Scan barcode
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The Ardent Swarm was a short but impactful read. Written by a Tunisian author and set in a remote mountainous village in North Africa, it is the story of Sidi, a devoted beekeeper. He is devastated to discover that some of his hives have been destroyed by a hornet he has never seen before. When he returns to his village, and then ventures into the capital city to learn more about the hornet in order to save his “girls”, he notices some marked changes, with obvious parallels to what is happening to his bees.
This delightful read was a parable, an allegory exploring the rise of religious fundamentalism in North Africa. I really enjoyed watching the two storylines play out side by side, picking up the similarities and metaphors.
One of the things I liked about this story was it’s warmth. There was a strong community spirit as friends and other rallied around Sidi, doing what they could to help him to save the bees.
It is a little slow to start but definitely worth persevering with. The writing and translation are beautiful, it highlights the wonder and value of bees, as well as the fragility of democracy. The Arab Spring got a lot of news time in the west but since then news interest has waned. This little gem ha some of the answers as to what’s happened since.
This delightful read was a parable, an allegory exploring the rise of religious fundamentalism in North Africa. I really enjoyed watching the two storylines play out side by side, picking up the similarities and metaphors.
One of the things I liked about this story was it’s warmth. There was a strong community spirit as friends and other rallied around Sidi, doing what they could to help him to save the bees.
It is a little slow to start but definitely worth persevering with. The writing and translation are beautiful, it highlights the wonder and value of bees, as well as the fragility of democracy. The Arab Spring got a lot of news time in the west but since then news interest has waned. This little gem ha some of the answers as to what’s happened since.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Murder, Colonisation, and Police brutality
aew325's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Death, and Police brutality
Minor: War and Colonisation
More...