A riveting, brilliantly written debut novel, The Death of Bees is a coming-of-age story in which two young sisters attempt to hold the world at bay after the mysterious death of their parents.
Marnie and Nelly, left on their own in Glasgow’s Hazlehurst housing estate, attempt to avoid suspicion until Marnie can become a legal guardian for her younger sister.
Written with fierce sympathy and … with fierce sympathy and beautiful precision, and told in alternating voices, The Death of Bees by Lisa O’Donnell is an enchanting, grimly comic tale of lost souls who, unable to answer for themselves, can answer only for each other.
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Bizarre story of two young sisters trying to survive without supervision.
A must read!
A book-wise friend recommend this book. I am grateful to her for another great story. Sisters in a dark time pull together in ominous ways. I stayed up way late to finish this. So good.
(If you’re interested, this same friend also recommended And the Birds Rained Down and The Snow Child. Its author, Eowyn Ivey is now one of my favorite authors.)
Almost didn’t make it through this book, but got hookedaboit 1/2 Way through
easy read
I loved this book!
Interesting and distressing view into the world of Glasglow and the plight in current times of unloved children.
This books subject matter was disturbing at times. The characters were well developed and you really got to know them and feel the pain they were going through.
Really enjoyed this book. Loved the girls and the neighbor.
While I found the first couple of chapters a bit off-putting, I soon became fully engaged in the lives of the characters and was actually sorry to have them “leave me” at the end, for that’s what it felt like.
This is definitely not a happily ever after story, although, there were some laugh out loud moments in the book if you enjoy dark humor. I enjoyed the fact that it realistically portrayed abuse victims and their responses to the world around them. Often times, authors try to explain why their characters do things or try to unrealistically …
I liked the story told from different viewpoints of the characters. It was a tragic story with a hopeful ending.
Absolutely loved it.
I recommend this book. The characters are going through tragic circumstances but they have inner strength and are fortunate to find people who are willing to risk everything to help them. One of the character,who is portrayed as a villain is a psychopath who misrepresent religion and faith to cover his malice and controlling issues. I did not …
I really liked it, it made me think this is what the book would be if Stephen King wrote the Glass Castle. Great characters.
Ok, not a favorite, somewhat predictable!
This story is about two young sisters who survive growing up with two dysfunctional parents and finding help from others in unexpected ways. The ending was worth the read.