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A review by vanessakm
Bee Season by Myla Goldberg
3.0
Well, you can't say Myla Goldberg isn't original. This is the story of Eliza, a young girl considered unexceptional by her traditional Jewish father and overlooked in favor of her older brother. Until, that is, she develops an unusual talent for spelling. Her father becomes convinced her skill is tied to Jewish mysticism and Eliza soon replaces her brother's place at her father's side as he coaches her for the big spelling bee. The father is so obsessed with the Kabbalah and his daughter that his neglected son and wife seek out unique and questionable alternate routes to fulfillment.
I really liked the first half of the book about this sad, dysfunctional family. I am guessing Goldberg is making an observation about strict and unquestioning religious discipline more often leading to unhappiness and alienation rather than an imagined and hoped for state of enlightenment but I can't say for sure. The second half became too soggy with esoteric mysticism for me and I don't know what to make of the ending. Your mileage may vary.
I really liked the first half of the book about this sad, dysfunctional family. I am guessing Goldberg is making an observation about strict and unquestioning religious discipline more often leading to unhappiness and alienation rather than an imagined and hoped for state of enlightenment but I can't say for sure. The second half became too soggy with esoteric mysticism for me and I don't know what to make of the ending. Your mileage may vary.