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Death of Bees
Death of Bees | Lisa O'Donnell
30 posts | 45 read | 53 to read
A riveting, brilliantly written debut novel, The Death of Bees 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.Marnie and Nelly, left on their own inGlasgow's Hazlehurst housing estate, attempt to avoid suspicion until Marnie can become a legal guardian for her younger sister.Written with fierce sympathy and beautiful precision, and told in alternating voices, The Death of Bees by Lisa O Donnell is an enchanting, grimly comic tale of lost souls who, unable to answer for themselves, can answer only for each other."
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Branwen
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1) I tend to keep almost all of my books! I also like to lend my books out to coworkers and friends! And I LOVE giving books as gifts! 😍

2) It depends on the book, but I do generally read pretty quickly! 📚💕

3) The tagged book. Ugh. I just couldn't get into it. It started out in such a depressing manner. 😞

Thanks so much for the tag, @Meaw_catlady ! 😀💕📚 @Eggs #wondrouswednesday

Eggs I read that book! Thanks for joining in 🌺👏🏻❤️ 5y
28 likes1 comment
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Texreader
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Pickpick

Unpopular opinion alert! I liked this story, but not its execution. Underage sex, drug use, and unending foul language made me struggle to read it. It‘s very short, but took me 3 weeks to finish! I get it; it‘s supposed to be “raw” & I‘m supposed to be enlightened enough to accept this “accurate” portrayal of poverty-ridden places, well, anywhere. Doesn‘t mean I have to like it. Still, it‘s a pick for a good story, but barely.

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Texreader
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#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

1. Tagged plus King Leopold‘s Ghost and Everyone Knows You Go Home
2. Just One Damned Thing After Another
3. BBC‘s Dracula

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Texreader
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“Izzy called me Marnie after her mother.”

#firstlinefridays
@ShyBookOwl

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kyraleseberg
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This one is off to an interesting start! 😲

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Texreader
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So sad but true. Even the 15-year-old main character in this book gets the insane way immigrants seeking asylum are treated. (Assuming they are allowed in the country at all.)

GingerAntics Totally agree with this. I still think you should be able to take the licensing exam and go to work. The untapped talent of our immigrants is just a shame. 5y
Texreader @GingerAntics couldn‘t agree more 5y
GingerAntics I work with so many students that are “nontraditional,” intelligent, amazing people and they‘re at a junior college having to get their degree again because they‘re a refugee. It‘s sad. 5y
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GingerAntics Sadly, watching the 10pm news, Texas is no longer allowing refugees to settle within state lines. Shameful. Just absolutely shameful. Ugh. 5y
Texreader @GingerAntics Yes I read about it at dinner and thought my post was prescient. I am so disappointed. First, it‘s inhumane and second, it makes poor economic sense. I‘m really sad to hear about your students. Good to hear, though, they have a supporter in you. 5y
GingerAntics It‘s sad, because the only thing they really need to study is the language. Having them sit through English composition classes and classes they‘ve already taken is just a waste of time, but someone‘s making money off of them (which is probably why it will never change). 5y
Suet624 Texas. (Sigh) Not a surprise they voted this way. Are any Texans protesting the decision? 5y
GingerAntics @Texreader @Suet624 so happy to hear that a federal judge blocked this ridiculous law!!! I don‘t know if anyone was protesting it, but I know several people who were very unhappy with it. 5y
Texreader @GingerAntics yes, good news 5y
56 likes9 comments
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Texreader
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This one‘s been on my tbr list for a long time and now it‘s on sale today. Spend the $2?

thegirlwiththelibrarybag I read this a couple of years ago - good read! 5y
Bette I read this a while back and really liked it. 👍 5y
46 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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ValPenny
Death of Bees | Lisa O'Donnell
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Mehso-so

This book has an explosive beginning and I had great hopes for it. Sadly, it dropped off sharply. It is easy to read, but has a rather pedestrian plot. Perhaps if it were marketed as a YA or a cross-over novel, I wouldn‘t have been so hard on it.

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Mshookquilts
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Pickpick

A strange story of two girls abandoned long before their parents died and how they tried to survive on their own. It‘s told through the girls‘ eyes and that of their one true friend.

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Kayla.Adriena
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Pickpick

LOVED it. My favorite book for the whole round. I cared very much what happened to the girls and the swearing did not bother me one bit! On it's way home to you @shellleigh33 #lmpbc

Crazeedi I agree! I lived it too. Your book will be on it's way this weekend!! 5y
Crazeedi Loved 5y
33 likes2 comments
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Crazeedi
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Pickpick

@Kayla.Adriena this is on it's way to you in the morning! So sorry I'm late!
@Skeebies05 @shellleigh33 #LMPBC #groupL
0005 @suvata
And I really enjoyed this book!!

74 likes3 stack adds
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Crazeedi
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85 likes2 stack adds
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Skeebies05
Death of Bees | Lisa O'Donnell
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So sorry! This is going out today. 🙈🙈🙈I am shame. My review is in the back of the book 🤗
#Lmpbc #groupL
@Crazeedi @shellleigh33 @Kayla.Adriena

Crazeedi Yay! I was a bit behind sending mine too, I just didn't know if it was lost in mail 6y
Kayla.Adriena @Crazeedi @Skeebies05 No shame ladies! I was late sending out my book and I haven't received Rebecca yet I hope it's not lost! 6y
Crazeedi @Kayla.Adriena it's coming media mail so fingers crossed 6y
25 likes3 comments
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shellleigh33
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@Skeebies05 @Kayla.Adriena @Crazeedi started this book last night for our #LMPBC #groupL #round5 read. I went into this book blind and am about half way done but I want to give y‘all a heads up that there is a lot of cussing and some very dark topics that could be triggers for some individuals. With that said, if this is a problem to any of you I will be happy to pick a different book. I want everyone to have an enjoyable reading experience

Skeebies05 I‘m ok with the book still. Thanks for the heads up! 6y
Crazeedi I'm ok with it too 6y
Kayla.Adriena Doesn't bother me! 6y
shellleigh33 Okay thanks girls @Skeebies05 @Crazeedi @Kayla.Adriena 👍🏻 6y
32 likes4 comments
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shellleigh33
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After much debating I have decided to go with this one for our #LMPBC #GroupL #round5 @Kayla.Adriena @Skeebies05 @Crazeedi 🤞Hope this is good

Crazeedi @Kayla.Adriena sounds great! 6y
Crazeedi @shellleigh33 sounds great! 6y
shellleigh33 @Kayla.Adriena that book sounds great 6y
37 likes1 stack add3 comments
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AnneEssDee
Death of Bees | Lisa O'Donnell
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Was this YA or yawn? I can't decide. Can't wait to hear what my book club has to say - Sometimes the dud books spawn the best discussions, forcing me to up my ratings!

#readtribe #bookclub

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Eggs
Death of Bees | Lisa O'Donnell
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Mehso-so

Two sisters, aged 15 and 12, find themselves on their own after their mom kills their dad by smothering with a pillow, then hangs herself in the shed. They don't want anyone to know for fear they'll be placed in the care of some horrible foster parents; so they have to sneakily cover up the deaths. It's a bit grim but you find yourself rooting for them anyway.

57 likes6 stack adds
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BookBoggart
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This book has hooked me right in! But this little derp had me slightly distracted, so she gets her photo taken. 😍❤🐶 #oliveoil #muchlove #rockinweekend #puppiesoflitsy

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sprainedbrain
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Pickpick

I loved this book!

It‘s dark—really dark, and has a lot of uncomfortable stuff in it. It‘s also very well written, touching, and funny in a lot of different ways. Nelly‘s narratives are fantastic.

Definitely not for everyone, but it was for me!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Lindy It‘s been a few years since I read this, but your post reminded me that I really liked it. I reviewed it here: https://lindypratch.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/death-of-bees-by-lisa-odonnell.html?m... 7y
sprainedbrain @Lindy loved your review! 7y
Mdargusch I loved this too! 7y
Lindy @sprainedbrain Thanks. 😊 7y
126 likes12 stack adds4 comments
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LPezzo
Pickpick

Read this for a book club I just joined and was not disappointed!! It‘s an easy read, told from@the perspective of 3 characters, and has so many twists and turns. I love the writers style and how perfectly she portrays each character in the book. I couldn‘t put it down, highly recommended!

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LPezzo
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New book club book!

3 likes1 stack add
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Amandajoy
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Here you go @scripturient I hope those are indigo! What do you say to some yellow books to match my yellow flowers @mrsamandahood & @GirlMeetsBook 🌻🌼🍋🌞🤓

Kalalalatja I have heard good things about Seraphina - did you like it? 😊 7y
Amandajoy @Kalalalatja I thought it was ok. I thought some parts fell flat & I don't think I knew it was part of a series when I read it. But if you like YA or fantasy, you may like it, those are two genres I'm a little pickier with. 7y
Kalalalatja Okay, good to know! I love fantasy and some YA, so maybe I will like this too 👍 7y
scripturient 👍🏻😊 7y
50 likes4 comments
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Brie
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"Today is Christmas Eve. Today is my birthday. Today I am fifteen. Today I buried my parents in the backyard. Neither of them were beloved."

And so begins this darkly funny debut about two sisters trying to stick together and form an unlikely family. #junebookbugs #death

JazzFeathers Is that the opening? What a punch! 7y
Brie Yeah it's the first few lines. @JazzFeathers 7y
Lmstraubie Wow! 7y
64 likes6 stack adds3 comments
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karenna
Death of Bees | Lisa O'Donnell
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Pickpick

This book begins pretty grimly (not my favorite fare, usually), so I was worried initially. However, an underlying vein of sympathy and kindness permeates the book, and that gentle spirit, along with several of the characters, captured my heart. Expect to laugh, cry, squirm, gag, fret, and cheer: this book packs it all in. (Also, I love the cover.)

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mrp27
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#marchintoreading

A couple of books I've enjoyed by #commonwealthauthors

LeahBergen I've been wanting to read The Death of Bees! 8y
mrp27 @LeahBergen I liked it, lots of dark humor. 8y
22 likes2 comments
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Patrella
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Woot! Woot! I'm back! New new phone works! Finally! Had a wonderful date night w/my BFF @bookdrunkard78! Picked up these lovelies at HPB. I absolutely loved The Death of Bees when I read it last year & have been looking for a copy of my very own since. The BFF raved about Mosquitoland when she read it, so got it at a bargain price! Finally. . . Lunch. Is. The. Worst. So, I'm hoping my go-to Cooking Light can help a girl out. Great lil #bookhaul!

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akfreeborn
Death of Bees | Lisa O'Donnell
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An eclectic rainbow of books. #somethingforseptember #septphotochallenge

britt_brooke Nice! 🌈 8y
38 likes1 comment
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sprainedbrain
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Day 30 of #augustphotochallenge is #augusthaul This is kind of embarrassing, but when I consider that 10 of these are used books, I feel a little bit better. 😳

OSChamberlain Wonderful haul! I need to get my hands on dark matter!! 8y
LauraBeth Nice haul (and look at that baby!) 8y
ScrappyMags Nice!!! 8y
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Dragon Cute kitten! 8y
seibelsays Nice! I picked Dark Matter as this months book from Book of the Month Club, but I haven't gotten to it yet. ❤️the kitten! 8y
DebinHawaii Sweet kitty! 🐱❤️ 8y
Bette Really liked Death of Bees, unusual. It sucked me in. ❤️😸 8y
LauraJ Kitten 😻 Squee!! 8y
104 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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LinaLovesLit
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I got some book mail today! 😃