The Bees: A Novel Free Audiobook Download by Laline Paull

The Bees is a memoir of Laline Paull who was raised on her family's bee farm in New South Wales, Australia. The book describes the three generations of women in the house, from their Irish immigrant ancestors to their daughter, Laline. This novel is set in the 1920s through 1960s and describes the beekeeping industry and how it has changed over that time period.

The Bees is a story of environmental devastation, one person's personal struggle, and the power of determination. Some would argue that this book is over dramatized and too sentimental, but those people are missing the point. For me personally, I believe in the power of storytelling to foster empathy and understanding.

In this bold and introspective novel, Laline Paull is at her best narrating the fraught relationships between mother and daughter, father and daughter, sisters and aunts, cousins and parents. The emotional story touches on family secrets as well as the sense of betrayal that can come with life in a small town where everyone knows your every move.

As she tells the story of how a hiker and his dogs come to an abandoned beehive, Laline Paull's debut novel chronicles the joys and challenges of a colony's first year in exile.

"Everything comes from death. The bees start from the body of their mother. And that is the death of a spark, before the body dies and becomes food for the vultures."

The Bees: A Novel by Laline Paull is a refreshing and thought provoking read. The audiobook narration was one of the best narrations I have ever listened to.