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0live_tr33's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Police brutality, and Animal death
rhiannonhoward's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Police brutality, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Torture, Animal death, Blood, Gore, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Slavery, Body horror, Child death, Grief, and Murder
lostgwennel's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Death
lipstickitotheman's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Death, Body horror, Classism, Grief, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Violence, and Xenophobia
jkpiowa's review
- 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
Graphic: Animal death and Gaslighting
dellydoos's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
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.
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Genocide, Xenophobia, Sexism, and Religious bigotry
sydfreeman's review
- 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
Graphic: Animal death
atamano's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body shaming, Classism, Xenophobia, and Animal death
Moderate: Grief, Gore, and Violence
emmalouisereads's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Animal death
cammiem8's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, and Child death