A family on a downward spiral is explored through through the eyes of each of its members. Though blurbs are referring to its humor, there is little to find funny in between the pages. It is however, a good view on how parental history informs how the offspring will view their own lives and potentially poor decision making.
The title, The Bee Sting, references something in particular within the plot. But just like in real life, things aren't always what they seem.
We follow Dickie, the eldest but least popular son trying to fill in for the absence of his brother, Frank, to include marrying his brother's grieving fiancée. That mistake reverberates throughout their lives and into their children's lives. Dickie is burying his mid-life/existential crisis in the construction of an end-of-the-world bunker with a local man that seems to have a few screws loose.
Cass, the daughter, has lost respect for Dickie as the family business fails and her standing within her peer group is threatened as is her upcoming attendance to Uni.
His wife, Imelda, fearing public judgement due to financial disaster, is selling off her abundance of purchases while questioning her life decisions.
And then there is the son, PJ, who desperately wants some attention and security in his life. With no one available to him, he seeks friendship in the world of the internet.
Chapters will take you back and forth from before Dickie was married then again to the present which gives the reader a better balance as to how each character arrived to the point of combustion. As in real life, the characters are complicated and multidimensional and as their history is revealed, an understanding is developed for their personalities and foibles.
Overly long but a good read nonetheless.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and Netgalley for access to an early e-copy. All opinions are my own.

The Bee Sting
By Paul Murray

I confess that this book has left me confused. Is it a young adult book? Is it a saga of a family in decline? Does it have almost an x-rated feel in parts?

I could not build any real interest in the story because I could not figure out what the point of the story actually is. And the multiple sections dealing with computer gaming tuned me right out. I just couldn't finish reading the book. I do think it might find a more receptive audience in the young adult category.

The Bee Sting slowly dissects the familial relationships of the Barnes family who live in a small town in rural Ireland. Dickie, the father, seems to have inherent intelligence that applies well to some areas, but he is also a failed businessman and seems to struggle socially and as a father. Imelda, the mother, is apparently a great beauty but a challenged parent. Cass, the teenage daughter who is off to university in Dublin seems confused by her relationship with her village friend, Elaine. Dickie, when he went to university, also had a dark relationship with Willie, and both of these couples seem to have had relationships that are a bit unsettling.

The interruption of long stretches throughout the book without punctuation seems jarring and questionable.

This long book develops the quixotic plot and the various perspectives of all of the characters. Occasionally, there are interruptions and abrupt plot twists, the most notable being the building of the shed (or bunker) near the family house. The weft and warp of plot is sometimes easy to understand and sometimes not, but the families' interweaving of points of view propels the book forward.

Thanks to Farrar, Straus, and Giroux and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was not for me. It’s a family drama, presented from different points of view, chronicling a lifestyle and family era going down the tubes. It begins with narration from the teen daughter, Cass. I found her point of view mildly amusing and somewhat engaging, as I could relate to some of her experiences and feelings. Then the narrative switches to that of PJ, the preadolescent son. And that’s where the author totally lost me. PJ’s narrative was so heavily dependent upon video games and text messaging, I had to just give it up. I’m a mature reader who loves a good story, witty dialogue, compelling plots and intelligent writing. I didn’t find those elements in this selection. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I turned the last page of THE BEE STING, I sat for a good 30 minutes on the beach quite literally stunned without words. The pacing reminded me of THE LUMINARIES (slow start that rapidly escalates) and the second half had the slow burn literary thriller vibes of YOUNG MUNGO or BIRNAM WOOD.

THE BEE STING is almost exclusively told from the four Barnes family members in turn, looking back on the past and worrying about the future. I’m hesitant to say much more because this book is best served without a lot of set up (even the Kirkus review gave up too much, in my opinion). The unveiling of story is the gem of THE BEE STING. This is truly a kaleidoscope of a book, where each section shifts the perspective and brings new light to the narrative. Murray is accomplishing so much without ever being heavy-handed or didactic.

The Bee Sting is a poignant family drama. The economic downturn has brought financial crisis to the Barnes family, which then opens old wounds and digs up some dark family history. There were times the book felt very long, but the sharp plot turn halfway through was an exciting surprise. Once revealed, this key piece of info from Dickie’s past changed everything I thought I knew about the characters. The whole setup was very well done, it was neither predictable nor outrageously out of place. I didn’t see it coming but once it was revealed I couldn’t believe I had missed it.

Some of the writing was simply not my taste. The chapters written from Imelda’s perspective had no punctuation, which drives me bananas. I did not enjoy how the final section was written in the second person, and I didn’t like not knowing what happened at the end (although I suppose it was implied.)

I loved it!!!
The structure of this book worked very well for me. That, at the beginning, each chapter is narrated by each of the family members means that we get to know the perspective and circumstances of each of them, as well as the story behind the adults.
Each character is very well developed, with an easily distinguishable voice of their own. Even the lack of punctuation in Imelda's narration, which at first was difficult to follow, makes a lot of sense, because it gave me an insight into her chaotic inner world.
The part entitled Age of Loneliness is very apt because, in my opinion, that is where the problem lies: they are four lonely people, who share blood and surnames but who don't communicate with each other.
I particularly enjoyed appreciating the difference between the childhoods of the parents and the children, as I saw the difference between my own and my children's childhoods.
The last chapter is fast-paced, to the point of tachycardia, impossible to stop reading. But that "interruptus" ending has subtracted half a star. And it wasn't more because I really enjoyed the way to the end.
Despite having read positive reviews of the author's previous book, I hadn't read anything of his. Now I can say that he has won me over to his cause.

¡¡¡Me ha encantado!!!
La estructura de este libro ha funcionado muy bien para mí. Que, al principio, cada capítulo esté narrado por cada uno de los miembros de la familia hace que conozcamos la perspectiva y circunstancias de cada uno de ellos, además de la historia que hay detrás de los adultos.
Cada personaje está muy bien desarrollado, con una voz propia fácilmente distinguible. Incluso la falta de puntuación de la narración de Imelda, lo cual en un primer momento se hizo difícil de seguir, tiene mucho sentido, porque me hizo comprender su caótico mundo interior.
Muy acertada la parte titulada Age of Loneliness pues, a mi entender, es ahí donde radica el problema: son cuatro personas solas, que comparten sangre y apellidos pero que no se comunican.
Me ha gustado especialmente apreciar la diferencia entre las infancias que tuvieron los padres y la que tienen los hijos ya que he visto reflejada la diferencia entre la mía propia y la de mis hijos.
El último capítulo es trepidante, hasta el punto de llegar a la taquicardia, imposible parar de leer. Pero ese final interruptus le ha restado media estrella. Y no ha sido más porque he disfrutado mucho el camino hasta ese final.
A pesar de haber leído reseñas positivas del anterior libro del autor, no había leído nada suyo. Ahora puedo decir que me ha ganado para su causa.

A mammoth book that is not for everyone. I have a feeling that the readers will be quite divided on the review. There are times when nothing happens and then time where everything seems to happen all at once. I thoroughly enjoyed Murray's writing. This was my first book by the author and I will be seeking more works.

4.5 Stars

This is one that won’t appeal to all, although there are moments that are relatable, as well as captivating, overall I think this is one that many will love, and some will not. The length, a little over 650 pages, will put some people off, which is a shame.

This is a story of family, and so much more than that including love, marriage, death, loss, abuse, and an effort that goes into promises we make to ourselves - to be a better person, the kind we’d like to think that we are, or are at least capable of being. There’s also an aspect of this which seems to weave in and out of the story of a coming apocalypse, and prepping for the end of days.

The crash that left many families in financial distress in 2008 has left this family on the edge of losing everything. They are barely hanging on to the business that Dickie, the father, owns. His wife, Imelda, is prodding him to go to his father to help them out. His teenage daughter, Cass, is - like most teenagers - is going through the things many teen girls go through, while her brother, PJ is going through a growing spurt, and nothing fits him anymore.

This dark comedy covers several themes that don’t feel connected as this begins, but come together as the story continues. It strives to cover and connect these lives of these people who seem pretty determined to set themselves apart from each other. At times - to me - if felt disconnected, and I questioned how these various people’s stories were going to connect, but eventually, it all merges into one unforgettable story.


Pub Date: 15 Aug 2023

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

I've read and enjoyed ALL of Murray's books and thank him and his pubslisher for letting me get my hands of this one early. Loved it! A joy to read.

Having been raised in Ireland I thoroughly enjoy the "Irishisms", especially of the rural folk and how the parents converse with their kids. It was a nice nostaligic read for me personally as I really understand how big moving to Dublin still is for country kids.

I adored all the messed up characters and as a reader empathized with most of them, even those I didn't like. (Maurice). I think PJ was my favorite..

The coming of age stories of Cass and PJ were very realisitically portrayed. The father- son relationships and the treatment of grief were fantastically portrayed. I appreciated the lessons on climate change and know that young people in Ireland are currently terrified by this reality.

It's a funny book with a dark background. This reader loves that. My only slight on this wonderful work would be that I do think this could have been a lot shroter with a tighter edit. I think the reader could have been trusted to fill in some things if need be to get the same results.

Thanks!

Really enjoyed this big, messy family drama. Murray does hope and despair -- and human-ness -- so, so well.

Interestingly written, with believable dialogue, unfortunately I had a hard time connecting with the story and the characters. I had to work my way through the length, which got tiresome at times. The author is a talented writer with a keen eye on the human condition, but this this just didn't work for me.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Apocalypse preppers, luck and how it can alter the course of one's life, and can a young kid right the ship. Murray again comes out swinging with the humorous; enjoyed it, but if there's any complaint with Murray, his books tend toward the overly long.

The fact that this book had little or no punctuation made it hard to read. Also, I’m not quite sure what the author was reaching for, but if were the butterfly effect, he totally missed it. By the end, i wasn’t sure what the point was. I did not find the book in the least humorous. Dickie seems crazy. Imelda, in spite of her horrible upbringing and greed, does seem to be trying a good mother. The bunker, the missing money and the stolen catalytic converters all add to the confusion. I definitely wouldn’t recommend it.

The Bee Sting is an incredible task to undertake, and the beginning 5% just didn't capture my attention - I suppose it seemed to be a young adult story - the adventures of a couple of high school girlfriends trying to figure out their friendship. I felt I wasn't up to this very long task and I abandoned it. From reading the other reviews, the story becomes heartfelt and lovely, but I just didn't have the patience. The problem here, sorry to say is "reader error", and not the fault of the writer.

Thanks, anyway to NetGalley for the opportunity.

So grateful to FSG and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and comment on The Bee Sting by Paul Murray.

Skippy Dies is behind me on a bookshelf as I write this. I very much enjoyed An Evening of Long Goodbyes and The Mark and the Void but Skippy Dies is one of my favourite books to have ever read. I was hoping that The Bee Sting wouldn't disappoint, Murray isn't the most prolific of authors after all, and I've very glad to say it did not.

The lives, loss, loves, and tragedies of a few connected families in small town Ireland. We follow multiple story lines from the point of view of multiple characters.

Those sections start of being quite long but as the story begins to pick up pace and we hurtle towards to conclusion each character's segments get shorter and shorter and more and more breathless. I found it a very clever structural approach. Another structural/stylistic element that at first I thought was a formatting error with the e-ARC is that the Imelda sections are, with the exception of paragraphs and upper case letters, almost completely unpunctuated. Some people will hate that but it's a connection with the character that really works.

Version after version of key occurrences in their lives are related by various characters and layer after layer of their lives and stories are uncovered.

You don't have to have grown up in a small Irish town in the late 20th and early 21st century to enjoy this but it definitely helps. Having come from that background so much of it was all too familiar. The 'elites' and the hand-rubbing glee when there's a fall from grace, the insecurity and inferiority complex when moving to Dublin, the fear of being 'different.' Just so well captured.

Then there's the climax ...

Astonishingly good and up there with Colum McCann as our finest writers of the past several decades.

If we have to wait another decade for another one as good as Skippy Dies and The Bee Sting I'll be impatient but happy to wait.

A depressing, gripping novel about the tragedies that befall us and the tragedies that we write ourselves into. I hope Paul Murray never writes about me.

Nothing really happens for the first half of the book and yet it’s still oddly compelling. And then everything began to happen in the last half and it made me so anxious I wanted to stop reading. But I didn’t, because: compelling.

Murray has such a beautiful command of his writing here. The characters, the settings, the pacing of the plot. I loved Imelda’s sections, the writing was unique and the flow brought her character more to life.

This would be a brilliant book club pick, there is so much to dissect in these characters and the ending.

This is an oddly wonderful book! It revolves around one family: Imelda, Dickie and their two children, Cass and PJ. But there are oh so many other characters and plot lines involved that my head is still spinning! It has all the family drama: heartbreak, jealousy, lies, lust, regret, and often love (both requited and not). But once you start reading, don't even try to put this down as you'll be sucked into it in so many ways! I'd never heard of Murray before but now I'm on a quest for more!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Loved it. Thought it was paced really well, enjoyed the family dynamics, Thought it was written brilliantly, give this all the awards.

Interminable. Monotonous. Repetitive. Miserable. And very long.
This was dreary stuff from an admired writer. I found it unbearable.