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jencunn2024's review against another edition
3.0
This novel is fantastic but long. I am giving it only 3 stars because I think it could have been more succinct and still had the emotional impact. It was just too long with some dry spells. However, it is absolutely a wonderful tale filled with fable, legend, and superstition and told in oral narrative style. The story follows five protagonists, one in first person and the other four in third person. The reason the novel is so long is that you get different perspectives of the same events, but there is great value and advantage to the reader in having those extra insights. The timeline includes the Spanish flu and Mexican migration and agriculture from early to kid-century (20th) across several generations. I loved Segova’s subtle inclusions of Catholicism and as well as alternative beliefs and cultural practices. She stresses mysticism, faith, the natural, the supernatural and miracles. There is an element of magical realism throughout, very much a part of Mexican tradition. It starts with the story of the grandmother finding an abandoned baby and taking him on to raise him as hers. The boy has a birth defect and brings with him a warm of bees. Quickly labeled by society as a devil’s child, he and his newly adopted family will soon convince you otherwise. And yes, you do learn about the bees and their murmur. In addition, there is socio-political and criminal mayhem adding to the mystery.
ashleighjadereads's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
jmodef's review against another edition
5.0
A story written in a language of heritage and landscapes, this story ignites the senses.
rhodaj's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
lauracooleyjohnson's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Rarely do I give a book 5 stars when it really doesn’t have a compelling, well, story. But my goodness, this novel truly enveloped me in delicious words, comforted with sage wisdom, and just generally left me warm and full feeling. A huge credit to the author, and the translator. This was a work of art.
aneedleinmybookstack's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
mitskacir's review against another edition
2.0
I really disliked this book, mainly because it was incredibly boring. I forced myself to listen to the whole thing, but ended up doing so at double speed because I couldn't wait for it to be over. Segovia's descriptions of events are repetitive, unnuanced, and tell the reader how the characters are feeling and what they are doing rather than allowing the reader to experience anything with the characters. This resulted in a book where I cared very little for any of the characters and was uninterested even in dramatic events that took place. I was also expecting more magical realism, but any hint of it in this book was over-explained or remarked upon by characters in the book.