The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia

Stunning. Beautiful. My Book of the Summer (and it is only June).

I found this on my Kindle. I have no idea when or why I bought it.  It is not the usual kind of book that would pique my interest.  (edit - I think it was a free e-book as part of Amazon's World Book Day Celebration in March; if so I hit the jackpot!!)  But I think Simonopio now rivals Owen Meany as my favorite literary character of all time. Well, besides Jamie Fraser, but that's a given. 

This book was translated from Spanish. Usually, lyrical prose does not come through in those cases. This is different. Kudos to Simon Bruni for this spectacular translation; I cannot even imagine what the original version must be like to read. Flowing, almost dreamlike, we are introduced to the Franscico and Beatriz Cortez Morales, who live in the little village of Linares and have a farm, and a family. An extended family that includes a mute old woman, a mysterious boy with a deformity and a hive of bees, and oh so much love to share. Set in and around 1918 and beyond, we learn of the effects of the Spanish Flu, the Mexican Revolution, the effects of music and brotherhood and godparents who are really parents. 

Please please read this book. I even called my new godson-in-law today to let him know that he, an English Professor, will be wanting to teach using this book. So many layers and symbols and relationships and and and. Just, yeah, read it. Sigh. I am sad that I finished. 

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

A book about books and a heroine named Cussy Mary???  I am IN.

Based on true stories, this book was fascinating.  Cussy Mary is one of the last of the Kentucky Blues.  That's right - blue skinned people.  It is a real thing and even has a big scientific name now - methemoglobinemia. But back then, they were just colored.

Still, Cussy Mary becomes one of the women who carry books to the mountain people and they await her arrival with high anticipation.  Little children, starving children, come running when the Book Woman comes up on her horse.  It is a rough job plodding through the mountains in all sorts of weather and with mean people about, but she is proud to have it.  Her father has other ideas for her, trying to protect her future by marrying her off.  But no one good wants to marry a Blue.  And she can't keep her job if she marries.  She is the last of her kind on this mountain and she faces discrimination at every turn.  She finds a few friends, and in them, a purpose for life. 

The author does a great job of writing "as it is" - the vernacular here is lyrical and you really feel Cussy's deep sadness about her life, along with her determination to make the best of it all.  She definitely goes through trials - she is abused verbally and otherwise by people who consider her a lesser human.  But Cussy Mary is a survivor.  Plus, ya know, BOOKS.  ;-)  Great book club book and for lovers of historical and regional fiction.

The Witch Elm by Tana French

Memory.  It is a strange thing when people remember things differently.  (Happens to me all the time when I am with my high school and college friends.  Sigh.) And it is especially strange when you can't remember them at all.  This book tackles so many things that I think the author overdid it.  While I liked her assertion at the beginning that Toby was just danged lucky, even if he didn't realize it because he was basically an entitled spoiled white male who always wins, but that theme didn't even really take root.  But the Witch Elm did.  Ha.

So, briefly, Toby has a great job, great girlfriend, two fantastic drinking buddies from childhood, two cousins he still hangs out with because they are all only children, and an uncle living alone in the family mansion in the country.  A random act of violence (or was it??) changes everything and sends Toby out to the mansion to recover.  Of course, his memory is dim after the beating and when stories pop up about the past, mainly in the form of an old skull found out in the garden, he has a hard time reconciling what he thinks happened and what others hint at.  Confusing, yes.  Too long winded?  Definitely.  But I could not put it down.  What I liked is that the ending is....well, I can't say but it was NOT what I expected.  I think the editors could have pared this down greatly though as the red herrings and diversions were frustrating. 

I have not read her Dublin murder series and still would read them, but I understand how this book may have disappointed fans.  It is well written, but the plot is a bit loose. Still, I rate it four stars for a very original premise, even if the resolution is a bit far fetched.  It is fiction, people.  And bonus points for a fabulous cover.