Of Bees and Mist

For me to not finish a book is incredibly rare, even if I find it so-so. Im an avid reader and this book is only the 3rd ever that I've not finished. So for me to stop reading a book entirely says a lot. I slogged through 80 pages, hoping it would get better, hoping I would be interested in the characters, hoping the mysteries would hook me, hoping I could start imagining the fantasy world the author created. Nope. I couldn't stand the thought of 300 more pages of disjointed thoughts and a story that drags. Maybe the story got better, but I couldn't do it. Other reviewers seemed to like it, but I honestly can't imagine the book is wonderful if the first 20% was that boring.

"Of Bees and Mist" boasts romance, Gothic suspense, family saga, and magical realism. Set in an undetermined time period in which mists can settle before front doors and houses can turn ice-cold inside to reflect the death of a marriage, this novel sets itself apart from recent fiction releases with its intriguing setting and unforgettable characters. It's really hard to explain this book, it has to be experienced. The story centers on Meridia, a young woman who marries out of love and out of a desire to escape her own "haunted" house and family. She inevitably locks horns with her insanely controlling mother-in-law, Eva, a fascinating character that I loved to hate. What follows is a family drama, much of which is symbolized by magical and fantastical elements. I found myself staying up late to read this book; it was just about impossible to put down. The characters are richly developed and fascinating, and the setting is quite absorbing. I was sad when the novel ended, and look forward to the author's next endeavor.

Of Bees and Mist opened up a world previously unknown to me. A world where women can grow herbs out of their arms and chest, mist haunts the front door, and men can swallow vegetables whole and spit them out chopped, seasoned and pickled. There was something almost fantastical about the writing style. For some reason, as I read the book, which flowed with a surrealism and slight goth-like feel, I was reminded of children's stories like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (atleast the happy Gene Wilder movie version) and Neverending Story. You know how I can tell that I really like a book? I find myself taking notes while I read, wanting to make sure that I quote a favorite passage and get down my feelings at a particular moment. Much of my review on a "great book" is written during the reading of the book, so everything is fresh. I did that a LOT with this book. I guess this book wasn't really anything like I expected, and quite honestly if you were to give me details about it ahead of time I probably never would have read it. I wouldn't have expected to find a book written with such fantastical flavor, and which at times can be somewhat dark and heavy, so charming. Really a lovely and impressive debut by Mr. Setiawan. I look forward to seeing what rabbit he has hiding up his sleeve next. I jumped right into this book without really even taking in the cover art. Someone in the book discussion pointed out all of the hidden pictures to be found in the cover art-- pictures that are like little windows into Meridia's life. This book follows the often sad and bewildering life of Meridia, swallowed up in a world reminiscent of a Harry Potter book. You really feel for Meridia, and just want to take her in your arms and shelter her. You keep waiting for someone to do this. "Where is her protector?", you keep wondering in frustration. "Where is her shelter from the world? Her lee from the wind? Will no one be her champion?" I've said in the past that I'm not a "book club" kind of gal-- that I don't want to sit around and discuss books and symbolism. I just want to read a good story. I have to say that this book has shown that not to be entirely true. This book is FULL of symbolism, and I found that I LOVED it. Additionally it was a wonderfully good story and kept me totally absorbed. A remarkable debut novel, and highly recommended. Love it, love it, love it!

This is truly one of those unique novels you come across once in a great while. I am so happy to have been able to read this as part of book club. If you are stuck in reality & don't handle imagination well, this won't be the book for you. The author creates a place that remains nameless and a time that is timeless. These particular details are left to what you can imagine them to be. Reality is mixed with magic to create an adult fable full of love, deception, death, new life, ghosts and so much more. I wasn't sure when I first began to read this book if I would like it. About 9 chapters in, it swept me away. There are characters you will love, some you will love to hate, others you will pity & others that will intrigue. The story is based around a young girl raised in a loveless home. She meets and falls in love with a boy who takes her away, but sometimes the hell we don't know is worse then the hell we do know. You follow her through her life and the lives of her family. Definately the type of book you can get lost in. The author has a beautiful way of wording his descriptions. Be sure to investigate the cover! There are many secrets hiding there as well!

I'm typically not a fantasy and mythical genre fan. I was fascinated by this story from the start though! The first couple of days, while I found it interesting it didn't grab hold of me fully but this morning as I read it, I could not put it down. All of the characters are developed in painstaking detail, and their personalities are palpable through the pages. You feel the animosity and disdain that Meridia feels for Eva and you side with her wholeheartedly. The love story between Meridia and Daniel is captivating also.

According to Wiki: "A fable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, that features animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature which are anthropomorphized (given human qualities), and that illustrates a moral lesson (a "moral"), which may at the end be expressed explicitly in a pithy maxim." This story is meant to be a fable, and so it is. An adult fable with adult themes and adult situations. IT is the story of Meridia, a young woman who spent her childhood in a home whose mirrors held images of strangers within them. A home whose stairway was apt to grow or shrink while traveling on it. A home filled with chill, and cold and empty hearts. It her coming of age story. Something that is accomplished in a small town where anything might happen. She meets Daniel, and her life continues and becomes a life she wouldn't have recognized from her dreams. They battled hardship and hate and his shrewish mother. Her unloving father broke Meridia's heart, and her mother Ravenna's as well. Still, goodness and love grew in Meridia's heart. The mysterious Hannah, though seldom seen was often vital to the story. Why Bees and Mists? well, you will see their role as well. One that you wouldn't expect to find in an ordinary story. This though, is not that, not ordinary at all. There is magic and mystery and defiance and most of all there is love. highly recommended.