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Monday 12 July 2010

Book notes No. 35 : Of Bees and Mist, Erick Setiawan

Last night a storm, with thunder rolling around the Lago Maggiore 'basin', lightning cracking open the murky skies and a heaven-sent fresh wind to clear out the cobwebs. Today, more beautifully sunny and hot weather.

In an unnamed town that could be in California, in Indonesia, in southern Spain, our heroine Meridia grows up in a family home haunted by eerie mists, yellow-eyed ghosts and overwhelming cold. 

When she falls in love at 16, she flees to her young husband's home, only to find it plagued by mysterious bees, and her life is soon blighted by her mother-in-law's sharp tongue.

Will Meridia repeat the mistakes of her mother? Or does she have the strength and the insight to strike out for a better life?


Of Bees and Mist is a masterful first novel. In parts moving, in parts sensuous, always ringing true. I was carried away by Setiawan's lyrical-magical style, the inventiveness of his plot and the depth of his characters. I read as often as I could, everywhere I could, and all too soon the story was finished. 

It's one of those books that you are sad you have finished, things are so lively, so eventful amidst its pages. And one of those books, like William Goulding's Paper Men, with a twist in the very last sentence. 

Buy it. Read it. I recommend it. But don't allow yourself to read the last page first. If you think you won't resist the temptation, cut out the last page - put it in a perfumed envelope and mail it to yourself. By the time it gets to you, it will be just in time.


2 comments:

LadyFi said...

Wow - sounds thrilling. A bit like The Historian which I couldn't put down.

Will definitely be buying this!

Carol said...

That sounds fab!

C x

Monday 12 July 2010

Book notes No. 35 : Of Bees and Mist, Erick Setiawan

Last night a storm, with thunder rolling around the Lago Maggiore 'basin', lightning cracking open the murky skies and a heaven-sent fresh wind to clear out the cobwebs. Today, more beautifully sunny and hot weather.

In an unnamed town that could be in California, in Indonesia, in southern Spain, our heroine Meridia grows up in a family home haunted by eerie mists, yellow-eyed ghosts and overwhelming cold. 

When she falls in love at 16, she flees to her young husband's home, only to find it plagued by mysterious bees, and her life is soon blighted by her mother-in-law's sharp tongue.

Will Meridia repeat the mistakes of her mother? Or does she have the strength and the insight to strike out for a better life?


Of Bees and Mist is a masterful first novel. In parts moving, in parts sensuous, always ringing true. I was carried away by Setiawan's lyrical-magical style, the inventiveness of his plot and the depth of his characters. I read as often as I could, everywhere I could, and all too soon the story was finished. 

It's one of those books that you are sad you have finished, things are so lively, so eventful amidst its pages. And one of those books, like William Goulding's Paper Men, with a twist in the very last sentence. 

Buy it. Read it. I recommend it. But don't allow yourself to read the last page first. If you think you won't resist the temptation, cut out the last page - put it in a perfumed envelope and mail it to yourself. By the time it gets to you, it will be just in time.


2 comments:

LadyFi said...

Wow - sounds thrilling. A bit like The Historian which I couldn't put down.

Will definitely be buying this!

Carol said...

That sounds fab!

C x