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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
This just didn't do it for me, although it's hard to pinpoint exactly why. I only got invested in the characters and the story at the very end, and then it really stressed me out.
I like the idea of this book - the triple narrative, the revolution around the very real real-life problem of bees dying off - and the issues that this book makes you face in regards to what could happen if bees just vanished. I think what may have made it a little less enjoyable for me was the fact that I really only cared about the future timeline as opposed to the present day and the past one. I could see the links and understood where the book was going but I guess I didn't really enjoy the ride as much as others seem to have.
Veldig bra, men også veldig deprimerende (til tider). Ikke les hvis du ikke er klar for en eksistensiell krise.
Vil legge til at lydboken er veldig godt innlest.
Vil legge til at lydboken er veldig godt innlest.
The importance of bees to society is told in this novel through three narrators - William in mid-nineteenth century England, George in early twenty-first century America and Tao in late twenty-first century China. Each of the three are parents and the book also has a lot to say about the parent-child relationship. I found it a little hard to connect to the characters. Not sure whether it was because the story constantly shifted from one to another and each section was fairly short, or whether it was due to the fact I was reading in translation. I often feel somewhat removed from characters in translated works. Not sure why. Nevertheless the novel did a powerful job of showing how the absence of bees could adversely affects society. A definite call to arms. I also like how the last few chapters linked the three seemingly separate stories. It did leave me wanting to know more about Charlotte though - probably my favourite character - especially her story which linked William and George.
while i did learn a lot about bees and the gravity of their current disappearances, william and george as characters are just so misogynistic and unlikeable that it often felt tough reading their chapters.
ARC received from NetGalley
It starts slow, very slow, it's not until about the halfway point that it starts getting exciting, and then around the 60% mark - that was when it sucked me in. I was concerned until that point, worried that it was just not ever going to get engaging, but then it did. It's really well written, and there's a lot of twists in there that you just don't see coming until Lunde gives a few skilful twists that leave you wide eyed at the way the dots have suddenly connected.
It starts slow, very slow, it's not until about the halfway point that it starts getting exciting, and then around the 60% mark - that was when it sucked me in. I was concerned until that point, worried that it was just not ever going to get engaging, but then it did. It's really well written, and there's a lot of twists in there that you just don't see coming until Lunde gives a few skilful twists that leave you wide eyed at the way the dots have suddenly connected.
*1.5 stars
I really did not enjoy this book. I figured out pretty early on that I’d only be reading for Tao, and even her story was predictable. I really disliked George and William (the thing with the beetle and the ants was really weird). Why are all the women except Tao portrayed in such a misogynistic way? Why does everyone low-key hate their spouse? Why can’t any of these characters see that their kids aren’t extensions of themselves? Also, I found the writing style of very short sentences and lack of pronouns tedious to read. Really disappointed by this book.
I really did not enjoy this book. I figured out pretty early on that I’d only be reading for Tao, and even her story was predictable. I really disliked George and William (the thing with the beetle and the ants was really weird). Why are all the women except Tao portrayed in such a misogynistic way? Why does everyone low-key hate their spouse? Why can’t any of these characters see that their kids aren’t extensions of themselves? Also, I found the writing style of very short sentences and lack of pronouns tedious to read. Really disappointed by this book.
So hmmm, I do agree with the thoughts posted by @Jennifer about the sense of detachment and disconnect from this story: (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2081532072?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1). During many times when I was reading, I was bored actually. It's dry in many parts.
I also agree with the point that @Rebecca (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2100819637?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1) made about Tao's narrative mostly dragging the story down. There were times where her narrative was like reading from a textbook - a lot of "tell" because it was not blending well into her story.
I would also say this is like "dystopia-lite". I'm not a regular reader or fan of dystopia, but Tao's storyline is fairly "lite" in that sense anyway. I also struggled a little with some credibility in her parts, if that is the correct term to use - things that just wouldn't really, to me anyway, seem like it would be available or part of their recent past - like the mentions of telephone receivers and wall connections. Having to plug a phone into the wall - her parts take place in China in 2098.
The three separate storylines do not connect at all until the very end. When those connections started coming together is when this improved and kept me turning the pages, but it comes too late and for most of it I felt very detached and a little bored to be honest.
Overall, it's good, but it wasn't a stand out read for me. That cover though! This is a book I was glad to have purchased - I kept feeling the front cover as I was reading. The History of Bees is elevated and covered in pollen, the bee is also elevated and the sprinklings of pollen everywhere can be felt. Very cool cover!!
I also agree with the point that @Rebecca (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2100819637?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1) made about Tao's narrative mostly dragging the story down. There were times where her narrative was like reading from a textbook - a lot of "tell" because it was not blending well into her story.
I would also say this is like "dystopia-lite". I'm not a regular reader or fan of dystopia, but Tao's storyline is fairly "lite" in that sense anyway. I also struggled a little with some credibility in her parts, if that is the correct term to use - things that just wouldn't really, to me anyway, seem like it would be available or part of their recent past - like the mentions of telephone receivers and wall connections. Having to plug a phone into the wall - her parts take place in China in 2098.
The three separate storylines do not connect at all until the very end. When those connections started coming together is when this improved and kept me turning the pages, but it comes too late and for most of it I felt very detached and a little bored to be honest.
Overall, it's good, but it wasn't a stand out read for me. That cover though! This is a book I was glad to have purchased - I kept feeling the front cover as I was reading. The History of Bees is elevated and covered in pollen, the bee is also elevated and the sprinklings of pollen everywhere can be felt. Very cool cover!!
Recomendado, si como a mi, te gustan las historias lentas, aburridas en las que nada sucede.
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes