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BookHounds Review & Giveaway THE DEATH OF BEES by LISA O’DONNELL @HarperCollins

January 2, 2013 By Mary 61 Comments

Book Description

Release Date: January 2, 2013

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.

Marnie and her little sister, Nelly, are on their own now. Only they know what happened to their parents, Izzy and Gene, and they aren’t telling. While life in Glasgow’s Maryhill housing estate isn’t grand, the girls do have each other. Besides, it’s only a year until Marnie will be considered an adult and can legally take care of them both.

As the New Year comes and goes, Lennie, the old man next door, realizes that his young neighbors are alone and need his help. Or does he need theirs? Lennie takes them in—feeds them, clothes them, protects them—and something like a family forms. But soon enough, the sisters’ friends, their teachers, and the authorities start asking tougher questions. As one lie leads to another, dark secrets about the girls’ family surface, creating complications that threaten to tear them apart.

Written with fierce sympathy and beautiful precision, told in alternating voices, The Death of Bees is an enchanting, grimly comic tale of three lost souls who, unable to answer for themselves, can answer only for one another.

About the Author

Lisa O’Donnell won the Orange Screenwriting Prize in 2000 for The Wedding Gift and, in the same year, was nominated for the Dennis Potter New Screenwriters Award. A native of Scotland, she is now a full-time writer and lives in Los Angeles with her two children. The Death of Bees is her first novel.


SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Gifted sisters Marnie and Nelly have buried their abusive parents in the back yard after finding them both dead and with good riddance since they have paid little or no attention to them since either can remember.  The brilliant Marnie acts out, using sex, alcohol and drugs to numb herself while her younger sister uses a posh accent and retreats into a world of culture as an unnaturally gifted violinist in defense of their home life.  Growing up in state supported housing while their parents receive aid, neither one wants to be put in a foster home, so they devise a plan to stay on their own until Marnie turns sixteen in a year.  Their next door neighbor, Lennie, senses something wrong with the girls but isn’t quite sure what.  Oh, and Lennie has a few law issues himself, like being caught with an underage boy in the park that led to being registered as a sexual offender, which really wasn’t his fault since the boy told him he was legal.

If you aren’t offended so far, read on.  Next up is Marnie’s married, drug-dealing, boyfriend that keeps them afloat for a few months by paying her to work the ice cream truck he uses to supply the neighborhood.  Things get really weird when his boss shows up and demands the money that their lowlife father owes him.  Things get even weirder after that.  As the girls, now with the help of Lennie, avoid all manner of grown ups and the law, their life actually gets better.  Lennie serves them regular meals, gives them a place to sleep and makes them feel wanted for the first time in their life.  Told in these three alternating voices, the story is a dark comedy filled with emotion.

Of course, in Marnie and Nelly’s lives, nothing goes according to plan and their long-lost grandfather shows up to claim them.  As Marnie quickly figures out, he is probably the reason their mother was not very maternal.  Their plan lasts about four months and it quickly falls apart as the authorities and drug dealers come calling.  This book is so wonderfully weird and filled with touching moments that had me at times sad but also laughing.  There are quite a few interesting twist and plot turns that are so far fetched but at the same time believable.  I really loved this one.

Read my interview with Lisa HERE


WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK?
Complete the below form 
Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with US mailing address   
Void where prohibited. See the complete rules HERE
Contest ends on 1.15.12 Winner will be chosen by Random.org 
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email.
Only one winner per mailing address.  Multiple entries will be deleted. 
This giveaway is sponsored by the publisher and ONE BOOK is available.
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Comments

  1. Cozy in Texas says

    January 2, 2013 at 4:37 pm

    This looks like a good read. I’m not sure if I’m a follower – I keep up with your page with a link on my sidebar. Don’t want to miss any of your great posts.
    Ann

    Reply
  2. Beth W says

    January 2, 2013 at 7:24 pm

    This looks fantastically complex- thank you for putting it on my radar! 😀

    bethwade1 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  3. Karen B says

    January 2, 2013 at 8:51 pm

    I’ve been reading great things about this book!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    Reply
  4. Patricia N says

    January 3, 2013 at 12:37 am

    Sounds like a great read! Thanks for the giveaway.

    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  5. Patricia N says

    January 3, 2013 at 12:38 am

    Tweet
    https://twitter.com/pmernick1/status/286632402426687488

    Reply
  6. holdenj says

    January 3, 2013 at 1:04 am

    I’ve been hearing good things about this book, thanks for the chance to win!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  7. Karen B says

    January 3, 2013 at 6:07 pm

    Jan 3 entry – thanks!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    Reply
  8. holdenj says

    January 4, 2013 at 2:16 am

    1/3. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  9. Patricia N says

    January 4, 2013 at 3:31 am

    Tweet
    https://twitter.com/pmernick1/status/287038213938356225

    Reply
  10. Patricia N says

    January 4, 2013 at 3:31 am

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
  11. Karen B says

    January 4, 2013 at 2:56 pm

    Jan 4th entry – thanks!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    Reply
  12. Leslie (Under My Apple Tree) says

    January 4, 2013 at 7:59 pm

    I’m seeing this book everywhere. I think I’m one of the few people that doesn’t have a copy of it yet!

    Reply
  13. Patricia N says

    January 5, 2013 at 2:27 am

    Tweet
    https://twitter.com/pmernick1/status/287384491771695104

    Reply
  14. Patricia N says

    January 5, 2013 at 2:27 am

    1/4 entry

    Reply
  15. Karen B says

    January 5, 2013 at 2:03 pm

    Jan 5th entry – thanks!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    Reply
  16. holdenj says

    January 6, 2013 at 12:01 am

    1/5. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  17. Patricia N says

    January 6, 2013 at 3:31 am

    Tweet
    https://twitter.com/pmernick1/status/287763176005713921
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  18. Patricia N says

    January 6, 2013 at 3:31 am

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  19. Karen B says

    January 6, 2013 at 7:45 pm

    Jan 6th entry – thanks!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    Reply
  20. Patricia N says

    January 6, 2013 at 11:42 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  21. Patricia N says

    January 6, 2013 at 11:42 pm

    Tweet
    https://twitter.com/pmernick1/status/288067879918764032
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  22. Karen B says

    January 7, 2013 at 3:36 pm

    Jan 7th entry – thanks!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    Reply
  23. holdenj says

    January 8, 2013 at 12:49 am

    1/7. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  24. Patricia N says

    January 8, 2013 at 3:35 am

    Tweet
    https://twitter.com/pmernick1/status/288488745278251010
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  25. Patricia N says

    January 8, 2013 at 3:35 am

    Daily entry
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  26. Anita Yancey says

    January 8, 2013 at 2:05 pm

    Sounds like an interesting book. I would really enjoy reading it. Thanks for having this giveaway.

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    Reply
  27. Karen B says

    January 8, 2013 at 7:09 pm

    Jan 8th entry – thanks!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    Reply
  28. Patricia N says

    January 9, 2013 at 3:42 am

    Daily entry
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  29. Patricia N says

    January 9, 2013 at 3:43 am

    Tweet
    https://twitter.com/pmernick1/status/288853154395734016
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  30. Karen B says

    January 9, 2013 at 5:59 pm

    Jan 9th entry – thanks!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    Reply
  31. holdenj says

    January 10, 2013 at 1:37 am

    1/9. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  32. Patricia N says

    January 10, 2013 at 1:58 am

    Sounds like a great read! Thanks for the giveaway.
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  33. Patricia N says

    January 10, 2013 at 1:58 am

    Tweet
    https://twitter.com/pmernick1/status/289189167546634240

    Reply
  34. Beverly S. says

    January 10, 2013 at 4:03 pm

    There’s two new books that I am excited about reading and this is one of them. 🙂 (Other one is The Painted Girls)…There’s so much buzzzzz about The Death of Bees and I can’t wait to read it. Thank you so much for the chance to win a copy. It’s cold and yucky here so perfect time to curl up by the fire with a good new book. Happy New Year! 🙂

    Reply
  35. Beverly S. says

    January 10, 2013 at 4:03 pm

    There’s two new books that I am excited about reading and this is one of them. 🙂 (Other one is The Painted Girls)…There’s so much buzzzzz about The Death of Bees and I can’t wait to read it. Thank you so much for the chance to win a copy. It’s cold and yucky here so perfect time to curl up by the fire with a good new book. Happy New Year! 🙂

    Reply
  36. Karen B says

    January 10, 2013 at 4:07 pm

    Jan 10th entry – thanks!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    Reply
  37. Sunnymay says

    January 10, 2013 at 8:29 pm

    I like the part where one lie leads to another. Looks like a riveting read.

    Reply
  38. Patricia N says

    January 10, 2013 at 9:38 pm

    I just read another good review on this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  39. Patricia N says

    January 10, 2013 at 9:38 pm

    Tweet
    https://twitter.com/pmernick1/status/289486044502573057
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  40. Karen B says

    January 11, 2013 at 7:16 pm

    Jan 11th entry – thanks!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    Reply
  41. Patricia N says

    January 11, 2013 at 9:14 pm

    Daily entry
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  42. Patricia N says

    January 11, 2013 at 9:14 pm

    Tweet
    https://twitter.com/pmernick1/status/289842402720632833
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  43. Karen B says

    January 12, 2013 at 6:53 pm

    Jan 12th entry – thanks!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    Reply
  44. Patricia N says

    January 13, 2013 at 1:01 am

    Tweet
    https://twitter.com/pmernick1/status/290261781031575552

    Reply
  45. Patricia N says

    January 13, 2013 at 1:01 am

    Daily entry
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  46. Erica says

    January 13, 2013 at 7:19 am

    This sounds GREAT. Count me in!!!

    Reply
  47. Karen B says

    January 13, 2013 at 4:36 pm

    Jan 13th entry – thanks!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    Reply
  48. Patricia N says

    January 13, 2013 at 5:29 pm

    Daily entry
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  49. Patricia N says

    January 13, 2013 at 5:29 pm

    Tweet
    https://twitter.com/pmernick1/status/290510815113658369

    Reply
  50. holdenj says

    January 13, 2013 at 8:06 pm

    1/13. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  51. latanya t says

    January 13, 2013 at 8:20 pm

    https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/290553834953113601

    dlatany at gmail dot com

    Reply
  52. latanya t says

    January 13, 2013 at 8:21 pm

    I hope you had a great weekend

    dlatany at gmail dot com

    Reply
  53. Karen B says

    January 14, 2013 at 1:57 pm

    Jan 14th entry – thanks!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    Reply
  54. Patricia N says

    January 14, 2013 at 8:33 pm

    Daily entry
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  55. Patricia N says

    January 14, 2013 at 8:34 pm

    Tweet
    https://twitter.com/pmernick1/status/290918933064732672
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

    Reply
  56. holdenj says

    January 15, 2013 at 12:20 am

    1/14. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  57. Karen B says

    January 15, 2013 at 1:16 pm

    Jan 15th entry – thanks!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    Reply
  58. latanya t says

    January 15, 2013 at 4:50 pm

    https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/291225676110000128

    dlatany at gmail dot com

    Reply
  59. latanya t says

    January 15, 2013 at 4:50 pm

    Have a good day

    dlatany at gmail dot com

    Reply
  60. holdenj says

    January 16, 2013 at 12:28 am

    1/15. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  61. Mary BookHounds Jacobs says

    January 18, 2013 at 2:43 am

    winner!

    Beverly S.

    Reply

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