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.
I will definitely read more from Maja Lunde!