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A review by jamesfromboise
The Keeper of the Bees by Gene Stratton-Porter
2.0
Although I have mixed feelings about this book, I will first of all say that it was a wholesome and peaceful reading experience. The author impresses her worldview deeply into the theme of this book. Our protagonist experiences the healing power of nature and the lessons to be learned from it in every chapter. You can feel the importance the writer places on respecting and experiencing nature in every facet of your life.
The story is a classic. A WWI soldier with a fatal wound that won't heal, escapes the captivity of the hospital system to wander about the great state of California. As he goes about his "Great Adventure" he experiences the healing power of nature and human kindness while serving as a bee keeper in the most providential of circumstances.
Those elements of the story are not altogether riveting, but they are entertaining enough to maintain your interest. However, the secondary plot of the book, his run in with the "Storm Girl" and his act of kindness on her behalf, leaves a lot to be desired. Without spoiling, I'll simply say that all is not as it seems and our protagonist faces some anxiety in the feeling that he was deceived. Of course he is able to overcome this feeling and find resolution, but frankly, the resolution is rushed and unrealistic. I was disappointed even before the conclusion happened because I realized there were only twelve pages remaining and the plot point that had been teased the entire book had not even begun to be put right.
To stay on the critique train, there was a lot of moral pontificating that was sometimes off-putting but does not interfere with the story. There were moments I would laugh and quote a section to Vivian due to how cringeworthy it was. The author would write things that were clearly from her own perspective but would place them in the mouth of a character who it made no sense coming from. She also consistently had her main character preach against the women of the day and their desire for independence paired with their lack of traditional values. There was a redeeming conclusion in the way she developed the character of Scout, a tomboy who did not want to be treated as either a girl or a boy. Near the end of the book our protagonist has a deep heart to heart with Scout and encourages her that being a girl does not restrict her ability to excel in the outdoor skills she adores and that there is no mold she must fit into other than being fully herself. It's well said and a very earned character resolution.
I was told my multiple people that this book is very comparable to The Shepherd of the Hills, after reading I can unequivocally disagree. The Keeper of the Bees could believably be an autobiographical tale you would hear from your great grandfather. It is not especially remarkable and is written in a fairly straight forward way. The Shepherd of the Hills is a story so layered in powerful meaning and humanity that it should stand in a category of its own. I would like to clearly separate the two books to ensure the Shepherd of the Hills is properly applauded.
To conclude my rambling, I enjoyed this book. It is an easy read that gives the reader a high level education on the practice of beekeeping. The author's love of nature is beautifully communicated through the book and I was inspired by her perspective on its healing ability. It also painted a dreamlike picture of life on the California coastline that made me want to pack up and move. I might not recommend this book, but I do think it was a worthwhile read.
The story is a classic. A WWI soldier with a fatal wound that won't heal, escapes the captivity of the hospital system to wander about the great state of California. As he goes about his "Great Adventure" he experiences the healing power of nature and human kindness while serving as a bee keeper in the most providential of circumstances.
Those elements of the story are not altogether riveting, but they are entertaining enough to maintain your interest. However, the secondary plot of the book, his run in with the "Storm Girl" and his act of kindness on her behalf, leaves a lot to be desired. Without spoiling, I'll simply say that all is not as it seems and our protagonist faces some anxiety in the feeling that he was deceived. Of course he is able to overcome this feeling and find resolution, but frankly, the resolution is rushed and unrealistic. I was disappointed even before the conclusion happened because I realized there were only twelve pages remaining and the plot point that had been teased the entire book had not even begun to be put right.
To stay on the critique train, there was a lot of moral pontificating that was sometimes off-putting but does not interfere with the story. There were moments I would laugh and quote a section to Vivian due to how cringeworthy it was. The author would write things that were clearly from her own perspective but would place them in the mouth of a character who it made no sense coming from. She also consistently had her main character preach against the women of the day and their desire for independence paired with their lack of traditional values. There was a redeeming conclusion in the way she developed the character of Scout, a tomboy who did not want to be treated as either a girl or a boy. Near the end of the book our protagonist has a deep heart to heart with Scout and encourages her that being a girl does not restrict her ability to excel in the outdoor skills she adores and that there is no mold she must fit into other than being fully herself. It's well said and a very earned character resolution.
I was told my multiple people that this book is very comparable to The Shepherd of the Hills, after reading I can unequivocally disagree. The Keeper of the Bees could believably be an autobiographical tale you would hear from your great grandfather. It is not especially remarkable and is written in a fairly straight forward way. The Shepherd of the Hills is a story so layered in powerful meaning and humanity that it should stand in a category of its own. I would like to clearly separate the two books to ensure the Shepherd of the Hills is properly applauded.
To conclude my rambling, I enjoyed this book. It is an easy read that gives the reader a high level education on the practice of beekeeping. The author's love of nature is beautifully communicated through the book and I was inspired by her perspective on its healing ability. It also painted a dreamlike picture of life on the California coastline that made me want to pack up and move. I might not recommend this book, but I do think it was a worthwhile read.