Reviews with content warning for Animal death - The Bees

Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

lostgwennel's review

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dark informative tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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lipstickitotheman's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is really really cool. I loved the audiobook, very engaging. The whole story is really ominous and interesting and dark and gorgeous. I really love how sensory experiences are described--the author clearly worked hard and is very skilled at describing scents, sounds, visuals.

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jkpiowa's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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dellydoos's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Think Handmaids Tale combined with Animal Farm, except not that dark because this book is literally about bees… The Bees was totally batshit bonkers. And I was here for it.

Witty and ironic, Laline Paul wrote with a confident and straight-forward style that hooked me from the first page. She weaves her storytelling with a unique blend of humour and sharp observation. This precision extends to the scientific aspects of the story, where the author’s attention to accuracy adds depth and credibility to the narrative. But also a lot of enjoyment. For instance, you might have already been aware that male bees, known as drones, perish after mating with the queen. However, within Laline Paull's hive, the queen proudly sports the drone’s detached organ as a keepsake from an unforgettable encounter. Hilarious stuff.

Laline Paul’s willingness to embrace the unconventional is refreshing. She fearlessly plunges into the realm of bees, giving them voices and personalities that resonate with the human experience. And what makes The Bees truly exceptional is its ability to tackle profound themes while maintaining a gripping and accessible narrative. Just like The Handmaid’s Tale and Animal Farm, it delves into the complexities of power, hierarchy, religion and community. The allegorical elements are cleverly intertwined with the bee society, making for a thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating read.

However, I felt the book’s strength sliding a little when it came to the character development. This was mostly a plot driven novel, and whilst I resonated with Flora 717, I yearned for a deeper exploration of her character. There was more to discover beneath the surface of the characters within this book.

Flora 717, the brave and resilient protagonist, is undoubtedly the heart of the story. Her journey from a lowly sanitation worker to a figure of great significance within the hive is a testament to the author's ability to craft a compelling lead character. However, there were moments when I longed for a more profound glimpse into Flora's inner thoughts, emotions, and motivations. While her actions spoke volumes, a deeper exploration of her psyche would have added a layer of complexity that could have made her even more interesting.

Even so, this book was exactly what I needed after a couple of dry reading months. I devoured it within a single sitting, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who just needs a good time with a great book. 4.5/5 stars.

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sydfreeman's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I loved this one! It’s Black Mirror and the Bee Movie rolled up into a story that follows a bee’s life from start to finish.

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atamano's review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

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emmalouisereads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative tense 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? It's complicated

3.5

This book was very strange to read because it was about bees. Now I know I knew the book was about bees before I read it, but that didn’t stop it being a strange read.

I think I would have benefitted from knowing more facts about bees before reading - such as bees can reproduce asexually. At times the language used and the writing confused me, and I didn’t always understand what was happening.

It was a fascinating read, I learned a lot about bees… I also now feel pretty guilty about enjoying honey.

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cammiem8's review

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adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book was SO GOOD and especially interesting for me to read as an entomology student! Strangely human for a story about bees, this is at its core about the love between a mother and her daughter.

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