The Death of Bees (Paperback) by Lisa O'Donnell
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<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Book </b></p></br></br> "Originally published in Great Britain in 2012 by William Heinemann, an imprint of the the Random House Group"--T.p. verso. <p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br> <p>A riveting, brilliantly written debut novel, <em>The Death of Bees</em> is a coming-of-age story in which two young sisters attempt to hold the world at bay after the mysterious death of their parents.</p><p>Marnie and Nelly, left on their own in Glasgow's Hazlehurst housing estate, attempt to avoid suspicion until Marnie can become a legal guardian for her younger sister.</p><p>Written with fierce sympathy and beautiful precision, and told in alternating voices, <em>The Death of Bees </em><em>by Lisa O'Donnell </em><em>is</em> an enchanting, grimly comic tale of lost souls who, unable to answer for themselves, can answer only for each other.</p> <p/><br></br><p><b> From the Back Cover </b></p></br></br> <p><em>Today I buried my parents in the backyard.<br />Neither of them were beloved.</em></p><p>Marnie and her little sister, Nelly, are on their own now. Only they know what happened to their parents, Izzy and Gene, and they aren't telling. While life in Glasgow's Maryhill housing estate isn't grand, the girls do have each other.</p><p>As the New Year comes and goes, Lennie, the old man next door, realizes that his young neighbors are alone and need his help. Lennie takes them in--feeds them, clothes them, protects them--and something like a family forms. But soon, the sisters' friends, their teachers, and the authorities start asking tougher questions. As one lie leads to another, dark secrets about the girls' family surface, creating complications that threaten to tear them apart.</p><p>Written with ferce sympathy and beautiful precision, told in alternating voices, <em>The Death of Bees</em> is an enchanting, grimly comic tale of three lost souls who, unable to answer for themselves, can answer only for one another.</p> <p/><br></br><p><b> Review Quotes </b></p></br></br> "<i>The Death of Bees</i> is compelling stuff, engaging the emotions from the first page and quickly becoming almost impossible to put down."--<b><i>Herald</i> (Scotland)</b> </br></br>"<i>The Death of Bees</i> is completely addictive. A beautiful and darkly funny story of two sisters building a fantasy within a nightmare."--<b>Alison Espach, author of <i>The Adults</i></b> </br></br>"<i>The Death of Bees</i> steadily draws you into its characters' emotional lives."--<b><i>Financial Times</i></b> </br></br>"[A] chiller told in three voices which will intrigue readers to the last pages...O'Donnell has done a masterful job of sketching her characters...The end is largely unexpected and highly dramatic, but at the same time is the perfect ending to this chilling tale...[a] brilliant book."--<b><i>Examiner</i> (Northern California)</b> </br></br>"An unusual coming-of-age novel that features two sisters who survive years of abuse and neglect....The author's experience as a screenwriter is most definitely apparent, as the reader always hears the voices and can visualize the dramatic, sometimes appallingly grim scenes. Recommended."--<b><i>Kirkus Reviews</i></b> </br></br>"As a gothic novel and a psychological look at the effects of trauma, it had verve and nerve...O'Donnell knows how to keep a reader engaged, and her sympathy -- and hope -- for her characters tempers what could have been a sordid tale."--<b><i>Columbus Dispatch</i></b> </br></br>"As the action reaches a feverish climax...dark comedy is replaced by nerve-shredding tension...the reader is thoroughly caught up in the emotional trials and tribulations of two unlikely heroines....Warm without being cozy, explicit without being shocking, and emotive without being schmaltzy...a powerful coming-of-age tale..."--<b><i>Scotsman</i></b> </br></br>"In more ways than the first line, <i>The Death of Bees</i> reminds me of Donoghue's <i>Room</i>. Maybe it's because both authors originated from the United Kingdom. Maybe it's because both stories carry a darkness brightened only by the innocence of the main characters.--<b><i>Spencer Daily Reporter</i></b> </br></br>"In this first novel she pulls off the unusual pairing of grisly and touching."--<b><i>New York Times</i></b> </br></br>"Lisa O'Donnell, an award-winning screenwriter, grabs the reader from the get-go..."--<b><i>Fort Worth Star-Telegram</i></b> </br></br>"Mixing <i>The Ladykillers</i> with Irvine Welsh's <i>The Acid House</i>... O'Donnell adeptly balances caustic humour and compassion."--<b><i>Guardian</i></b> </br></br>"O'Donnell walks a fine line, describing appalling events without ever allowing the novel to lose its warm heart....<i>The Death of Bees</i> is that rare thing: a family-values black comedy."--<b><i>Christian Science Monitor</i></b> </br></br>"O'Donnell's finely drawn characters display the full palette of human flaws and potential. Told in the alternating voices of Marnie, Nelly, and Lennie, this beautifully written page-turner will have readers fretting about what will become of the girls."--<b><i>Booklist</i> (starred review)</b> </br></br>"O'Donnell's wildly original debut examines the intricacies of betrayal and loyalty within one family and their effects on two vulnerable young girls...With a gritty but redemptive take on family and the price of secrets, O'Donnell's debut will be well-received by fans of mainstream literature and Scottish noir mysteries alike."--<b><i>Shelf Awareness</i></b> </br></br>"Quirky characters with distinct voices enliven this sometimes grim and often funny coming-of-age story in the vein of Karen Russell's best seller <i>Swamplandia!</i> O'Donnell's debut is sure to be a winner."--<b><i>Library Journal</i></b> </br></br>"The author brilliantly paints the characters' best traits through the eyes of the other characters, and their worst traits through their own voices."--<b><i>RT Book Reviews</i></b> </br></br>"The most original and incredible piece of writing I've come across in years."--<b>Helen Fitzgerald, author of <i>Dead Lovely</i></b> </br></br>"The quirky characters and thrilling plotlines will leave readers anxious to find out what will become of the girls. This poignant, compelling, and hopeful tale teaches readers that a desperate situation can always be alleviated by reaching out to others."--<b><i>The Hub</i></b> </br></br>"The sisters and Lennie narrate alternating chapters, moving the story along at a fast clip....The difference between the sisters in terms of personality and maturity puts them at odds despite their shared fear of discovery. But their resilience suggests hope for their blighted lives."--<b><i>Publishers Weekly</i> (boxed review)</b> </br></br>"This is a sweet, funny book filled with two sister's unrelenting love for each other and their determination to stay together at all costs...it is a good read and if you are interested in being taken on a crazy ride, this is the book for you."--<b><i>Bibliophage</i></b> </br></br>"This vibrantly-imagined novel, by turns hilarious and appalling, is hard to resist."--<b><i>Daily Mail</i> (London)</b> </br></br>"Warm without being cozy, explicit without being shocking, and emotive without being schmaltzy . . . a powerful coming-of-age tale."--<b><i>Scotsman</i></b> </br></br>"We loved this novel and think you will, too...<i>The Death of Bees</i> gives us one of the most memorable protagonists in recent fiction."--<i>Ladies' Home Journal</i>, Book Club </br></br>"Wild, witty and as funny as it is unsettling. <i>The Death of Bees</i> is really about the strength of sisters, the sparkle of imagination and how even the most motley of half lives can somehow coalesce into a shining whole."--<b><i>Houston Chronicle</i></b> </br></br>"With characters and voices the remind me of other strong debut novels (like <i>Fates Will Find Their Way</i> and <i>Vaclav and Lena</i>), this book will appeal to readers who like a strong voice, dark humor, and compelling story lines told in a literary yet accessible way."--<b><i>Publishers Weekly</i></b>
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