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A review by torijoy25
The History of Bees by Maja Lunde
4.0
I was surprised at how easily I engaged with this book. It began with Tao in 2098 China in the setting of having to individually pollinate all the individual flowers. A life very different to we know now. We follow her journey in China as they battle everyday survival due to the loss of bees many years ago. There is also the mystery that surrounds her son Wei-Wen who mysteriously falls ill. It is her battle to find out what has happened to her son and where he has been taken. This leads to her returning to a book she read in her childhood 'The History of the bees' which is linked to our next character George.
George is a Beekeeper who lives on his own land in the United States in 2007. He is known by making his hives hand instead of buying the mass produced ready built hives. George is not only battling with his beekeeping business but also with his son, who having gone off to college is wanting to pursue his own dream of becoming a writer. His father is not fond of this endeavour and their relationship becomes badly fractured. George's wife is the main peacekeeper who tries to support both of them but is easily neglected by George. It is in George's time that all the bees begin tot disappear and it comes to be known as Colony collapse disorder, no one can pin point the specific reason why all the bees are disappearing but there are a number of factors that contribute to their disappearance. The theme of relationship is continuously explored throughout this chapter because after his Father loses his livelihood, Thomas returns to help his Father make any savings his can. He is also the one behind writing 'The History of the bees'. Using the example of the hive which was constructed by William and his daughter Charlotte.
William is the final character who adds to the plot, in the setting of England in 1851. He has a keen interest and passion in researching bees but can never make any breakthroughs for himself. His story begins with him depressed in bed having been turned away by his tutor. Having lost his purpose, he wants to just give up. Having a family this is not an option for him. William lives his life only wanting to satisfy people and this is why he is so easily defeated. There is Rahm who turned him away and his eldest son William. He endeavours to pursue his passion by making his own beehives in which the bees can thrive and be more productive. His main supporter comes in the shape of his fourteen old daughter Charlotte who pursues in helping her father pursue his dreams. Each time it falls short, she attempts to pick up the pieces. William feels defeated by his passion and his story ends up with him back in bed. The son who he always attempted to please ends up in a gutter in London due to his poor choices. Charlotte is the one who takes all the plans they had for the hives over to America . Along with her brothers new born son. Although William feels unfulfilled he ideas for the hives do come int full function in the years to come.
I would not say I was uneducated about the decline of bees. However, I was not fully aware of how much of our food they pollinate and how severe it would be when the bees are gone. Maja Lunde does an incredible plot of creating a a captivating plot, that looks significantly at the role of family ties in which the parents are seen to do anything in order to protect their children and find their children. While also highlighting how crucial the care of bees needs to be. The extinction of bees is something we cannot just let happen. The book also held a hopeful aspect in relation to Tao's story. Although it came with devastating news, there was hope for humanity. I loved this book and I would highly recommend. 41/2 stars.
George is a Beekeeper who lives on his own land in the United States in 2007. He is known by making his hives hand instead of buying the mass produced ready built hives. George is not only battling with his beekeeping business but also with his son, who having gone off to college is wanting to pursue his own dream of becoming a writer. His father is not fond of this endeavour and their relationship becomes badly fractured. George's wife is the main peacekeeper who tries to support both of them but is easily neglected by George. It is in George's time that all the bees begin tot disappear and it comes to be known as Colony collapse disorder, no one can pin point the specific reason why all the bees are disappearing but there are a number of factors that contribute to their disappearance. The theme of relationship is continuously explored throughout this chapter because after his Father loses his livelihood, Thomas returns to help his Father make any savings his can. He is also the one behind writing 'The History of the bees'. Using the example of the hive which was constructed by William and his daughter Charlotte.
William is the final character who adds to the plot, in the setting of England in 1851. He has a keen interest and passion in researching bees but can never make any breakthroughs for himself. His story begins with him depressed in bed having been turned away by his tutor. Having lost his purpose, he wants to just give up. Having a family this is not an option for him. William lives his life only wanting to satisfy people and this is why he is so easily defeated. There is Rahm who turned him away and his eldest son William. He endeavours to pursue his passion by making his own beehives in which the bees can thrive and be more productive. His main supporter comes in the shape of his fourteen old daughter Charlotte who pursues in helping her father pursue his dreams. Each time it falls short, she attempts to pick up the pieces. William feels defeated by his passion and his story ends up with him back in bed. The son who he always attempted to please ends up in a gutter in London due to his poor choices. Charlotte is the one who takes all the plans they had for the hives over to America . Along with her brothers new born son. Although William feels unfulfilled he ideas for the hives do come int full function in the years to come.
I would not say I was uneducated about the decline of bees. However, I was not fully aware of how much of our food they pollinate and how severe it would be when the bees are gone. Maja Lunde does an incredible plot of creating a a captivating plot, that looks significantly at the role of family ties in which the parents are seen to do anything in order to protect their children and find their children. While also highlighting how crucial the care of bees needs to be. The extinction of bees is something we cannot just let happen. The book also held a hopeful aspect in relation to Tao's story. Although it came with devastating news, there was hope for humanity. I loved this book and I would highly recommend. 41/2 stars.