Telling the Bees

By: Peggy Hesketh

Narrated by: Norman Dietz

Albert Honig's most constant companions have always been his bees. A never-married octogenarian, he makes a modest living as a beekeeper, as his father and his father's father did before him. Deeply acquainted with the workings of the hives, Albert is less versed in the ways of people, especially his friend Claire, whose presence and absence in his life have never been reconciled. When Claire is killed in a seemingly senseless accident during a burglary gone wrong, Albert is haunted by the loss and by the secrets and silence that hovered between them for so long. As he pieces together the memories of their shared history, he will come to learn the painful truths about Claire's life and the redemptive power of laying the past to rest.

©2013 Peggy Hesketh (P)2013 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Reminiscent of Marilynne Robinson's Gilead, Hesketh's debut explores family secrets and end-of-life reflections.... [Listeners] in search of a heartfelt, thought-provoking novel will find what they are looking for in this journey through the life of an unassuming apiarist who knows more about his reclusive neighbors than anyone could guess." ( Library Journal)

Fascinating

An interesting telling of the mysteries of life and death, wrapped into the wealth of the hive and its maidens.

Sipping with fantastic Wisdom, that I wish I had known at 21

The author masterfully creates her characters who live out their lives in many ways similar to bees. When a bee stings, the force of sending out the stinger rips apart, the bees abdomen and ends up, slowly killing the bee. Similarly, when we set out to sting, someone we consider a foe, we often set up our own demise.
Excellent book. Could read it again.

What a jumble

Partially about bee keeping, partially about two murders, partially about philosophy. The reader couldn’t even pronounce divan.

A Story as Complex as a Beehive

This was a compelling story, told in the voice of someone true to character. What I loved best was the way the author related each chapter to events or characteristics in the life of a beehive. As a beekeeper, I appreciate the author’s accurate accounts of keeping a hive and how these descriptions advanced the story and gave it depth.