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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
This is one of those novels that you hope to find every time you start a new book. It’s magical, meant to be savored, every word consumed slowly as the author takes you on the journey you were hoping for when you opened the first page. And when the journey is finished you find yourself sad it’s over, and unable to shake the images, the story, the characters, and the message of this treasure. I stumbled upon this book and gave it a chance, and oh my...I’m so glad I did!
Beautiful writing. Good book, just not my jam. I would still recommend, though.
Unexpected....
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this. I was a bit confused at the beginning, and it felt slow-going. It picked up not quite halfway through and the last third was hard to put down. Overall, it's well-written and interesting, but the struggle for me to continue the first part of the novel had me debating three and four stars.
Content for those who like to know: no profanity, no sex (there is some sensuality, but no sex), yes to violence, primarily in the last third of the book. The violence is personal ~ up close, intimate, and very real-seeming. Also, parts of the book may be painful for people who lost a loved one to COVID. (This was written pre-COVID, but there is much talk about the Spanish flu pandemic. The restrictions she wrote about had me checking the date the book had been written. They felt very familiar.)
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this. I was a bit confused at the beginning, and it felt slow-going. It picked up not quite halfway through and the last third was hard to put down. Overall, it's well-written and interesting, but the struggle for me to continue the first part of the novel had me debating three and four stars.
Content for those who like to know: no profanity, no sex (there is some sensuality, but no sex), yes to violence, primarily in the last third of the book. The violence is personal ~ up close, intimate, and very real-seeming. Also, parts of the book may be painful for people who lost a loved one to COVID. (This was written pre-COVID, but there is much talk about the Spanish flu pandemic. The restrictions she wrote about had me checking the date the book had been written. They felt very familiar.)
This was sort a slow-burn kind of read, it took a bit to get into the story, and at times I struggled to get through some of the more descriptive and historical bits, but it was a really beautiful, sorrowful story about family, friendship, loss and strength.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent
I thoroughly enjoyed the murmur of bees it's unlike anything I have read before. Initially it gave me "the giver" vibes but as I kept reading I realized it's one of a kind. It's definitely a page turner and kept me hooked until the end. We all need a simonopio in our life who'd love and protect unconditionally.
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was incredible! So beautiful written. I fell in love with the Morales family and especially Simonopio.
This book is a translation and I thought the writing was just lovely. It has a supernatural feel with the character of Simonopio and the bees that follow him around. We follow the Morales family and the struggles they have in Mexico during the revolution and flu outbreak of 1918. The story felt a bit slow, but I was still in love with the beauty of the writing.