the Bee Sting

A huge epic of a book - one of my recent favourites! A family saga set in modern Ireland, full of love, loss, humour and the climate crisis.

The Bee Sting was picked for Dua Lipa’s book club in February. I really enjoyed the curated playlist from Paul Murray to read alongside the book, and the video interview between him and Dua.

The story is told from the different point of views of Irish family; the 18 year old Cass who wants to escape their small town and go to Dublin; PJ, her 12 year old brother, a trusting bundle of energy who is trying to bring his family together; their mother Imelda, seemingly shallow but more relatable as you delve into her past; and the father Dickie, a quiet, reserved man who is hiding a past. I loved how in each section the whole voice and writing style adapts as each family member tells you their story. The characters are weird and wacky, they clash over different expectations of life and what they think the ideal family should be, but a lot of the themes show how the past will always catch up with you. The book builds tension until the very last pages, and without spoiling anything, the ending is such a cliffhanger!