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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
story was pretty good, but ended up being a bit preachy at the end about the environment. Think she could have done a better job without being so didactic.
slow-paced
Read for school.
While this novel touched on relevant subjects it fell short in several departments. It is quite literally about the history of bees, and we follow characters from three different perspectives: past, present, and future (when bees have gone extinct worldwide). The connection—other than somewhat similar themes—wasn’t revealed until the end and then it felt haphazard and not very premeditated. Besides the lack of a strong connection between the perspectives, I also had problems with the characters as some of them lacked depth and were, at times, very predictable; they weren’t all that interesting to read about. That’s not to say they didn’t have any potential, but that potential wasn’t always taken advantage of or explored further. It was far too long for its own good, really could’ve shortened it a couple of hundred pages. One thing I did like, however, was the ending, even though it was all perhaps tied up a little too fast considering the pace and length of the novel.
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
reflective
sad
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was the book that got me back into reading and holds a special place in my head for that. You can tell the author has practice in screenplays as the visuals are very strong.
Be prepared for weird bug stuff with one of the characters though.¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Usually that doesn't bother me but it kinda comes out of left field. You'll know what I mean when you get there 💀. Still a great book though.
I'd say, 3.5. The story of William left me unsatisfied, I think it could be improved to be more valuable for the whole story, for other plot lines. It seems to contain too many irrelevant details, be quite out of place.
There are also some plot holes, close to the end of the book.
Also, I am confused about the message in the last chapter, the very last part of it seems a little inconsistent with the views of the character who pronounces it, inconsistent with the story.
I hope it raises awareness about climate change though, and makes people think about their ways, to possibly rethink them later.
There are also some plot holes, close to the end of the book.
Also, I am confused about the message in the last chapter, the very last part of it seems a little inconsistent with the views of the character who pronounces it, inconsistent with the story.
I hope it raises awareness about climate change though, and makes people think about their ways, to possibly rethink them later.
I received this ARC from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.
This story is told from three exceedingly different views. William lives in England 1852, George in the U.S. 2007 and Tao in China 2098. Each character shows us how important bees are to our society.
As with many translated books, I feel things are lost in the translation. Just like watching a bee buzzing around languidly from flower to flower, the story wandered from here to there to here to there to here ....
3.25☆
This story is told from three exceedingly different views. William lives in England 1852, George in the U.S. 2007 and Tao in China 2098. Each character shows us how important bees are to our society.
As with many translated books, I feel things are lost in the translation. Just like watching a bee buzzing around languidly from flower to flower, the story wandered from here to there to here to there to here ....
3.25☆
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated