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sivureitti's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
rike125's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
deluciate's review against another edition
4.0
I think the discussion that accompanied this book was one of the best my book club has had yet. It touches on the relationships between parents and children, between people and the natural world, and between aspirations and reality. It's beautifully written and thought-provoking.
projessor's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
knkennedy's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
charlottereads56's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A really enjoyable read that is so well written and so well translated. I wanted to read more Sci fi and more translated works and I am so glad I stumbled upon this book.
I love a multi perspective novel and this felt like both a strength and a weakness of this book. It definitely needed the three perspectives to give the readers the broad perspective which really makes this book what it was. But you could write a full length novel from each of these characters.
I love the character development of all the characters but the one that stood out the most was Tao. Perhaps it’s because she faces the most struggles? I think she’s a perfect character. Complicated but loveable and her actions are far into the morally grey. <spoilers> There’s no right way to handle the death of a child. Especially when she hasn’t been given any closure. Of course she followed Wei Wen to Beijing. No one can criticise her for it. But equally no one could criticise her husband, Kuan, for staying at home. For trusting in the services of the government. For having a different kind of hope. For saving the money for another child. It’s definitely a heartbreaking section.
<\spoilers>
William and George are much more focused around the bees and the change of the intensity from Tao’s chapters was nice. I liked seeing the struggles of them trying to connect with their children as we see generations change. It slowed the pace down which made this book feel more reflective.
I just wish there was more! More world building. The world of 2098 is something so interesting. How has a world without bees survived and what has it become. Even if we only saw it in China I wanted to see more of what there jobs were, the politics that governed the population and what sort of dystopian society the characters are now living in. Even in William and George’s sections it felt very focused. Which worked but there could have been a greater focus on the type of world they are living in. It also felt like the CDD information came at a very late point in the book. We only find out that bees are returning towards the very end. We only see the bees begin to die near the end too.
If the other books in this universe address the world building I would love it. But as a stand alone it feels it’s missing that bit of detail.
I love a multi perspective novel and this felt like both a strength and a weakness of this book. It definitely needed the three perspectives to give the readers the broad perspective which really makes this book what it was. But you could write a full length novel from each of these characters.
I love the character development of all the characters but the one that stood out the most was Tao. Perhaps it’s because she faces the most struggles? I think she’s a perfect character. Complicated but loveable and her actions are far into the morally grey. <spoilers> There’s no right way to handle the death of a child. Especially when she hasn’t been given any closure. Of course she followed Wei Wen to Beijing. No one can criticise her for it. But equally no one could criticise her husband, Kuan, for staying at home. For trusting in the services of the government. For having a different kind of hope. For saving the money for another child. It’s definitely a heartbreaking section.
<\spoilers>
William and George are much more focused around the bees and the change of the intensity from Tao’s chapters was nice. I liked seeing the struggles of them trying to connect with their children as we see generations change. It slowed the pace down which made this book feel more reflective.
I just wish there was more! More world building. The world of 2098 is something so interesting. How has a world without bees survived and what has it become. Even if we only saw it in China I wanted to see more of what there jobs were, the politics that governed the population and what sort of dystopian society the characters are now living in. Even in William and George’s sections it felt very focused. Which worked but there could have been a greater focus on the type of world they are living in. It also felt like the CDD information came at a very late point in the book. We only find out that bees are returning towards the very end. We only see the bees begin to die near the end too.
If the other books in this universe address the world building I would love it. But as a stand alone it feels it’s missing that bit of detail.
amethyst_reads_books's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I loved the three different timelines. it was very refreshing to read one after the other so reading the book was pretty easy. however i hated the characters the only sort of lovable one was Tao. I enjoyed her character the other two were total jerks. overall the plot was good a bit predictable but nothing too much.
amanda1793's review against another edition
3.0
Important discussion, some slight scientific information (discussions or bee anatomy, what they do, why they're important).
Interestingly written. The generational type characters allow for a full look at what each time line looks at and expects from the generation following. Also a look at the full life span of bees was interesting.
While this book was interesting (hopefully that's the last time I'll use that word...) I did find my attention swaying from the book.
Interestingly written. The generational type characters allow for a full look at what each time line looks at and expects from the generation following. Also a look at the full life span of bees was interesting.
While this book was interesting (hopefully that's the last time I'll use that word...) I did find my attention swaying from the book.
chicken_tracker's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5