Customer Reviews

Of Bees and Mist: A Novel

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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!

Of Bees and Mist" is an enchanting and magical book about a young girl named Meridia, who is isolated not only from her classmates but her distant and distracted parents as well. Her father is cold and cruel to her, while her mother often forgets her existance. Meridia's life seems to change for the better when she meets a young man who can change her destiny, even though it means dealing with his impossible family.

Part family drama and part magical realism, this book reminded me of a blend between "The House of Spirits" by Isabel Allande, and "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" by Susanna Clarke. I thought it was well written, and engaging enough to keep my interest. There is a lot of magic in it....if that's not your thing, probably you won't care for this book. But if you do like books that have moody mists, vengeful bees, and invading flowers, then you'll enjoy this one!

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.

I have a thorny relationship with magical realism. Often, it reminds me of being little and playing games with the crazy neighbor kids who would make up the rules as they went along. Chaotic, bewildering and a bit frustrating.

That's not to say it isn't without its charms. The finest practitioners, chiefly Garcia Marquez and Allende, can conjur moods and imagery that are equal parts bleak and enchanting, about as far removed as one can get from the prickly, precise BritLit I tend to favor.

While not yet in their league, with Of Bees and Mist, Erick Setiawan has managed to conceive an absorbing fairytale about the destructive power of family secrets. Even as they navigate the mystical/metaphorical landscape he's created for them, his characters (particularly spirited protagonist Meridia) are grounded in emotional reality. And this is the most female-centric book written by a man that I've ever encountered. The men, while important to the plot, seem to occupy the roles that women are usually relegated to - the love interests. Meridia's father is an adulterer, but it is the effect his adultery has on her mother, Ravenna, that moves the plot forward, not necessarily the man himself. Meridia's husband, Daniel and his father, are little more than ciphers, acting out the whims of Eva - the family matriarch and Meridia's wicked stepmother. And what a magnificent, malificent creation she is!

The story is certainly entertaining but, at 400 pages, it would be well served by the red pencil of a merciless editor. The battles between Meridia and Eva become redundant after about the fourth time Eva finds a clever way to skirt her monster-in-law's evil machinations. There's an emotionally rich, heartbreaking story at the core of the novel that almost gets obscured by the repetitious - and frustrating - plots and counter-plots [and *counter* counter-plots] of monster-in-law Eva and her swarm of malicious bees.

But the simple fact that I felt escalating frustration over Eva's repeated attacks against Meridia's marriage and business, is testament to the fact that I really was invested in the characters and cared about the outcome of their story. There were quite a few times I wanted to take hold of Setiawan, shake him, and say, "Enough, already. Give this poor girl her happy ending!"

For hardcore fans of magical realism, Erick Setiawan is certainly a name to watch. All in all, a promising debut.

"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.

This book initially highly interested me, with it's magical theme, family, love, and relationship interplay. But I found it difficult to truly jump in. I can't say whether it was the writing style or possibly that tone of continual letdowns that Meridia faces time and again, or it might have something to do with spanning over several decades, just couldn't keep my interest, set it down a few times to continue reading it later. But I never was able to draw the story about me in my head as I read it. The Characters were well formed, I just kept waiting for the story line to grab on, but it never did. Not a bad first book, but I can't say that I would read it again given the choice.

Erick Setiawan's debut novel, is certain to do one thing---get people talking; because it's clear I'm not the only one trying to shake the buzzy, bees of confusion, out of my head. He develops his characters in a fictional, magical village, with no time-frame. At times, it appears a contemporary setting, then a by-gone era, and sometimes futuristic. Magic and sorcery abounds, but there is never an explanation for why this town has such unusual phenomena. Most of the bizarre, illogical magic appears to be accepted as 'normal' by the town-folk, while at other times, they scurry away from a mere ghostly apparition. There is clearly a lack of congruence, throughout, but the more you read, the abnormal begins to feel---well, surprisingly normal.

That said, I think Erick Setiawan had the pages of this book impregnated with magic dust, to lure us in, beginning with the cover. On first glance, it appears to just be strings of vines, but on closer inspection, you will find some little hidden creatures. So again, nothing is what it appears on the surface with this read. Yes, the montage I'm describing does sound pretty zany, but I found myself reading until 6 am, completely unable to put the book down until I completed the story. I had to find closure for the chief protagonists'. I'm tellin' you---magic dust, with a cover that will put a---spell-on-you.

I truly began to love the characters, spanning three generations. Meridia would touch any heart, marrying at 16 year's old, to escape an emotionally abusive father and a flaky mother, devoid of supportive consistency, only to move in with the mother-in-law from Hell; one who would make Cruella de Vil appear Saintly. The deceit, jealousy, skulduggery and hatred that ensues is cleverly drawn out between Meridia's family and her in-laws. I was left to wonder how Setiawan, a male author, could be so in touch with this type of, destructive negative dynamic; behavior that can arise between powerful, controlling, women. With this aspect, he did a stellar job.

I found I related best to this novel, when I viewed the magic from an allegorical, or metaphorical standpoint. Even though described as fantasy/realism, I began to question whether we were intended to take the magical elements so literally. With each case of magic, you could easily see how it related to the emotional state of the character. For example, the unbearable cold, dampness, and occlusive fog that surrounded Meridia's childhood home, could be viewed as the coldness and emotional separation of those within. The apparitions in the mirror; their state of mind; Eva's bees; the sting of her bitter, evil heart and spirit.

So, if you can seriously suspend disbelief, or read this novel strictly for the creative symbolism, then I don't think you will be disappointed. Otherwise, this one just may not be for you. If you do decide to dive in, be prepared to hear some buzzing in your head, too. Enjoy!

This novel has a fascinating dreamlike quality to it, very much like a fairy-tale. It is full of magic and miracles which are taken for granted because such things are commonplace in its fictional world. Metaphors become real; everything is portentious; spirits meddle in the affairs of the living; psychological traits are manifested physically so that characters' inner lives affect the outer world. (For example, in the beginning of the book Meridia's childhood home is plagued by constant cold and darkness, the staircase frequently changes length, and an unexplained mist harasses visitors at the front door. All of this because her parents are no longer in love with each other.) These phenomena are presented without fanfare. The language is smooth, well-crafted and timeless. The setting does not reference any particular time or place in the real world.

Characters are very well developed and believable. Though painted in broad strokes with overstated kindness or cruelty, they each have a distinct personality and many of them change convincingly as the story goes on. I know this might sound unappealing, but the best description I can think of is a magical Soap Opera. A really interesting and well-written one. The tone is serious, not humorous.

Nothing seems arbitrary about the plot; the author has not cheated or skimped on anything. It starts with Meridia being born and follows her as she grows up, falls in love, marries, and has a child of her own. She is about 30 years old at the book's end. The real meat of the story is Meridia's conflict with her evil, manipulative stepmother, Eva. Eva is the most genuinely despicable character I have read in recent memory. Having grown up in a household with a psychological abuser, I can say with conviction that her behavior is accurately portrayed. There are people who act like this, but fortunately in real life they don't have the power to turn their nagging and lies into a swarm of bees to torment their victims. Eva uses her bees to harass her enemies until they finally give in to her will. I spent the entire book waiting for her to get her comeuppance.

Perhaps because this book hit so close to home in that respect, it often gave me a very uncomfortable feeling while reading it. Some scenes were genuinely distressing.

About five times I noticed a flaw in the language: An odd colloquialism would pop out of the inscrutably timeless prose, and I would notice that it didn't belong. These hiccups were rare, and a less picky reader might not notice them ... but I did.

The biggest flaw with this novel is that it feels too long. It could be because everything is foreshadowed by omens and signs, or else bluntly predicted by the narrative at the beginning of the chapter: "It was later that week that such-and-such happened..." and then the chapter would go on to describe in more detail how those events played out. This was a recurring pattern. Foreshadow, tell, foreshadow, tell. It made for a nice circular structure as elements from the beginning folded into the end, but it made the book more tiring than it needed to be.

The steady pitch of unrelenting anxiety, once Eva enters the story, could also be a factor contributing to my fatigue. It just doesn't let up, and I found myself wanting the book to be over when I still had 100 pages to go.

I finished it, though, and it was worthwhile. This is a really good book ... but not perfect. Ever since "The City and the City" I only give a 5-star rating to books that are perfect. "Bees and Mist" is a very high 4 though. Excellent work, and Erick Setiawan is a talent to watch. Whatever he writes next, I'm interested in reading it.

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!

Of Bees and Mist is a fairy tale for adults, full of fanciful features meant to symbolize pieces of the life of the main character, a young woman named Meridia. It is also something of a coming of age story. While many readers seem to find the book enchanting, for me the "magic" and metaphors were ludicrously exaggerated. Meridia's life is a misery from first page to last. Her parents come across as barely human, and they raise their daughter in a cold, misty void. Meridia's only "friend", Hannah, is obviously Meridia's inner self, the strength that lies buried within. Her husband is spineless, her mother in law a gross caricature of a harpy from hell (she's the one with the bees, an endless, malevolent supply of them.) The more minor characters are treated as pawns.

For me, reading Of Bees and Mist was a bleak, disagreeable experience. I cannot recommend it, but would suggest to those considering giving it a try that they read the positive reviews as well, before making a decision one way or another.