs, and human emotion.
There was so much happening historically -- The war had just ended, the Spanish Flu came along, then there's La Reforma, and of course everything that's happening in the world. Just crazy timing (the author did write in the note that she played with some of the timing on some events to help with the pacing).
You have this kid that was abandoned to die, adopted into the Morales family. Disliked at first because of his looks and the fact that bees were always swarming around him, but he changed their lives in more ways then they could have imagined. There was always this feeling of enchantment -- the *magical realism* -- surrounding Simonopio, but it wasn't fantastical. Which growing up with Mexican grandparents, I grew up with that type of storytelling. The kind that makes you wonder how but still accept it as fact. Nothing more, nothing less.
El murmullo de las abejas is able to depict basic human emotions: love, hate, fear, loneliness, with just enough delicacy to make the reader feel those emotions. I loved Simonopio, I felt pity for the coyote guy (can't remember his name).
Reading this just reminded me of my grandma's.
Reseña
Esta es el cuento de Simonopio. Un niño abandonado que fue encontrado junto un panal de abejas. Muchos piensan que es un demonio, cuya cara fue besado por el diablo. Sin embargo, fue amado por la familia Morales, los que lo adopto, y sus abejas.
La novela sigue a la familia Morales. La narración cambia entre el cuento de Linares & la familia Morales (3er persona), la narración de Simonopio (3ra persona), y entre la narración del 3er hijo, Francisco Morales chico, en primera persona. Se menciona eventos importantes en la historia Mexicana, como la Revolución y la Reforma.
Notas y pensamientos:
Escuché el audio.
La narración tubo sus momentos líricos.
Una novela llena de superstición, deberes religiosos, y emoción humana.
Es una novela histórica. Habla sobre la Revolución, el flu española, la Reforma, entre various momentos históricos, no solo en México, si no también por el mundo. Todo parece pasar en capitulo, y la autora aclara en su nota que tomo libertades artísticas en las fechas en que algunos momentos históricos pasaron.
La novela te presenta a un recién nacido, abandonado bajo aun puente. Cuando fue encontrado, pensaron que estaba muerto ya que estaba rodeado por abejas. El niño fue adoptado por la familia Morales, Beatriz & Francisco, cuyo terminaron siendo los padrinos del niño, Simonopio. Simonopio fue despreciado por cómo se veía y por el hecho de que siempre estaba rodeado por abejas. Sin embargo, le cambio la vida a la familia Morales, y a todos que vivían en la región, en maneras que nunca se imaginarían. Al escuchar, tenia una noción de encanto, no necesariamente un elemento fantástico, si no asombroso. Siento que cuando la gente dice "realismo mágico" piensan en fantasia, o en sus elementos, y no siempre es hace, como lo es en esta novela. Crecí con abuelos Mexicanos, y muchos de los cuentos que me contaban eran así -- una narración que de dejaba pensando "¿cómo?" pero a la vez aceptándolo.
El murmullo de las abejas es capaz de representar las emociones básicas: el amar, odiar, el temor, la soledad, entre otros. Y lo hace con una delicadez. Uno como lector puede sentir esas emociones con y sobre los personajes. Por ejemplo, con Simonopio, se siente la ternura al "ver" lo crecer y se siente el amor que le tubo a sus padrinos. O cómo se siente una lastima hacia a coyote (no me acuerdo del nombre del señor).
En fin, me recordó a mi propia infancia y a mi abuela.
Quotes [Citas]:
"Esperaba que el efecto curativo del sinapismo que el había tolerado con tanta paciencia y estoicismo alcanzara para cubrir y sanar en el corazón de su querido padrino todas las heridas que pronto sufriría. Inevitablemente. Por que se dirijan a la vida. Si, pero no por eso la vida seria más fácil" (capítulo 15)
"...las casas mueren cuando se dejan de alimentarse de la energía de sus dueños." (capítulo 16)
"Sucede aveces, que cuando no tenemos a alguien delante de nosotros, a plena vista, en contacto constante, si bien sabemos que no por eso deja de existir, nos parece que es imposible que continue sin nosotros. Que mantenga su permanencia sin nuestra influenza física. Tal vez este sea una remanente de lo mas profundo y básico de la temprana infancia. Cuando no se quiere perder de vista la madre por el temor que desaparezca." (capítulo 21)
"Por que solo se ve a la perfección cuando echamos la vista atras. Y por eso la vida la llenamos de hubieras." (capítulo 22)
"pero aveces lo que los niños no entienden lo sienten." (capítulo 49)
"Las raises son importantes Francisco. Riega las raíces." (capítulo 72)
"Los recuerdos son algo curioso. Mientras que siempre me sentía afortunado al tener algunas cuantas fotografías de mi papa, estas terminaron por contaminar mis recuerdos de él. Por que al verlas tanto, fueron sustituyendo al imagen del hombre de carne y hueso..." (capítulo 91)
Rating Breakdown [Puntaje & Clasificación]
Writing Style & Pacing [Estilo & ritmo de escritura]: 3.75
Characters [Personajes]: 4
Storyline/Plot [Narración & trama] : 3.75
Audio Narration [Narración del audio]: 3.5
Overall Rating [Calificación al final]: 3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Child death, Rape, Child abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, and War
sam_lecksell's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A beautiful reminder embrace life in all its wonder and pain. Loved this book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Death of parent, and Murder
changeusernamel8r's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Mi opinión:
Me tomó dos años terminar este libro.
Definitvamente se convirtió en uno de los libros que más tiempo tarde en leer. Primero, lo dejé por qué no tenía lo necesario para hacer las anotaciones que quería y después lo deje por qué no me atrevía a saber cómo terminaba.
Pero me siento bastante orgullosa de mí misma por haber agarrado el coraje de leer las últimas 100 páginas sabiendo que tendría que sufrir junto con los personajes y tendría que aceptar que la historia finalmente llegaba a su fin.
Leer cómo los caminos de algunos personajes se separaban fue horrible, y más por qué llevaba mucho sin leer voluntariamente una historia que me hiciera sentir tantas emociones.
Fue un muy buen libro para comenzar el año. Mi propósito para este año es no leer tanto como el año pasado, pero que sean historias que en verdad me transmitan cosas, que en verdad me hagan adentrarme y vivir toda otra vida por medio de palabras.
Definitvamente se convirtió en uno de los libros que más tiempo tarde en leer. Primero, lo dejé por qué no tenía lo necesario para hacer las anotaciones que quería y después lo deje por qué no me atrevía a saber cómo terminaba.
Pero me siento bastante orgullosa de mí misma por haber agarrado el coraje de leer las últimas 100 páginas sabiendo que tendría que sufrir junto con los personajes y tendría que aceptar que la historia finalmente llegaba a su fin.
Leer cómo los caminos de algunos personajes se separaban fue horrible, y más por qué llevaba mucho sin leer voluntariamente una historia que me hiciera sentir tantas emociones.
Fue un muy buen libro para comenzar el año. Mi propósito para este año es no leer tanto como el año pasado, pero que sean historias que en verdad me transmitan cosas, que en verdad me hagan adentrarme y vivir toda otra vida por medio de palabras.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Gun violence, Violence, and Rape
Minor: Vomit
Rape was to secondary character, it was given detailed explanation of the aftermath and the physical consequences the character suffered. It includes strong violence.alfredesin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Rape