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m_a_j's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Gun violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Colonisation and War
melodyseestrees's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death, Police brutality, and Murder
Minor: Colonisation and War
internationalreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This delightful read was a parable, an allegory exploring the rise of religious fundamentalism in North Africa. I really enjoyed watching the two storylines play out side by side, picking up the similarities and metaphors.
One of the things I liked about this story was it’s warmth. There was a strong community spirit as friends and other rallied around Sidi, doing what they could to help him to save the bees.
It is a little slow to start but definitely worth persevering with. The writing and translation are beautiful, it highlights the wonder and value of bees, as well as the fragility of democracy. The Arab Spring got a lot of news time in the west but since then news interest has waned. This little gem ha some of the answers as to what’s happened since.
Graphic: Gun violence and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Police brutality, Murder, and Colonisation
aew325's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Police brutality
Minor: Colonisation and War
cynthreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
"Read"-the first heavenly word, the first commandment, and the key to all things.
How much I agree!
This novel, published originally in French, is very short and very charming, a deceptively simple but well-crafted allegory of politics in the Arab world after the Arab Spring.
Read this review with a detailed rating breakdown at my blog.
It reminds the Western reader - in areas with conflict or poverty, problems don't just magically go away when you replace a dictatorship with democracy. After the revolution is over, after the world stops watching, what happens?
How many people think about this question? Or have we simply brushed off our hands and closed our eyes to the aftermath?
What was easier to hijack than democracy? Like most things in the world of men, democracy was principally a question of money, and the prince had plenty.
From time immemorial, the gifts of princes have always been poisoned.
In the unnamed North African country where the story is set, newfound democracy, press freedom, and burgeoning sensibilities for civil participation are exploited by a small, gas-rich Arab state called "Qafar". Qafar's political interference brings a fundamentalist wave which takes over their world, and along with it, an invasive species.
The book is hilarious, a true pleasure to read, and full of pithy quotes like:
Other people. Again. Often hell, sometimes salvation.
"Can we talk about night beards, who vandalize, and day beards, who govern? Is there a link between the two?"
I really liked Sidi, the main character, because he's definitely a relatable guy in some ways. Seeing how messed up the world is, he just wants to bury his head in the sand (or in his case, in a bee hive) and ignore all other humans. Unfortunately, he lives in a society, and he just can't escape that fact.
The conceit, beekeeping and politics, played out well and didn't feel heavy-handed. Although there are some very dark moments in the story, it was a lighthearted, optimistic read, full of comedic and satirical elements.
Overall, the book is great, a masterful political novel. However, the author used a deus ex machina resolution (which sometimes works, but felt forced on this occasion). The ending was also weak and somewhat unsatisfying - everything was just too convenient. Maybe if there were a few more chapters, it would be much improved? This is unfortunately the case for so many novellas and short novels. Regardless, I think it's worth reading!
I chose this book from January 2021’s Amazon Kindle First Reads.
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexism, and Religious bigotry