pickThis really hit home for me. I could totally relate to the author's situation/feelings re: the mother retiring to bed & just not bothering to parent. And the grandmother was an absolute horror as well! Generational trauma at its "finest"!!! But I loved all the bee stuff - interesting in itself but also a lovely metaphor for the author's growth & resilience, the order & cooperation juxtaposing nicely with the dysfunction of her human family.
pickA good mix of magical realism & mystery. I didn't want to put this down & would definitely shelve it as “cozy“. The atmosphere of the woods & small town just hit the spot & I loved the quirky characters. The writing is really good & descriptive. The pace is a little slow & there is a lot of setup, so some readers may get bogged down. An enjoyable tale with a little bit of tension & a small town with a good mix of good & evil. Cozy up & enjoy.
#QuotsyJul21
Went to 🐝 books for #hive quotes & liked the description:
“In the meantime, the hive, painted in rainbow stripes by a neighbor‘s six-year-old twins in some long-ago backyard, was sitting in the middle of the terrace with two gardenias acting as scented sentry guards on either side. Sugar lugged the gardenias with her wherever she went to help guide the bees back to their new home while they were getting used to their surroundings.”
so-soThis book is a little about bees and a lot about the author's childhood with her beekeeping grandfather. The first half is written from the perspective of the author at age 4-6, but injected with adult interpretations of things, which I dislike. She could have handled this more adeptly. I did enjoy reading about her grandpa, who seems to be a real gem.
#lmpbc @Roary47 @Bookwormjillk @rjsthumbelina
pickI really enjoyed this book for several reasons. You do not get to pick your family. Sometimes you get lucky and you will work together like the bees do in their hive. Other times you have to navigate your way through life avoiding each other to keep the peace. This was beautifully written to show the magic of bees, the shakiness of life, and the love of family who wants to teach you the biggest lessons. #LMPBC #GroupV and #bookspin for May.
