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83rd out of 100 books
—
16 voters
A Recipe for Bees
by
Gail Anderson-Dargatz (Goodreads Author)
In A Recipe for Bees, Gail Anderson-Dargatz gives readers a remarkable woman to stand beside Hagar Shipley and Daisy Goodwin — but Augusta Olsen also has attitude, a wicked funny bone, and the dubious gift of second sight.
At home in Courtenay, B.C., Augusta anxiously awaits news of her dearly loved son-in-law Gabe, who is undergoing brain surgery miles away in Victoria. He...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
August 3rd 1999
by Vintage Canada
(first published 1998)
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I picked up a copy of A Recipe for Bees at without knowing anything about it -- it just seemed interesting after reading the back cover. The book did indeed remind me quite a bit of The Stone Diaries, and also Drowning Ruth (both great reads, by the way). It's got that whole mid-20th century rural thing happening. The story follows the life of Augusta Olsen, now aging with a weak hip, through a series of flashbacks. Unlike other reviewers, I didn't find the flashbacks too difficult to follow, al...more
Jan 24, 2012
Needleroozer
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
someone stuck on a bus or in a waiting room
Shelves:
fiction
This book has a fantastic opening sentence. Here it is:
"'Have I told you the drone's penis snaps off during intercourse with the queen bee?" asked Augusta."
The story this book tells is set in the late 1990s, with most of the action happening in flashbacks. The "present" is never clearly defined, and could easily be from the 1970s to the early years of the 21st century. Only vague mentions of World War II set the book's time frame.
The main character is an old woman, but the reader learns about he...more
"'Have I told you the drone's penis snaps off during intercourse with the queen bee?" asked Augusta."
The story this book tells is set in the late 1990s, with most of the action happening in flashbacks. The "present" is never clearly defined, and could easily be from the 1970s to the early years of the 21st century. Only vague mentions of World War II set the book's time frame.
The main character is an old woman, but the reader learns about he...more
Dissappointing tale of one woman (Augusta Olsen) who recalls portions of her young adulthood and the early part of her marriage to Karl while awaiting word about the condition of her son-in-law who is undergoing surgery. I wanted to like this novel as the Augusta and Karl have intriging aspects to them but as a whole, the novel is disjointed and without a clear centeral plot. However, the characters of Joy and Olaf (daughter and father-in-law) are simply horrid and appear to exist simply to pers...more
When Gail Anderson-Dargatz showed the manuscript of A Recipe for Bees to her divorced parents, it caused them to reconsider their sixteen-year separation. “My parents, Eric and Irene, are models for Karl and Augusta in many ways. I set out to show them how extraordinary their seemingly ordinary lives were.” She interviewed them during the writing of the book and as they read the work in progress, they began to talk about unresolved problems(…) Her parents were remarried on Christmas Day, 1998, s...more
Usually, when someone undergoes a life review, it’s because their life is in peril, or ending. In this case, Augusta Olsen’s review of her long life is triggered by her son-in-law’s brain surgery. In fact, as she and her husband Karl wait for news, Augusta reminisces about her difficult life on her parents’ farm and her father-in-law’s sheep ranch in rural British Columbia. There are two important things to know about Augusta. One is that she keeps bees and two, she has visions that often turn i...more
This book is interesting because as I read it my point of view of the woman who is the protagonist and her relationship to her husband change tremendously over the course of the book. At first I found her to be uncaring, perhaps not thoughtful of her husband's feelings, and though I could guess by their aging ways that they carried a life time of history between them, nothing prepared me for the notion that perhaps there was more to it than my own ethics involved. I enjoyed the free, almost shoc...more
When Augusta's mother dies, she feels left without direction until she marries the first man that shows an interest. Karl is about 15 years older than Augusta and is a shy, backward son of a grouchy, stingy, mean old farmer.
She finds her life on their rustic farm too bleak and nearly unbearable. Karl doesn't want to make love to her because of his father's constant presence. She longs for affection, meaning and some beauty in her life. I found myself completely tangled in her misery and would ha...more
She finds her life on their rustic farm too bleak and nearly unbearable. Karl doesn't want to make love to her because of his father's constant presence. She longs for affection, meaning and some beauty in her life. I found myself completely tangled in her misery and would ha...more
This novel is set in British Columbia as Augusta Olsen awaits news about the outcome of her much-loved son-in-law’s brain surgery. About 95% of the book consists of Augusta’s recollections of her childhood and often unhappy marriage to taciturn Karl, thus telling the story of her life all in one day. These memories occurred in random flashback form, much the way our brains really work, but the result was that the story frequently did not flow well.
I found the writing a little heavy-handed in po...more
I found the writing a little heavy-handed in po...more
A "RECIPE FOR BEES" was a wonderful story told by Augusta who tells her friend Rose her life story. I loved all the bee facts and lore in this novel, it just added that 'extra' touch. I also loved the fact that the main character's name was Augusta which was my Grandmother's first name as well. The Augusta is this story sounds just as endearing as my own Grandmother was.
From back cover:
"As Augusta Olsen awaits news of her dearly loved son-in-law Gabe, who is undergoing brain surgery miles away,...more
From back cover:
"As Augusta Olsen awaits news of her dearly loved son-in-law Gabe, who is undergoing brain surgery miles away,...more
I bought this at a used bookstore in Mexico. I had just finished reading a huge volume of Canadian short stories and wanted to keep reading Canadiana. The town I was in gets a lot of Canadian visitors, so there was no shortage of Canadian authors to choose from. I liked the portrayal of a deepening marriage and the forgiveness the main character had for her own flaws and the flaws of others. The descriptions of mid-century farm life were evocative and while the language was somewhat romantic, th...more
The story of Augusta and Karl's marriage, and how Augusta struggles to have a life in a stifling small farm community, told during the backdrop of her son-in-law's brain surgery.
A feel-good read. Very accessible, nothing profound or amazing. Characters round enough to be likable, but not terribly captivating. The seamless transitions between the flashbacks were better than I expected (I thought I'd dislike the back and forth). I read it for the bees, and, while they are less prominent than I exp...more
A feel-good read. Very accessible, nothing profound or amazing. Characters round enough to be likable, but not terribly captivating. The seamless transitions between the flashbacks were better than I expected (I thought I'd dislike the back and forth). I read it for the bees, and, while they are less prominent than I exp...more
During one day while August Olson and her husband wait for news of their son-in-law who is undergoing a serious operation, August reflects on events of the earlier morning, her childhood, and her long years of marriage to a kind but taciturn and unromantic farmer. Although now they live on Vancouver island and Augusta has learned the art of friendship, most of her life was spent on secluded farms with men who had not learned the art of affection. Only after she takes up bee keeping does Augusta...more
Loved the information about bees throughout the book and how it related to the people's lives.
1 like
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like
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Apr 12, 2012
Judy
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to Judy by:
goodreads
Shelves:
novel,
small-town-character-driven
3.5 stars
This novel, by Canadian award-winning author Gail Anderson-Dargatz, reads like a darker Ann Tyler novel. The characters are odd and fairly oblivious to their oddness. We follow the central character, Augusta, through the life she lives in farms in rural Canada, learning her story in flashbacks over the course of a day as she awaits the results of some medical testing on a loved one. The theme of bees is woven throughout, and we discover a number of fascinating things about them - all cl...more
This novel, by Canadian award-winning author Gail Anderson-Dargatz, reads like a darker Ann Tyler novel. The characters are odd and fairly oblivious to their oddness. We follow the central character, Augusta, through the life she lives in farms in rural Canada, learning her story in flashbacks over the course of a day as she awaits the results of some medical testing on a loved one. The theme of bees is woven throughout, and we discover a number of fascinating things about them - all cl...more
5 STARS "A Recipe for Bees is the telling of a woman's life: Augusta Olsen, a farmer's daughter, then a farmer's wife, living in the isolation-- desolation--of rural Canada. Conjuring that landscape and its time, the photos from Anderson-Dargatz's family album scattered throughout the book suggest that this is an obscurely personal narrative, a testimony to the many "strange tales" and the unique loves that lives lived so close to the land can solicit. Sometimes painful, often pitiless--the poss...more
This book had an odd, slow opening, almost causing me to put it down and add it to my started but never finished shelf. But, as I had already done that once that same day, I didn't relish trying to find another book on my shelf that looked interesting to me that day. So, I persevered and, I'm glad that I did.
This is an interesting story about a particular day in an elderly womans life. In going through the day, she reminisces about her past and all of the things she has gone through to get to wh...more
This is an interesting story about a particular day in an elderly womans life. In going through the day, she reminisces about her past and all of the things she has gone through to get to wh...more
Gail Anderson-Dargatz, A Recipe for Bees (Harmony, 1998)
At first, A Recipe for Bees has the look and feel of your typical dysfunctional family novel. Augusta Olsen, traveling home from the hospital where her son-in-law is being operated on after a seizure-induced stroke, ends up getting off the train at the wrong stop to use the rest room. The train goes on without her, and Augusta calls her next-door neighbor, Rose to come pick her up. While Rose is driving her home, and after they get there, A...more
At first, A Recipe for Bees has the look and feel of your typical dysfunctional family novel. Augusta Olsen, traveling home from the hospital where her son-in-law is being operated on after a seizure-induced stroke, ends up getting off the train at the wrong stop to use the rest room. The train goes on without her, and Augusta calls her next-door neighbor, Rose to come pick her up. While Rose is driving her home, and after they get there, A...more
This is a charming book. Set in a rural Canadian town, the book reflects on a life's choices, love, parenthood and marriage through the eyes of an elderly woman. It is funny in parts, sad in parts, and contemplative in parts. But the book ends with a profound sense of acceptance... for choices made, and for mistakes forgiven. But also there is a comfort in the knowledge that we continually learn about ourselves, and those we love, no matter how old we get.
This book started out slow, but I'm really glad that I stuck with it. There were several moments in this book that made me want to cry, where people's decisions, and the attitudes of the time period become immobilizing. One of the brilliant things about this book is how gentle the transitions between time periods are. It goes back and forth in time from when Augusta is a child, an old woman, and a young married person, and the transitions are not obvious, but very followable.
One of the most hea...more
One of the most hea...more
I liked the slow pace of the book (usually I prefer fast paced ones but this worked for me). I enjoyed how the main character developed and came to understand herself and those around her and how she was able to forgive and be forgiven. the book really is about the characters. While it wasn't the best book i have ever read it certainly was enjoyable. the bees were not as prominent as I would have expected but you did learn some interesting bee facts.
1 like
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like
· see review
Is there really a difference between time, present and future? Or do characters really develop differently depending how the time changes in the novels. Read for yourself, you can see how much someone changes throughout their lives. I love how in this book, the time changes rapidly but it also confused me at times, but once I got used to it I was very glad I picked up this novel and read it. This book is in a young ladies point of view which shows her past future and present, it tells the story...more
In many ways Augusta reminded my of myself an my fears of trying to find 'true love'.
Although in the end she realises she had it all along her heart and soul still seeks out passion and proof of love, only her bees (& subsequently cats) keep her going.
I was slightly disappointed with the ending of this book, although it ended correctly for the story I wanted more for her!
Although in the end she realises she had it all along her heart and soul still seeks out passion and proof of love, only her bees (& subsequently cats) keep her going.
I was slightly disappointed with the ending of this book, although it ended correctly for the story I wanted more for her!
I did not love this, but it definitely was interesting. I didn't mind the flashbacks but there were areas of Augusta's life that I would have liked to know more about. It was so fragmented that no story line was completely developed. The writing style is very good. It reminded me somewhat of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society but the latter had a greater feeling of solidity.
I thought that this book was the story of two opposites that are married. An interesting,sensual and passionate woman is married to a depressing, doormat of a husband. It tells the tale of the little diversions she finds to fill the void that he, so obviously, can't see and can't fill. The book takes place in rural Canada and its outskirts.
A quiet reflection on a woman's life and relationships. The stakes weren't high enough to make this a page turner--I was never truly gripped or drawn in--but it was enjoyable and interesting nonetheless.
The book is a multi-layered story about life, marriage, relationship, friendship, hate, anger, rural life, growing old and find love where you were not expecting it, then having it look different than you imagined it would. It is also about bees. What does one have to do with the other? That is the magic. Is Augusta's (the main character)gift from her mother a real gift or a curse or just another facet of living the life one gets? Dargatz is a Canadian writer.
I do not read many books twice - too...more
I do not read many books twice - too...more
This book started off slowly, but by the third chapter was a much more interesting read. The story is told through Augusta, whose mostly turbulant marriage takes her from her youth to her old age.
This has local interest for me. This author lives just a short distance away from me in the Shuswap area and her books are thoroughly enjoyable, because I know the area of which she writes.
Not really sure how I feel about this book. The story drew me in after a slow start and I did want to finish it but I was unable to relate to any of the characters and found them mostly unlikeable...though that certainly never has been a pre-requisite for my enjoying a book. It just left me feeling rather 'unfufilled'.
Another story without a plot. It takes place on one day on Vancouver Island, with an elderly woman reflecting back over the ups & downs of her long marriage. Mostly pretty boring.
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Gail's novels The Cure for Death by Lighting and A Recipe for Bees were international bestsellers, and were both finalists for the prestigious Giller Prize in Canada. The Cure for Death by Lightning won the UK’s Betty Trask Prize among other awards. A Rhinestone Button was a national bestseller in Canada and Gail's first book, The Miss Hereford Stories, was short-listed for the Leacock Award for h...more
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“Housework would never be her crowning achievement, the life's work for which she'd be known.”
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2 people liked it
“She knew nothing about him, other than what he revealed of himself through his garden.”
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Aug 14, 2011 12:04pm