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debamame's review
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
bookguyinva2022's review against another edition
5.0
9*s, 10 if only one question had been answered. There is so much to love about this book but the engaging writing and such a loveable main character top the list.
nferre's review against another edition
4.0
I might never have picked up this book had Amazon not had it up for free for “Celebrate World Book Day.” As it is I got the kindle for free and picked up the audiobook version for $1.99. And it was worth it!
The story takes place in a fictional country which is assumed to be Tunisia, shortly after the Arab Spring. There’s a beekeeper, Sidi, who lives in the village of Nawa; he is a gentle man who talks to his bees and cares for them with tenderness as one would care and talk to their pet cats or dogs. He calls them his “girls.” One morning finds his colonies of bees have been murdered by killer hornets. Parallel to his bees is the strife created by upcoming elections. Together with the theme of ecological wellness, of protecting the species of the earth, are themes of political corruption, fading democracy, religious righteousness, and fanaticism. Men enveloped in their own version of Islamic godliness are more bent on violence and personal enrichment than the kindness their religion espouses and come down hard on the villagers.
The book depicts the delicate balance of our world ecology and the importance of believing in science, and the danger of not doing so. If the bees are representative of working folks going about their business in the world, the hornets are representative of those who would attack without cause, for the sake of conquering and destruction. Unfortunately, a very appropriate theme for the situation in our world in April of 2022.
There is, however, a glimmer of hope, of kindness, and positivity within the book – one can only hope that this is not just a mirage in real life.
The story takes place in a fictional country which is assumed to be Tunisia, shortly after the Arab Spring. There’s a beekeeper, Sidi, who lives in the village of Nawa; he is a gentle man who talks to his bees and cares for them with tenderness as one would care and talk to their pet cats or dogs. He calls them his “girls.” One morning finds his colonies of bees have been murdered by killer hornets. Parallel to his bees is the strife created by upcoming elections. Together with the theme of ecological wellness, of protecting the species of the earth, are themes of political corruption, fading democracy, religious righteousness, and fanaticism. Men enveloped in their own version of Islamic godliness are more bent on violence and personal enrichment than the kindness their religion espouses and come down hard on the villagers.
The book depicts the delicate balance of our world ecology and the importance of believing in science, and the danger of not doing so. If the bees are representative of working folks going about their business in the world, the hornets are representative of those who would attack without cause, for the sake of conquering and destruction. Unfortunately, a very appropriate theme for the situation in our world in April of 2022.
There is, however, a glimmer of hope, of kindness, and positivity within the book – one can only hope that this is not just a mirage in real life.
kybrz's review against another edition
4.0
A fantastic modern-day fable. Told from several POV but focusing primarily on Sidi, a hermetic beekeeper, and his girls (the aforementioned bees). Manai conflates the drama surrounding an individual beehive with the greater drama taking over his country. Post-Arab Spring, a religious sect trying to sway an upcoming election through charity and gifts creates an unintended rising in fundamentalism in tandem with releasing an infestation of murder hornets. The book is a brief and thought-provoking look at a country extremely similar to the author's native Tunisia.
mighty_lizard_queen's review against another edition
2.0
Boring and heavy handed; the handful of attempts of humor weren’t funny (fart jokes? really?) and felt out of place from the rest of the narrative
annetjeberg's review against another edition
4.0
Set in a fictional Arabic country, but so much truth to it. I really enjoyed The Ardent Swarm by Yamen Manai.
Wonderful story, and so much that is so closely tied to reality...
Wonderful story, and so much that is so closely tied to reality...
amylynn79's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
zellm's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. I liked the allegories here, and found the beekeeping parts to be the most interesting thing in the whole book. I think although the symbolism is pretty obvious here, it is well done and provides a great image. Really well done.
alex2023's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75