I only managed two books for Irish Reading Month this year, and one was a ripper.
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
I love these types of multiple-perspective moral-thrillers, and Murray’s much talked about novel did not disappoint. The characters were well thought-out and believable, and I became engrossed as the chapters rotated between the various players. As the story progressed, the chapters became shorter, creating an almost breathless pace toward the final and highly memorable scene – structurally, it was a simple and clever technique.
Some readers might say that 656 pages is too long – I get that, but the careful pulling together of details across multiple story lines made every page worthwhile.
4/5
Learned By Heart by Emma Donoghue
Seriously, when do I break up with historical fiction? The info-dumping – in this case about parlor games, etiquette, and the French Revolution, was tiresome. How did I feel about the LGBTIQ element of the story (which was really the point)…? I don’t know. It was interesting given the colonial lens, but I’m sure the actual incidence of girls having boarding school romances was common. Donoghue’s writing is fine but I’ve not read any books of hers that have held my attention in the way that Room did.
2.5/5
I’m putting The Bee Sting on my list; I’m so admiring of writers who can pull off that sort of structure, not only have they come up with a story but they’ve also kept an almost scientific eye on the plot!
I didn’t get on with Skippy Dies so avoided The Bee Sting but so many readers whoe opinions I trust love it I’ve been persuaded to give it a try.
I’m with you on Donohue. I loved Room, but have not enjoyed anything else she has written. I did love The bee Sting though.
The Bee Sting is fabulous! I loved it.
I have enjoyed Donoghue’s historical fiction (Slammerkin, The Wonder, Frog Music) but her recent ones haven’t appealed to me for some reason. People have been recommending Paul Murray to me for years and years and I really must get on that!
I do find chunkster novels a bit off-putting, but The Bee Sting sounds like it stays tightly written. I’ve not read Skippy Dies either, I really must!