A Keeper of Bees: Notes on Hive and Home

bees are so fascinating! i don't know why i picked up this book, because i'd never really been all that interested in bees.

but this book is written in a perfect way to really get me into them. the author interweaves the science of bees with her personal experiences with raising bees and just her general musings on life. the way it all came together just left me in awe of how intricate and beautiful the natural world is.

the book just progressed really naturally and gave tons of information without feeling at all like a textbook. i kept finding myself asking questions in my head as i was reading like.. "but how exactly do bees behave without the support of a beekeeper?" or "what exactly is honey?" somehow these questions always seemed to show more be answered within two pages of my inner inquiry.

it got me really interested in bees and kind of reminded me a little of how i got excited about apples and potatoes and marijuana and tulips after i read the botany of desire.

i'd really recommend this book to anyone, whether you like bees or not. show less

I enjoyed the parts about bees. The odd interlacings of Hurricane Katrina, Wallace's divorce, her nearly English-speaking dog? I didn't like those parts nearly so much. The authorial voice is warm and friendly, and the writing is workmanlike but didn't strike me as inspired. A pleasant diversion.