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A review by mapetiteliseuse
Here Is the Beehive by Sarah Crossan
emotional
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I would never have picked this book for myself and am so grateful that it was chosen for me
After finishing a book I found frustratingly disappointing (The Atlas Six) I wanted to read something that felt different. This certainly did the trick.
'Here is the Beehive' has built the perfect harmony of storytelling, emotion and writing style. If either of the three were out of balance, it wouldn't work, and I think it's a real triumph that the author was able to use each to tell Ana's story.
When you first open the book, you will probably first notice the poetic layout. Ordinarily that would put me off, but once you start reading you realise that the words and sections flow like a stream of consciousness, and it's the perfect style.
One thing I am often critical of, is books with multiple perspectives or books which switch between moments in time without guiding you there. It's done effortlessly here and you're made to feel like you're appreciating what's happening in real time, each time.
Ana is married, and she's having an affair with a married man. They're caught in the cycle of loving each other; creating a world for just the two of them to exist in, but never moving fully in to that world. Both Ana and Connor have their beliefs about why that should, or shouldn't happen. Dealing with it is delayed. Until Connor dies in an accident.
Through Ana's processing of his death we learn more about their relationship, and its impact on Ana and her family.
Ana has nothing to remind her of Connor, and out frustration that she didn't 'officially' exist in his world she seeks out a part of him that remains - his wife Rebecca.
I class this as an 'easy' read, but not because it's trivial or unsophisticated - it's easy because the style perfectly matches the story and the pages pretty much turn themselves.
I came close to giving this five stars, but given I haven't read enough similar books to make a comparison, it gets a strong four from me!
After finishing a book I found frustratingly disappointing (The Atlas Six) I wanted to read something that felt different. This certainly did the trick.
'Here is the Beehive' has built the perfect harmony of storytelling, emotion and writing style. If either of the three were out of balance, it wouldn't work, and I think it's a real triumph that the author was able to use each to tell Ana's story.
When you first open the book, you will probably first notice the poetic layout. Ordinarily that would put me off, but once you start reading you realise that the words and sections flow like a stream of consciousness, and it's the perfect style.
One thing I am often critical of, is books with multiple perspectives or books which switch between moments in time without guiding you there. It's done effortlessly here and you're made to feel like you're appreciating what's happening in real time, each time.
Ana is married, and she's having an affair with a married man. They're caught in the cycle of loving each other; creating a world for just the two of them to exist in, but never moving fully in to that world. Both Ana and Connor have their beliefs about why that should, or shouldn't happen. Dealing with it is delayed. Until Connor dies in an accident.
Through Ana's processing of his death we learn more about their relationship, and its impact on Ana and her family.
Ana has nothing to remind her of Connor, and out frustration that she didn't 'officially' exist in his world she seeks out a part of him that remains - his wife Rebecca.
I class this as an 'easy' read, but not because it's trivial or unsophisticated - it's easy because the style perfectly matches the story and the pages pretty much turn themselves.
I came close to giving this five stars, but given I haven't read enough similar books to make a comparison, it gets a strong four from me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship