The Word's Shortlist

Sunday 19 July 2015

#am reading The Bees

Author: Laline Paull

Discovered: The Book Shop, Thame

Where read: (in part) Ponte du Roucas Blanc, La Corniche, Marseille

What's the story?

Flora 717 is a lower class subordinate worker devoted to a life of servitude and obedience to the system. “Accept, Obey and Serve” is the constant daily mantra heard throughout the teeming colony. Unlike the rest of her kin, Flora 717 is identified and exploited by her mentor Sister Sage who sees Flora rise through the ranks until within reach of the Queen herself. This is a classic Cinderella story set, almost unbelievably, within a bee Hive.

The Word's Shortlist view:

This is a hugely original novel that weaves together fairy tale, fantasy and science fiction. Paull set for herself an enormous challenge writing an entire novel with only bees, and other insects, as characters. Furthermore, the story takes place almost completely within the microcosm of the hive.

Flora 717 is a strong female lead who challenges the system, takes risks and squeezes every drop of honey out of life like any classic literary heroine. From mother to warrior Flora leads the plot forward at break neck speed with drama at every turn. No surprise that this novel was shortlisted for the Baileys’ Women’s Prize for Fiction 2015.

Whilst the novel contains all the qualities of a fantasy adventure story the trouble is that the characters are almost impossible to empathise with. As a short story or novella this might not be an issue but over the course of a full novel it gets tiring. Undoubtedly a brilliant idea but one that gets too caught up it its own originality during the second half. Writers like Margaret Atwood use devices to make fantasy worlds feel more authentic and palpable.

Unique and original in setting but falls short in terms of real story telling.

Who should read this book?

Fans of science fiction or anyone interested in the Baileys' shortlisted titles this year (on the whole they're a great, see more here).

What’s next on the bookshelf

Christopher and His Kind by Christopher Isherwood