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Loading... The History of Bees (original 2015; edition 2018)by Maja Lunde (Author)
Work InformationThe History of Bees by Maja Lunde (2015) Loading...
Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. This is not a happy book. It follows 3 people in 1880’s, 2007, and then 2098. It is a story of bees and families and what will happen. The book focuses on climate issues, families attempting to survive and all that will be lost. It does end on a somewhat hopeful note. ( ) What would happen if bees disappeared? This book combines three seemingly disparate stories: one set in the past, one in the present, and one in the future, to depict such a calamity. In the early 1850’s in England, William has fallen into depression, but is revived by the desire to impress his son through designing a better beehive. In 2007 in Ohio, George is a beekeeper dealing with Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) (a genuine issue in today’s apiculture), while attempting to convince his son to take over the family farm. In 2098 in China, the bees have disappeared, and Tao is a worker that pollinates fruit-producing trees by hand. She wants her son to excel so he can gain an education to avoid the same fate. In addition to the “bee connection,” each of the protagonists is dealing with family issues. The author uses the environmental theme to probe spousal relationships and parental expectations of their children. I was drawn into the lives of these characters. These three apparently separate stories are woven together artfully by the author, with their interconnectedness becoming more apparent as the story unfolds. Overall the tone is sad but includes an element of hopefulness. The author has creatively combined science fiction, contemporary fiction, and historical fiction into an engrossing and thought-provoking narrative with a message. I learned a great deal about bees and beekeeping but felt the primary power in this novel derived from the poignancy of the interpersonal relationships. Recommended to those interested in environmentalism, humankind’s interactions with nature, or family dynamics. no reviews | add a review
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"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--and to their children and 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 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"-- No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)839.823Literature German literature and literatures of related languages Other Germanic literatures Danish and Norwegian literatures Norwegian literature Norwegian Bokmål fictionLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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