Start your review of The Bees. May 14, Will Byrnes rated it it was amazing Shelves: fiction , books-of-the-year , brain-candy , fantasy. The Bees is a powerful tale of what life might look like to a hive member. There are several elements that might make one think of Game of Thrones Drones. Corruption on high, battles of succession, sinister enemies, both in the hive and outside. Not only must all men die but winter is coming, twice.
There is also a lot of religious reference here. This sits atop a marvelo The Bees is a powerful tale of what life might look like to a hive member.
This sits atop a marvelous, deep portrayal of a world that is very alien. And to top it off we are led through this journey by a character who, while far from perfect, is a very good egg, or was. Bee life cycle Of course Flora might not have been considered a wonderful egg to those around her.
She was born to the Flora caste, a group responsible for, ironically, cleaning up, a sanitation caste, essentially untouchables. But this Flora is a bit different. She is larger for one, possessed of great determination, curiosity, and a capacity for speech that is mostly suppressed among her peers. Still she is different and that is not usually allowed. The police are about to remove her Deformity is evil. Deformity is not permitted. Sages are the priestess class. Their intentions however, are not entirely holy.
This Sage takes Flora under her wing, and the story is on. Sometimes it is good to spare the deviants, and experiment a little. That Paull can make the very alien sense environment of bees understandable to those of us with only four limbs and no antennae at all well except for our friends in intelligence is a triumph on its own.
The Hive Mind is considered for its positive and negative aspects as well. The author Paull tells about the origin of the story on her web site A beekeeper friend of mine died, far too young. In the immediate aftermath of her death, I began reading about the bees she loved so much. Very quickly, I realized I was exploring the most extraordinary ancient society that was like a hall of mirrors to our own: some things very similar, others a complete inversion, whilst more were fantastically alien and amazing.
The more I read the more I wanted to find out, but when I learned about the phenomenon of the laying worker, I became incredibly excited by the huge dramatic potential of that situation. Her feeling of loss is very much present here. Bees are not the longest lived creatures on the planet, and more than a few see their end here. But there is another element as well, from a recent interview posted here on Goodreads, Becoming a mother changed me and made me stronger—but evolution is never easy.
I didn't write Flora from an intellectual perspective but in a very visceral way: Motherhood made me a more passionate person—or allowed me to express that innate side of myself much more. So perhaps that's why Flora works as a character: There's primal truth in her motivation.
She accepts her life one way, but then a forbidden force takes possession of her. Called love. Religious nomenclature permeates the tale. The Queen is not only a temporal ruler, but is considered divine as well.
This is helped along by her ability to produce pheromones in vast quantity that can soothe her hive family. There are sacraments in this world, a catechism, rituals, prayers, some of which will sound familiar.
There are also some virgin births. And what would religion be without a little human sacrifice, or in this case bee sacrifice. And, of course, there is some Orwellian behavior. Life is held cheaply, particularly for those not of the favored groups, and the jack-booted police that enforce the rules are definitely a buzzkill. The death penalty is more the norm than the exception, and it is often applied immediately and energetically. She has a particular longing of her own, which fires the engines of her determination.
You will come away not only with the warm feeling of having shared a remarkable journey but will find yourself eager to learn more about our buzzy brethren, well, except for Nicolas Cage.
Worth a look. A Bombus fraternus bumblebee. Tim Heard via Royal Society Publishing View all 82 comments. People who know me even just a little- know how much I love Watership Down I didn't have to read any further than that For Flora it is almost over for her as soon as her little life begins. She is not like the others in her hive- she is bigger and darker than the other bees- and being different is never allowed- Deformity i People who know me even just a little- know how much I love Watership Down She is not like the others in her hive- she is bigger and darker than the other bees- and being different is never allowed- Deformity is evil.
Sister Sage decides an experiment is in order to see if she can find a greater use for her- and places her in the nursery- to see what other tricks Flora has up her bee sleeve. Flora will do what ever is asked of her- Accept, Obey, Serve. Flora wants more, and before long she moves up the ladder again- when the Queen grows fond of her. But the bees closest to the Queen have other ideas It probably comes as no surprise that I loved this book!!
I originally had it rated at 4. Clair- from another one of my favorite books- Forever Amber. If that sounds at alllllll interesting to you- you might want to pick this one up and give it try.
View all 63 comments. May 04, Trudi rated it it was ok Shelves: fantastical-speculative , , dystopia , modern-lit , cover-lust , fantasy , the-big-letdown. Bees are exceptional creatures. Their hive characterized by drama and high stakes, intelligence and a sophisticated organization that is a marvel to study and behold. For all its beauty and the tantalizing production of golden, luxurious honey, the bee life comes at a high price -- an existence propped up by slavery and the hive mind.
There shall be only one Queen and no original thought. It's Orwell's in the flesh, Thought police and Big Brother included. Deformity mea Bees are exceptional creatures. Deformity means death and is ruthlessly stamped out in a strive for purity that rivals Hitler's attempts at Eugenics in the creation of a genetically homogenous Aryan Master race. I was excited to read this book.
I needed no convincing that bees could be the stars of their own literary masterpiece in much the same way rabbits became legend in Watership Down. I bring it up now because it did what The Bees does not, and that made all the difference for me in my level of involvement and enjoyment of this novel. NIMH based on this classic children's book is an animal fantasy that anthropomorphizes rats and mice to tell a harrowing adventure tale.
For me as a child, and even now as an adult, the movie strikes a perfect balance between "humanizing" the animals enough so that the drama soars, yet still allowing their animal natures and the laws of the natural world around them to shine through.
While The Bees is a beautifully written book, with scenes that are quite lovely in their composition, I felt the author lacked conviction and an overall commitment to just what kind of story she was telling. At times, the bees are very humanized. At other times, they feel alien and unknowable.
This back and forth and hesitation ultimately prevented me from ever truly bonding with any of the characters. I was emotionally shut out of the story even when my reader brain was fascinated by some of the details contained therein.
For that reason, the story dragged in many places. If you have a personal curiosity of bees, the detailed portrait the author offers here of hive life may indeed appeal to you. She has done her research, and there is definitely poetry contained in some of the pages of this book and in scenes that deal with the harsh realities of the natural world and the strict laws of bee existence.
This is a book you read with your brain, not your heart. View all 25 comments. Mar 02, Jane rated it really liked it Shelves: audio-read , 1audio , not-at-all-what-i-thought-it-was , , a-journey-not-a-destination , animal-narrator , oooh-this-was-fun , gave-me-a-book-hangover. I'm not even sure how to review this -- it's certainly one of the strangest things I've ever read!
But I really enjoyed it! I listened to the audiobook as narrated by Orlagh Cassidy, and the narration was very good. In this story we follow Flora , a lowly sanitation bee, from the moment she emerges from her cell as a fully-formed bee through her life cycle. This reads a lot like some of the dystopian YA fiction that's so popular right now, as Flora manages to find herself in some rather un I'm not even sure how to review this -- it's certainly one of the strangest things I've ever read!
This reads a lot like some of the dystopian YA fiction that's so popular right now, as Flora manages to find herself in some rather unique situations that allow her character to show us many different parts of the workings and politics of the hive. I did find the pacing a bit weird at times. It kept feeling like the story was entering climax territory, but then it just kept chuggin' along.
Some bits were also a bit repetitive; alas, I suspect the life of a bee is rather repetitive ; Overall I really liked this book and I would recommend it to anyone who would like a different spin on the typical YA dystopian fare with the added bonus of no romantic entanglements! Almost all of them. They're brutal! Don't be messing with bees!
View all comments. Flora is a survivor - large, deformed and ugly at birth, normally she should have been summarily terminated Whether seen as allegorical or literal, the buzz pun intended : around this book is very much well deserved. Are the core lives and roles in a bee-hive, portrayed in this book, correct?
I don't know, but will one day probably check, but the world within our world created by Paull is hypnotically spell binding - and th Accept. I don't know, but will one day probably check, but the world within our world created by Paull is hypnotically spell binding - and then to top it all off the story of a bee, Flora , coping and surviving, despite a lack of privilege, is so well thought out, crafted and paced.
View all 8 comments. To Bee or not to Bee Did your fate and role in life should be ruled by your birth heritage? Is it advisable to question your religious beliefs? Nowadays those are odd questions since we are living in an era where you are not longer "classified" due your ethnics and even you can choose not believing the religion of your own family.
However, this is not the case for the entire world. Even in the 21st Century, it's clear that while there are many countries enjoying freedom to express your opinion, s To Bee or not to Bee Even in the 21st Century, it's clear that while there are many countries enjoying freedom to express your opinion, still there are several ones where this is only a wild dream.
That's why that stories like The Bees is still relevant and always is necessary to take on again the topic. However, nature finds the way to restore balance, to name a champion, and in this case, Flora is a "deformity" to her cast, she can speak! Flora is favored initially by a leading member of one of highest casts in the hive, considering her as an "experiment" but this was the only chance that Flora needed to begin her journey to understand the entire working system established on the hive.
What's normal? It seems that the masses always are looking that everybody should be normal but God created faith to unite the humanity but the man created religion to separate it. Usually people with issues against religion involve God in the struggle without realizing that the religions are managed here on Earth by imperfect and fallible human beings that sometimes they really think that they are doing the God's work and sometimes they know inside of themselves that they aren't.
And what would happen when you are living in a society, in this hive, where the Queen is a holy being and even you are unable to think different? The Bees is a powerful and dark tale showing the dangers when a government fusions state and religion in one single concept.
In this scenario, when you are committing a crime, it's not only a crime So you are not only a traitor to the state but a sinner to your Queen. After reading this book, certainly the next time that you meet a beehive, you will stare at it and wonder View all 45 comments. Synchronicity on honey turns out to give an insanely great read.
You have served your hive. Praise end your days. Praise end your days, Flora thought back to her, and the words were sweet.
Q: She wrapped herself Synchronicity on honey turns out to give an insanely great read. Q: She wrapped herself in the rich perfume of the forest floor and watched until the last bee flew into the tree.
Then she rested. Do not annoy me by asking permission. Jan 28, Emma Blackery rated it it was ok. Thoroughly disappointed with this book. I was recommended this by a Waterstone's employee - and the story looked to be unique and captivating.
Sadly, within a few pages, I realised that Laline Paull's writing lacked clarity, and hardly anything about the hive in which the book was set was easy to envision. I also agree with other critics of this book - this is not merely about bees, but seems to be a poor metaphor of humanity. The bees have many kins, clearly trying to represent the classes withi Thoroughly disappointed with this book.
It will save a lot of confusion and time-wasting. View all 12 comments. Apr 29, Kelly and the Book Boar rated it it was ok Shelves: read-in Amazing that that bit of info seems to be a spoiler for some.
Heck, that was the whole reason I wanted to read it - an unusual premise is a quick sell for me. View all 22 comments. Mar 20, Andrew rated it really liked it.
I really would have rather given this book three and a half stars. Four seems a tad too strong. It was very readable, interestingly novel, but thematically confusing. I felt like I was supposed to be drawing parallels deeper than "Hey, those bees fail to adjust their social structures in the face of adversity, just like us! Often it seemed that these were simply normal bees with their expe I really would have rather given this book three and a half stars.
Often it seemed that these were simply normal bees with their experiences translated to human terms -- a bee in flight thinks about her engines and fuel levels. But then sometimes things got more human -- pollen bread is produced in the patisserie, cleaning bees have brooms and dustpans. I'm willing to assume the author had a very clear logic to all this in her head, but it didn't come across to me. Maybe if I knew more about bee behavior I would have grasped it all better.
View all 10 comments. Feb 07, Book Riot Community added it. I spent a lovely couple weeks getting caught up in the amazingly intricate world of honey bees, and I loved every second of it! The story follows Flora , a lowly sanitation worker bee who surprisingly finds herself drawn into the inner circle of the queen bee, where she discovers a surprising number of astonishing and chilling secrets.
View 1 comment. Instagram Twitter Facebook Amazon Pinterest I'm honestly shocked that this book isn't more popular and doesn't have higher ratings, but looking at the blurb for it, I can guess why. Some fool from marketing decided to brand it as "Handmaid's Tale meets The Hunger Games," which is laughable.
The Handmaid's Tale comparison I could see as it explores the concepts of authoritarianism, blind worship of authority by a populace intentionally made dumb by those in power, and a caste syste Instagram Twitter Facebook Amazon Pinterest I'm honestly shocked that this book isn't more popular and doesn't have higher ratings, but looking at the blurb for it, I can guess why. The Handmaid's Tale comparison I could see as it explores the concepts of authoritarianism, blind worship of authority by a populace intentionally made dumb by those in power, and a caste system intended to repress its people.
But The Hunger Games comparison? A better comparison would be The Handmaid's Tale meets Watership Down, because the vehicle for this dystopian society is a beehive filled with honeybees. Flora is a sanitation worker, the lowliest caste in the hive. But she was born with abilities that make her special, such as a fantastic sense of smell and the ability to speak, which makes her a curiosity to those in power.
She's brought in to work in a nursery as an experiment and later on, is tasked with foraging. Her numerous experiences throughout the various castes of the hive end up giving her ample opportunities to not only better herself, but to question the authoritarian tenets of the hive that demand unequivocal subjugation at all times. The world-building in this book is simply phenomenal and many of the bee behaviors in this book are rooted in fact.
Some reviewers have said that the pacing can be tedious at times, and I will agree that certain passages do feel bogged down. But there's also a lot of really great passages lovingly detailing the rituals of the bees, and their day-to-day lives. Some of my favorite scenes were: the battle between the princesses, the sheer ribald machismo of the male drones and how they acted like a bunch of drunken and lascivious medieval knights, Flora's battles, the scene in the greenhouse with the spider and the venus flytrap, and so much more!
If you like books about personified animals, like Michael H. O'Brien's MRS. It's dark and disturbing, but I've never read anything quite like it and it saddens me to think that so many people will be missing out on a great book because the preliminary reviews were people who were led to expect something different.
View all 4 comments. I enjoyed The Bees. Carney ; Bend, Or. Soda Springs Idaho -- Biography. View all subjects More like this Similar Items. Allow this favorite library to be seen by others Keep this favorite library private. Save Cancel. Find a copy in the library Finding libraries that hold this item Reviews User-contributed reviews Add a review and share your thoughts with other readers.
Be the first. Add a review and share your thoughts with other readers. Idaho -- Soda Springs. All rights reserved. Please sign in to WorldCat Don't have an account? Remember me on this computer. Cancel Forgot your password? Ellen Carney. Print book : English.
View all subjects. Similar Items. Some Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Plateau use Oregon grape for indigestion. Mahonia aquifolium contains 5'-methoxyhydnocarpin 5'-MHC , a multidrug resistance pump inhibitor, which works to decrease bacterial resistance in vitro.
Oregon-grape is the state flower of Oregon. The primary host of Pst being wheat. However in this case it was only achieved by intentional inoculation in a lab, and it remains unknown whether this naturally occurs. Mahonia aquifolium, Oregon grape or holly-leaved berberry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, native to western North America.
It is an evergreen shrub growing 1 m 3 ft to 3 m 10 ft tall by 1. Oregona mahonio Mahonia aquifolium , estas specio el la familio de berberidacoj.
La planto similas Rampantan mahonion M. Tiu nearktisa planto altas 1—5 metrojn. La planta se propaga por estolones formando colonias. En se introdujo como cultivo en Europa donde se ha convertido en especie invasiva.
Se adapta a todo tipo de suelos. Se usa en la medicina tradicional por su contenido del alcaloide berberina. Leur pollinisation est entomogame. La mineuse du houx Phytomyza ilicis est un des rares insectes ravageurs s'attaquant au Mahonia.
Les fruits sont non toxiques. On l'utilise souvent comme composante de haies. Les fruits du Mahonia sont comestibles. Berberis aquifolium; sin. Plodovi su plave jestive bobe. Uzgaja se kao ukrasni grm, a danas su razvijene i sorte koje se uzgajaju i zbog plodova "Jupiter", "Mirena", "Pamina".
Mahonija je ljekovita biljka od koje se u travarstvu koriste podanak i korijen koji se skupljaju u jesen, a u medicini se upotrebljavaju kora i vrhovi grana. Mahonia aquifolium , vok. Lietuvoje auginamas kaip dekoratyvinis augalas. Jos naudojamos liaudies medicinoje, kulinarijoje. Creatures » … » Plants » … » Barberry Family » …. Berberis Berberis aquifolium Pursh. Comments provided by eFloras. Berberis aquifolium is the state flower of Oregon.
It is widely used as an ornamental and has been reported as an escape from cultivation in scattered localities across the continent Ontario, Quebec, central California, Michigan, and Nevada. Berberis aquifolium is resistant to infection by Puccinia graminis.
Accessed Nov 12, Description provided by eFloras. Shrubs , evergreen, 0. Stems usually monomorphic, seldom with short axillary shoots. Bark of 2d-year stems gray-brown or purplish, glabrous. Bud scales mm, deciduous. Spines absent. Leaves foliolate; petioles cm. Leaflet blades thin and flexible or rather rigid; surfaces abaxially glossy, smooth, adaxially glossy, green; terminal leaflet stalked, blade 5.
Inflorescences racemose, dense, flowered, cm; bracteoles membranous, apex rounded or obtuse, sometimes apiculate. Flowers: anther filaments with distal pair of recurved lateral teeth.
Berries blue, glaucous, oblong-ovoid, mm, juicy, solid. Distribution provided by eFloras. Habitat provided by eFloras. Synonym provided by eFloras. Comprehensive Description provided by EOL authors. Berberis aquifolium Asturian provided by wikipedia AST. Berberis aquifolium. Vancouver: Lone Pine Publishing, ISBN PMID Berberis aquifolium Frutos, inda inmaduros. Mahonia dail celynnog Welsh provided by wikipedia CY.
Mae gan Gomin Wikimedia gyfryngau sy'n berthnasol i: Mahonia dail celynnog.
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