From a beguiling voice in Mexican fiction comes an astonishing novel—her first to be translated into English—about a mysterious child with the power to change a family’s history in a country on the verge of revolution.
From the day that old Nana Reja found a baby abandoned under a bridge, the life of a small Mexican town forever changed. Disfigured and covered in a blanket of bees, little … bees, little Simonopio is for some locals the stuff of superstition, a child kissed by the devil. But he is welcomed by landowners Francisco and Beatriz Morales, who adopt him and care for him as if he were their own. As he grows up, Simonopio becomes a cause for wonder to the Morales family, because when the uncannily gifted child closes his eyes, he can see what no one else can—visions of all that’s yet to come, both beautiful and dangerous. Followed by his protective swarm of bees and living to deliver his adoptive family from threats—both human and those of nature—Simonopio’s purpose in Linares will, in time, be divined.
Set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution and the devastating influenza of 1918, The Murmur of Bees captures both the fate of a country in flux and the destiny of one family that has put their love, faith, and future in the unbelievable.
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The story of Simonopio and his loyal bees captivated me from the very first page! Each character was beautifully limned, and the vivid scene descriptions made me feel like I was there. Bits of Mexico’s history added to the realism.
The translation of Spanish is masterfully done.
A book where I learned a lot about another time in our history. Also it is a bit mystical.
Once every few years, a novel is published that is so perfectly written, so sublimely plotted that is becomes nearly impossible to put down. 100 Years of Solitude is one of these as is the Murmur of Bees. A blend of magic and Mexican history, Bees opens during the flu pandemic of 1918 when an old woman discovers a deformed abandoned infant covered in bees. The child, unable to speak but knowing so much, grows to be the protector of the family that rescued and raised him as he himself is protected by the bees that have bonded with him. But a story is only as good as the prose that presents it, and this is gloriously lyrical as the best Latin American literature is. Bravo to the writer and translator who brought this to English speakers so perfectly.
Just such a delightful story
I gave up on it about half way through. There was very little joy in it and too much sadness. If I had stuck with it maybe something good might have happened but with the state of the world right now I needed a book with more happiness.
Beautifully written, Historical fiction with a touch of magical realism.
With current social distancing, this book is eerily reminiscent of our present predicament. The Spanish Flu is introduced in this captivating story of a wealthy mexican family who employees many people to maintain their crops. A servant of the family is led by cries in her head to a newborn baby abandoned under a bridge covered in a swarm of honeybees. The family raises the child who is born with a cleft palate and never speaks but manages to communicate in other ways, winning the hearts of the servants and family. Simonopio, is followed everywhere by his bees and seems to communicate with them especially. This is such a good story and I was so disappointed to find out it wasn’t true. It’s one of those great works of fiction that have you believing it is real. What a treasure of a tale!
It was interesting reading a Mexican author. The story is strange but that is part of it’s charm. It is not a “light” book.
A little too wordy and didactic for me.
This book keep my attention from start to finish. I became emotionally invested in the main character
Very different and not for everyone. I enjoyed this book but it may be a bit graphic for some. I could not put it down and it is not like anything I had read before.
This story will stay with me forever. It was mystical yet realistic. You fall in love with nearly all the characters. There is suspense, love, devotion, fear and a wonderful “gotcha” chapter. Read this book, you will, like me, never forget it.
Different book than I would usually read and really enjoyed it!
Especially loved this Mexican author’s story on audio with rich accent; it is about the Spanish flu, turn of the century Mexico.
I listen to books a lot because at this point in my life, I’m driving more than I’m able to sit and enjoy reading which is my much preferred method of absorbing a book. That said, I almost quit listening to The Murmur of Bees because the beginning narration was soooo sloooow and boring. I’m glad I didn’t stop listening as, in the end, I enjoyed it very much. I’m curious now about how I would have felt after reading it. There are so many books on my list to read, that I probably won’t read The Murmur of Bees, but I’m glad I waited it out and finished listening to it. The characters developed slowly but well worth the wait. There were tears and heart wrenching moments, but when there is deep love of family, there is sadness.
Moving historical family drama.
Wonderful characters both good and not so good fill this story of family and the workers who support them. Both human and not.
Didn’t care for it.
Didn’t finish the book.
So loved this book. It was magical and historical all in one. Very interesting!
Whimsical and tender, I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would during the first 50 pages. The magical realism might take some getting used to, and the disjointed sections (different points of view, different time periods) can be confusing at first, but I enjoyed the way the narrative style mirrored Simonopio’s insight from the bees.