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jerefi's review against another edition
1.0
First off, it was rather jarring starting this book with the concept that this book was the inspiration for Akillah and the Bee. Wait. No it wasn't. The person who gave me this book mixed up their movies. Whew. I was having a hard time figuring out how a book about a very dysfunctional and obsessive Jewish family turned into a heart warming film about an African American family. Back to the book: when I finished this book I literally said to myself, "Wow. That was depressing." The farther I got into the book, the more I felt myself mentally severing myself from it. The way some books take a while for you to warm up, this one works in the opposite fashion. Needless to say, I did not find it brilliant. I felt at times as if it was trying too hard to sound brilliant or awe inspiring. Well, those traits, like comedy cannot be forced. She missed that memo.
bkmorales's review against another edition
3.0
The beginning of this book really drew me in with great descriptions and an unusual storyline. The ending got a little strange, which is why I only rated it a 3.
tegsreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I'm also an incredible speller so I thought this was a book I could relate to. There is a lot about religion in this book, and while normally that would be bothersome for me, it wasn't overpowering nor did it get in the way. In fact, it helped move the novel along.
I went into this novel with certain expectations, and those expectations were met-- and then some. I'm glad I took the time to read it, as this was a cute little heartwarming story.
I went into this novel with certain expectations, and those expectations were met-- and then some. I'm glad I took the time to read it, as this was a cute little heartwarming story.
morghan_1947's review against another edition
5.0
This is a well crafted story of a family in crisis and ultimately decline and dissolution. It is so interesting to me her parallels with Aaron's journey to seek metaphysical enlightenment juxtaposed against Eliza's Judaic mysticism. I do find it difficult to understand, though, how Saul could have been married to Miriam, and have no idea where the money is coming from and how the bills are paid.... just a picky observation. It was clear, early on that Miriam was in trouble, and soon would be caught, even in the days before home alarms, someone was bound to be home! Ultimately Saul's complete emotional distance from his both his wife and children, were the undoing of all. I felt Ellie to be the strongest character as she was much more adept at assessing feeling and emotion.
walstib's review
5.0
Loved this book, read it long ago but hadn't marked as Read. Thanks Elyse for reminding me. Glad you liked it too!
sharonfalduto's review against another edition
A somewhat odd book that conflates spelling bees with talking to God, both through Judaism and Hare Krishna, and with obsessive compulsive disorder.
scorpstar77's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a seasoned Myla Goldberg reader now, after my second reading of Bee Season. I've read two of her other books as well - [b:The False Friend|8008197|The False Friend|Myla Goldberg|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1278017324s/8008197.jpg|12545660] and [b:Wickett's Remedy|8531443|Wickett's Remedy|Myla Goldberg|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1278113505s/8531443.jpg|1756651] - and enjoyed both of them immensely. But Goldberg's debut novel remains my favorite.
Bee Season is the story of a family falling apart at the seams. The Naumanns have lived for years in a delicate balance. Saul, the patriarch, is confident that he knows and understands every member of his family and prides himself on his understanding and ability to help them all be the very best people they can be. Miriam, his wife, is an obsessive-compulsive neat-freak of an attorney who doesn't seem to really know what to do with any member of her family, especially her children. Aaron, the eldest child, is a teenager struggling with his life-long Jewish beliefs and his recent loss of his father's attention. He loses his dad's attention when Eliza, the youngest, unexpectedly proves herself to be a spelling bee prodigy after a lifetime, to that point, of absolute academic mediocrity. The day of Eliza's first two bees - winning her class bee and then the school bee - is the day that upsets the delicate balance and sends the family spiraling toward disaster.
I've read in other reviews that they didn't like this book because the family is dysfunctional. Well...DUH. Did you want to read a story about a perfectly happy family? Of course not; how boring that would be. The Naumanns are absolutely dysfunctional, but they're fascinating. I've been dissecting the book a bit more in my head this time, and I think I've come up with two main points from the book: first, none of us ever truly know any other person, no matter how close to them we think we are; and second, that placing our own expectations on other people is at best pointless and at worst destructive. Every bad thing that happens in the book is brought about by the heavy weight of one person trying and failing to live up to another person's expectations. That cycle is brought to an end on the last page, when Eliza intentionally shrugs off her father's expectations of her, hoping that will begin a process of healing for her family.
I still love this book. The second time around I still eagerly devoured it in less than 24 hours. I am still blown away by its beauty and complexity in such a quick read.
Following is my original review from the first time I read this book in 2007. Holy shit. That's about all I can say after having finished this book in less than 24 hours. I am completely blown away by the intensity portrayed here and the weird interconnectedness Goldberg brings to spelling bees and Kabbalism and Eastern mysticism and family dynamics and mental illness and giftedness... It is a book that defies description, and one of the best and most powerful I've ever read.
Bee Season is the story of a family falling apart at the seams. The Naumanns have lived for years in a delicate balance. Saul, the patriarch, is confident that he knows and understands every member of his family and prides himself on his understanding and ability to help them all be the very best people they can be. Miriam, his wife, is an obsessive-compulsive neat-freak of an attorney who doesn't seem to really know what to do with any member of her family, especially her children. Aaron, the eldest child, is a teenager struggling with his life-long Jewish beliefs and his recent loss of his father's attention. He loses his dad's attention when Eliza, the youngest, unexpectedly proves herself to be a spelling bee prodigy after a lifetime, to that point, of absolute academic mediocrity. The day of Eliza's first two bees - winning her class bee and then the school bee - is the day that upsets the delicate balance and sends the family spiraling toward disaster.
I've read in other reviews that they didn't like this book because the family is dysfunctional. Well...DUH. Did you want to read a story about a perfectly happy family? Of course not; how boring that would be. The Naumanns are absolutely dysfunctional, but they're fascinating. I've been dissecting the book a bit more in my head this time, and I think I've come up with two main points from the book: first, none of us ever truly know any other person, no matter how close to them we think we are; and second, that placing our own expectations on other people is at best pointless and at worst destructive. Every bad thing that happens in the book is brought about by the heavy weight of one person trying and failing to live up to another person's expectations. That cycle is brought to an end on the last page, when Eliza intentionally shrugs off her father's expectations of her, hoping that will begin a process of healing for her family.
I still love this book. The second time around I still eagerly devoured it in less than 24 hours. I am still blown away by its beauty and complexity in such a quick read.
Following is my original review from the first time I read this book in 2007. Holy shit. That's about all I can say after having finished this book in less than 24 hours. I am completely blown away by the intensity portrayed here and the weird interconnectedness Goldberg brings to spelling bees and Kabbalism and Eastern mysticism and family dynamics and mental illness and giftedness... It is a book that defies description, and one of the best and most powerful I've ever read.
brokensporty's review
4.0
Book Club Read
Overall, this book covered coming of age, spiritual awakening, mental illness, and the gamut of family dynamics. Some of the scenarios are far-fetched, but the characters were interesting enough to keep me reading.
The son and daughter were doing what kids do, trying to find their place in the world.
The father was trying to force his quest for transcendence onto the kids and focused all of his spare time and effort toward his son because his daughter didn't have any special abilities that he could see. He dropped his son like a hot potato at the first sign of something special in his daughter and focused ALL of his time and energy on her.
The mother was raised detached and came out of it detached and mentally ill. She did an excellent job of covering it up while descending deeper and deeper into madness until she wasn't in control enough to cover her tracks.
The story ended with a powerful moment for the daughter, but left a lot of unanswered questions for the family. Like real life, families have their differences, kids grow up and find their own way, and life goes on.
Side Note: I know little to nothing of Judaism and it was very informative about some of those services and customs.
Overall, this book covered coming of age, spiritual awakening, mental illness, and the gamut of family dynamics. Some of the scenarios are far-fetched, but the characters were interesting enough to keep me reading.
The son and daughter were doing what kids do, trying to find their place in the world.
The father was trying to force his quest for transcendence onto the kids and focused all of his spare time and effort toward his son because his daughter didn't have any special abilities that he could see. He dropped his son like a hot potato at the first sign of something special in his daughter and focused ALL of his time and energy on her.
The mother was raised detached and came out of it detached and mentally ill. She did an excellent job of covering it up while descending deeper and deeper into madness until she wasn't in control enough to cover her tracks.
The story ended with a powerful moment for the daughter, but left a lot of unanswered questions for the family. Like real life, families have their differences, kids grow up and find their own way, and life goes on.
Side Note: I know little to nothing of Judaism and it was very informative about some of those services and customs.
themoonkestrel's review against another edition
1.0
What could have been a wonderful book, and one full of depth turns out to be a very screwed up book, just as it's characters are. Too many twists in the plot and they get you nowhere, characters don't really change at all, you just get to see this kind of puppets being puppets all through the book and having no backbone or real character or even a real plot to go with.
It's very sad it disappointed me so much, since I was expecting something better, it being made a movie and some people I think highly of recommending it to me.
It's very sad it disappointed me so much, since I was expecting something better, it being made a movie and some people I think highly of recommending it to me.
dydemus's review against another edition
3.0
While this book was interesting and easy to read, there was nothing very memorable to me. I think if I had read it with others they might have pointed out some things to make it more memborable, but as it was, I wouldn't pick this one up again.