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By: MAST 013
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2022-05-16 11:56:26 |
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A good read. Bees are fascinating creatures and we now know more about them than we ever thought possible! Childhood was hard for Meredith, but her grandfather and the bees were a calming influence. |
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By: MATUA 001
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2022-05-11 14:42:44 |
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We all enjoyed the book. Loved all the stories of the bees - none of us realised it was a memoir until the end! |
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By: WHAKA 021
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2022-03-10 09:25:46 |
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Some found the volatile relationship within the family was very sad. Great story telling about the bees. We all learnt so much about bees one of us wants to take it up as a hobby. Too much of the book was spent on May's youth, and more should have been spent on her adult years. Easy read overall. |
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By: NEWP 022
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2021-11-01 11:43:55 |
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This book generated a lot of discussion around the intergenerational relationships, and we all loved the relationship May had with her grandfather, but also struggled with how May and her brother were treated by her mother and grandmother. The facts about bees were too much sometimes but overall most enjoyed learning more about bees. |
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By: RICH 007
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2021-10-18 14:09:33 |
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The majority of the group really enjoyed this book. They learnt a lot about honeybees and the story evoked good discussion. A few felt that what the author said she felt as a young child, was more adult than a child would think at that age. Overall an interesting book. |
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By: ASHB 024
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2021-09-20 14:39:12 |
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Enjoyed very much by all of our group. Should be read by all ages. |
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By: WHANGA 002
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2021-09-17 12:36:52 |
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There was quite a discussion in the Group re the grading of 'The Honey Bus'. Everyone enjoyed reading it and felt much more knowledgeable about honeybees and their habitat. Whilst half of us feel that the author had been successful in combining the world of bees with her childhood recollections, others were not as interested in the emotional aspects of the story. Our discussion was dynamic, touching on much from our own growing years. |
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By: WHAKA 009
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2021-09-08 13:47:51 |
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We ALL loved this book. A well-written story. |
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By: QUEEN 006
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2021-09-08 13:47:11 |
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A book much enjoyed by all. The details about bees were fascinating. Unfortunately because of lockdown we couldn't meet to discuss the book as there was so much we could have explored. |
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By: MORRI 001
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2021-09-06 10:15:03 |
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Best book of the year! This book sparked the best discussion on the incredible nature of bees, intergenerational trauma, and the power of positive loving relationships to heal. A beautiful story of love and resilience. |
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By: WELL 228
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2021-08-02 19:34:49 |
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Some of our group really enjoyed it, others not so much. It would be good to remember this is non-fiction when reading it and written from a child’s perspective. Some of us found it quite hard to get back into. The ending felt quite rushed. We did find the bee info really interesting though! |
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By: TAKA 001
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2021-07-13 11:19:19 |
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The members really enjoyed reading about the life of the bees and how the grandfather in his gentle way helped May understand the family dynamics. We felt sad for May's situation, and aware of the importance of the relationship she had with her grandfather. It was hard to read how the mother and grandmother did not protect the children, both from out of their own distress and trauma. Some of us felt that the author did not always write from a child's perspective, and that her adult experiences coloured her perspective, but overall a book o be recommended. |
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By: AUCK 037
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2021-07-05 11:57:32 |
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All enjoyed it, and found the questions elicited a good discussion around mental illness, family, stress, the memoir style, and bees! |
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By: AUCK 256
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2021-06-17 12:01:06 |
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A great read and only afterwards realized it was a memoir. Really like the information about bees and their communities. The lack of help for the daughter with depression was sad, but the wonderful grandfather and his relationship with his grand daughter was inspirational. |
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By: NELS 086
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2021-06-14 14:18:18 |
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This book touched one of our readers so much that she communicated with the author! We all loved the bee theme and learnt heaps. |
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By: WELL 123
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2021-05-31 13:39:23 |
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Animated discussion. Everyone enjoyed the book. Such a dysfunctional family, saved by the wonderful grandfather and his bees. |
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By: WIND 001
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2021-03-24 14:29:04 |
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Excellent. |
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By: MATAM 002
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2021-03-24 10:06:33 |
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This generated lots of discussion around the relationship between the grandmother, mother and granddaughter. Very polarising storyline for our group. Overall our favourite book, and we loved the grandfather, granddaughter storyline. |
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By: COROM 002
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2021-03-08 14:21:59 |
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We all enjoyed learning about the intricate, cooperative life of the bee community, and were less impressed with the human story! But the way that the one influenced the other made a very good read. |
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By: ASHB 015
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2021-03-08 14:20:16 |
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Enjoyed by all the members. A great insight into the life of bees, and the devastating effect mental abuse can have on a growing individual. |
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By: WAIKO 001
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2021-02-19 12:13:31 |
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All enjoyed this memoir. |
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By: WELL 093
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2021-02-05 12:20:05 |
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Everyone enjoyed this book - a great summer read. |
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By: WHITIAN 002
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2020-10-07 14:04:08 |
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As each reader got into the book and realised it was a memoir, it affected the way it was perceived. Some found the detail about bees too involved, but most thought it was informative and interesting. All our group were moved by the sadness of the lives of the main characters, and amazed at the fortitude of the writer. Altogether a positive response. |
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By: NELS 023
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2020-10-05 10:22:37 |
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10/12 of our members rated this 5 stars. The combination and the relationship of the life of bees and the life of Meredith was terrific. And the writing is superb. Highly recommended to other groups. |
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By: ALEXA 008
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2020-08-26 13:10:59 |
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Loved it! |
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