A review by salimah
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

dark reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This sprawling and circular narrative focuses on a nuclear family of four and their relationships on the immediate periphery of that nucleus. At the craft level, the writing is competent; it is occasionally even poetic. 

However, I struggled to connect emotionally to any of the characters or their stories. Their perspectives were tiresome, more of a slog than anything else. This is Irish melancholia on steroids. I'm all for permeating sadness, but sadness without investment is simply something to get through. 

This, my first read of the year was just that.
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