With hilarious wit and sharp insights, The Sex Effect draws on history, psychology, religion, and sociology, and combines innovative research and analysis with captivating anecdotes to reveal just how much sex shapes our society. Blending quirky trivia (discover the real origins of corn flakes, vibrators, and Viagra!) with compelling questions (Why are our most successful leaders also the friskiest? How could building a gay neighborhood save Detroit from economic ruin?), The Sex Effect shows how the influence of sex and our sexual attitudes is everywhere and highlights how we can use this knowledge to improve our everyday decisions and better understand the world in which we live.
The Sex Effect Review ~ March 3, 2017 5 of 5 stars
A special thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A laugh out loud, eyebrow raising, and demystifying, tale
about SEX! This book should be in every university bookstore in North America,
and could easily be the subject of a complete sociology course. But don’t let
text book status scare you, it’s a highly entertaining read for anyone.
In the spirit of Station Eleven and Never Let Me Go, this dazzling and ambitious literary debut follows three generations of beekeepers from the past, present, and future, weaving a spellbinding story of their relationship to the bees, to their children, and to one another against the backdrop of an urgent, global crisis.
England, 1852. William is a biologist and seed merchant who sets out to build a new type of beehive, one that will give both him and his children honor and fame.
United States, 2007. George is a beekeeper fighting an uphill battle against modern farming, but he hopes that his son can be their salvation.
China, 2098. Tao hand paints pollen onto the fruit trees now that the bees have long since disappeared. When Tao’s young son is taken away by the authorities after a tragic accident, she sets out on a grueling journey to find out what happened to him.
Haunting, illuminating, and deftly written, The History of Bees joins these three very different narratives into one gripping and thought-provoking story that is just as much about the powerful bond between children and parents as it is about our very relationship to nature and humanity.
January 26, 2018 ~ 4 of 5 stars
The History of Bees Review
A special thank you to
NetGalley, and Simon & Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest
review.
A compelling look from
three different perspectives, and three different time lines, at how bees play
a role in day to day life. There is plenty of mystery and intrigue in this
novel to keep the pages turning. The opening lines of the story are beautifully
descriptive, and that style of language is carried throughout the book. It
invokes a sympathy from the reader for the plight of the characters.
Unfortunately, with my
schedule and commitments, I’m a read 10 pages, back up and reread 3 or 4 the
next time I get to sit down with it, so the continuity is sometimes lost. Tao’s
story was my favourite, and when I reached the end, I felt that hers was the
only story clearly summed up. William I lost several chapters before the end,
and George disappeared as well. I went back several chapters to reread the
ending to see if I missed something. I was more satisfied after my reread, but
I still feel William was left to ones imagination more than I would have liked.
Overall, I enjoyed the
book, its subject matter and its characters.
