Aug 2024 FBR - Main Buddy Read: The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Welcome to the August "Main" Buddy Read!
starts 1-Aug-2024, ends 31-Aug-2024

Our theme this month is Literary Fiction and we're reading The Bee Sting by Paul Murray.

From the author of Skippy Dies comes Paul Murray's The Bee Sting, an irresistibly funny, wise, and thought-provoking tour de force about family, fortune, and the struggle to be a good person when the world is falling apart.

The Barnes family is in trouble. Dickie’s once-lucrative car business is going under―but rather than face the music, he’s spending his days in the woods, building an apocalypse-proof bunker with a renegade handyman. His wife Imelda is selling off her jewelry on eBay, while their teenage daughter Cass, formerly top of her class, seems determined to binge-drink her way through her final exams. And twelve-year-old PJ is putting the final touches to his grand plan to run away from home.

Where did it all go wrong? A patch of ice on the tarmac, a casual favor to a charming stranger, a bee caught beneath a bridal veil―can a single moment of bad luck change the direction of a life? And if the story has already been written―is there still time to find a happy ending?

When using this Buddy Read to get Bonus Points for a Challenge, please check with the mod running the Challenge for any posting requirements not listed below!

To receive bonus money for the following Games/Challenges...
✨(Impossible) Disney Challenge
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...you must read the book and participate by doing ONE of the following:
*Post at least 3 meaningful comments below (more than "This was great!")
*Answer at least 3 of the discussion questions below

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Discussion Questions
If you would like to answer 3 of these questions, instead of engaging in discussion with other members, here are your options! (view spoiler)[

Themes and Motifs: What are some of the central themes in "The Bee Sting"? How do they manifest through the characters and their actions?

Character Development: How do the main characters evolve throughout the story? Are there particular moments that significantly impact their development?

Family Dynamics: How does the book portray family relationships? Are there any particular family dynamics that stood out to you?

Setting and Atmosphere: How does the setting influence the mood and tone of the story? Can you think of any specific scenes where the setting played a crucial role?

Moral Dilemmas: What ethical or moral questions does the book raise? How do the characters respond to these dilemmas, and what does this reveal about them?

Symbolism and Metaphors: Are there any recurring symbols or metaphors in the book? How do they contribute to the overall narrative?

Narrative Style: How would you describe Paul Murray's writing style in this book? Did it enhance your reading experience? Why or why not?

Emotional Impact: Were there any parts of the book that elicited a strong emotional response from you? What do you think the author was trying to convey in those moments?

Conflict and Resolution: How is conflict presented in the story, and how do the characters deal with it? Are the resolutions satisfying?

Personal Connection: Did you find any aspects of the book particularly relatable to your own life or experiences? How did that affect your reading? (hide spoiler)]

[🌻 📚 Nichole 📚 🌻]

I just started this and I haven’t gotten very far at all, but I am hooked! I think I am absolutely going to love this book! I’m super excited to see where it goes. As usual, I am going in blind.
So far, I love the characters.

[🌻 📚 Nichole 📚 🌻]

I just got through the first part from Cass’s POV. I loved how I was instantly drawn in by the death of a local family. Left guessing why the father ended the entire family. Then going into the story of Cass’s life. From meeting her best friend, through growing up and facing real life challenges. She’s faced with some pretty tough issues which lead her to drinking her way through school and making some pretty questionable choices.

The author did a fantastic job building the characters and making them easily lovable. I could feel myself in the story. How badly I wanted to go and sit with Cass and tell her life is so much more than what she is currently seeing and experiencing.

[Anastasia]

I've only started this book but not enjoying it at all. Only read up to The Wolf's Lair but it is moving so slow for me as finding it rather boring. Not liking the characters at all as they all seem rather self centred and ready to blame others for their choices. I felt the way Cass treated her father was an example of this. She is acting entitled and not supportive at all just like her mother. This is going to take me a long time to get through I can see as not a book that is holding my interest.

[Anastasia]

The blurb calls the book funny which is one reason I decided to go with it but not finding any humour at all so far.

[Anastasia]

Have got through The Wolf's Lair which is told from PJs POV. I enjoyed this section more as I liked PJ and felt so sorry for him as he burdened himself with the family problems. It was such a shame that he was unable to share the bullying he experienced with his parents and was alienated by his friends. Still not finding any humour in the book.

[Angie ☯]

I seem to always be starting late! I have read the first section which is Cass' POV. I'm not sure what I think of the book so far. I have to wholeheartedly agree with Anastasia, about the blurb - "an irresistibly funny, wise, and thought-provoking tour de force about family..." - I'm not finding anything funny or wise.... Another section called it a "tragicomic family saga"; this may be closer at least from my perspective.

So far, it's really quite tragic. I guess that the book is trying to show that life is all about choices and those choices will play a huge part in the direction our lives take.

The girls (Cass and Elaine) are playing with fire! I'm worried about where they are going to land. Maybe there will be a wake-up call soon.

I don't know about anyone else, but the story of the bee seems a bit unrealistic to me. I really think there is much more to that story! And I really think that the casual comment from the man at the bar to Cass about her uncle Frank has a lot to do with it! (view spoiler)[ So if Frank was the love of Imelda's life but she ends up married to Dickie - why? If Frank died the shortly before their wedding, was she pregnant? I just think there is more to learn here! (hide spoiler)]

On to PJ's section....

[Angie ☯]

Finished PJ's POV.

Why wouldn't PJ tell his dad about Ears?? (How old is that bully anyways - he seems a lot older than PJ.) Good grief, this kid! I'm worried about him, because I'm convinced that his online gaming friend (view spoiler)[ is either an axe murderer or a pedophile or both!! At least there at the end he was wonder if the kid was really a kid! (hide spoiler)] Did anyone else have that thought?

I don't think this family knows happiness.

[Anastasia]

Angie ☯ wrote: "Finished PJ's POV.

Why wouldn't PJ tell his dad about Ears?? (How old is that bully anyways - he seems a lot older than PJ.) Good grief, this kid! I'm worried about him, because I'm convinced that..."

I had the same thoughts about the online friend. Sounded as if PJ is being groomed and was glad when the meeting didn’t happen

[Angie ☯]

Finished Imelda's section. I swear the stories get worse as we go! I'm sort of feeling bad for Dickie already and haven't even started his section!

Imelda's POV did not convince me whether the bee story was true or false! She had some hard knocks, but she also made some questionable choices.

Sadly none of the characters had much in the way of role models growing up.

[Bernadette]

I'm just starting today🙄 - based on the book description, sounds like this family has some problems. I have not read any of your posts.

[🌻 📚 Nichole 📚 🌻]

Talk about family drama. This book is full of it! I truly feel for PJ. He seems to try to hold the family together by suffering on his own in silence. It makes me so sad and super upset with Imelda and Dickie. I truly hope that he doesn't get beat up! And I hope his mom pays more attention to the poor boy's growth spurts! And really, just the kids in general. They are so caught up in their chaos that they are missing some major things in their children's lives.

I went through Imelda's story, which I felt was sad, but I also feel like she walked herself right into the mess that she is in. I just switched over to Dickie's part. I am interested to hear what in the world has happened to his business. Is he the shady one? I feel like Big Mike may be a major part of the problem.

I am hopeful that Cass is able to get away and become a successful young woman. She definitely has the ability to do so.

I feel like the story is going a bit slower now. I hope that it picks up and that I love it like I expected to from the ways that it started.

[🌻 📚 Nichole 📚 🌻]

Angie ☯ wrote: "Finished PJ's POV.

Why wouldn't PJ tell his dad about Ears?? (How old is that bully anyways - he seems a lot older than PJ.) Good grief, this kid! I'm worried about him, because I'm convinced that..."

Angie, I definitely had that thought. And as a momma, I felt such a huge relief when his plan to run away changed! That part had my stomach in knots. It just seems too off to me.

[🌻 📚 Nichole 📚 🌻]

Angie ☯ wrote: "Finished Imelda's section. I swear the stories get worse as we go! I'm sort of feeling bad for Dickie already and haven't even started his section!

Imelda's POV did not convince me whether the bee..."

I feel like the lack of role models was a thing of their (Imelda & Dickie's) generation. I could be wrong, but from my life experience, that seemed more common. But I also feel like it was either a make or break situation whereas these two seem to be riding the middle. Not ready to be the change their family needs, but also not so far gone (abuse, addiction, etc) that they can't keep a clear head.

I just truly hope that everyone turns it around, because I am not a fan of anyone's choices this far.

[Angie ☯]

Unfortunately, I was correct, the stories just got worse as they progressed! I think of all of them Dickie was the one who had the awareness to know what he was doing would end badly, but did it anyway!

(view spoiler)[I didn't expect the things from his college days and then the feeling that he had to take over for Frank. And then the situation with Victor and how he but everything at risk to pay off Victor. Wow! The final straw was losing the business to Big Mike!! (hide spoiler)]

[🌻 📚 Nichole 📚 🌻]

I am at a loss for words. The ending had so many things happening. The feelings that I felt for these characters were so mixed. Definitely a book about life choices and where they lead you. I had a feeling that Dickie was hiding things and I was correct. I feel like everyone had an opportunity to come clean and live an ok life. But they all just kept digging deeper and deeper until it was too big of a mess. Ugh. I just feel sad for that poor messed up family.

Also, I did not find humor in it anywhere. I feel like that statement needs to be removed. It only felt tragic from beginning to end.

[Angie ☯]

I didn't post my final thoughts - way too much going on!!

I agree, Nichole! I have no idea what to say about the ending!!
(view spoiler)[ I was so afraid for PJ, when he left Cass's. When he had that hand land on his shoulder, it was a tense moment for me! But that crisis was averted.

Now, I'm not sure what actually became of the family. I want to say that the crisis of everyone being in the woods was also averted but with several of them with guns and ill intent spewing from several of them I'm not sure that was possible! (hide spoiler)]

That was an interesting way for Murray to end the book!!

Also found very little humor in the story - there were some funny comments, mostly from PJ, but there were some others.

[Bernadette]

I'm through the first section (Cass's POV) and like some of you, I'm not sure where this is going.

▪️ Imelda thinks highly of herself and is self-centered, I laughed at the bee story. There was a mention that she was previously engaged to Dickie's brother Frank (Uncle Frank) but obviously did marry him. Uncle Frank's name has been removed from the family gravesite - what is the story here?
▪️ Cass & Elaine seem like normal teenagers in the beginning - friends, then ignoring each, embarrassed by their parents, sneaking out of house. I agree that they get to the point where they are playing with fire.
▪️ Cass seems to be low in self-esteem
▪️ I'd love to know what happened to the replacement teacher

[🌻 📚 Nichole 📚 🌻]

Bernadette wrote: "I'm through the first section (Cass's POV) and like some of you, I'm not sure where this is going.

▪️ Imelda thinks highly of herself and is self-centered, I laughed at the bee story. There was a..."

I would love to have a spin off story telling where the replacement teacher went and what happened with her!!

[🌻 📚 Nichole 📚 🌻]

Angie ☯ wrote: "I didn't post my final thoughts - way too much going on!!

I agree, Nichole! I have no idea what to say about the ending!!
I was so afraid for PJ, when he left Cass's. When he had that hand land ..."


(view spoiler)[I feel like, with the way he started the book with a dad killing a family and then wrapping it up that way, he intended for us to think that Dickie killed his family. But I was left constantly second guessing that thought. (hide spoiler)]

[Angie ☯]

That is what I thought too! But I didn't want that to be what happened. (view spoiler)[I guess it could have been Ryszard, but his "family" included an unborn child. (hide spoiler)]

[Bernadette]

Just finished the Wolf's Den section, told from PJ's POV.
(view spoiler)[
▪️ He's a 12-year-old dealing with adolescent angst, and he fears that his parents are getting a divorce.
▪️ It seems he often ignored & forgotten by his family.
▪️ Distracts himself spending time with a few friends and online video games.
▪️ While playing online video games he "meets" Ethan, an on-line gamer he met online via text message and plans to run away from home and live with him because things are difficult at home. Before I got to the end of the section, I was wondering if Ethan was really a kid and then PJ asks the same question, something odd going on here.
▪️ Uncle Frank brought up many times again, could he have been Cass's father?? (hide spoiler)]

I don't really like this book yet. 75% more to go....

[Anastasia]

Just finished Imelda's POV and finding this very repetitive, just another way of providing the information that we have already. This is moving along too slowly with not much happening and the occassional glimpse of something interesting. Imelda still coming across self absorbed and not really aware of what is happening with her family.

[Anastasia]

Finished Dickies POV and another messed up weak character making poor choices.

[Anastasia]

Have finally finished this book and very disappointed. (view spoiler)[After slogging through 600+ boring pages and just when you think something may happen, nothing does and there is no ending. The family is very dysfunctional, everyone is self centred and making bad choices and the same thing is told over and over from different POVs (hide spoiler)]
This book has put me off reading books that I have not chosen myself. The introduction is very misleading. There was nothing funny. I don't know how it was chosen for any awards.

[Bernadette]

Just finished the Widow Bride section which is Imelda's POV.

No commas and no periods for 166 pages, that was really painful and extremely annoying.

Anastasia, I agree that she is very self-centered, but she did have some hard knocks in her life. I was glad to find out more about Uncle Frank. Was the bee story real? I'm leaning toward no.

A little more than 1/2 way through this not good book. It's slow going.

[Anastasia]

Bernadette wrote: "Just finished the Widow Bride section which is Imelda's POV.

No commas and no periods for 166 pages, that was really painful and extremely annoying.

Anastasia, I agree that she is very self-cent..."
Everyone has hardships but that does not excuse her choices.

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Finally started this a couple days ago, haven't had as much reading time lately, so only about 10% in. I'm enjoying it so far, but my initial impression is that (while I understand these girls are young) they are bratty.

[Bernadette]

Finished The Clearing, told from Dickie's POV. This section was better than the other's.

(view spoiler)[Dickie had the brains for college and recollects the time when he was a student, and attended, for a few years, until an unfortunate event derailed his collegiate career, and he headed home. He may have been the smarter of the brothers, but Frank had the gift of salesmanship and was a better fit to take over the car dealership. But when Frank dies, it falls to Dickie to step in. He manages, but it is not work he exactly loves.

These days, Dickie is defeated by ruthless life and looks for a place to hide from the world so he spends time in the woods behind their home, building a defense against Armageddon, spurred on by a troll-like employee who exhales conspiracy theories and seems to be looking forward to the coming end-times. He has a lot of time on his hands. The car dealership is not doing well. Dickie’s retired father, Maurice, swoops in to try to fix things, blaming Dickie for the difficulties. Dickie is not entirely faultless here. But there are serious complications with him. (hide spoiler)]

[bamaace83]

I finished the book and it wasn't my favorite but it wasn't the worst that I've read for a challenge. I had to take some breaks from it and read it in between some other books. I will admit at times it was really hard to read, especially that no comma/period section. I'm going to post more thoughts in a bit. I'm not very good with those hidden comment things.

[bamaace83]

Anastasia wrote: "The blurb calls the book funny which is one reason I decided to go with it but not finding any humour at all so far."

I didn't find any humor in it either. Not sure if this was because I'm used to reading funny romances which is what I was alternating with or if this book style just isn't for me.

[🌻 📚 Nichole 📚 🌻]

bamaace83 wrote: "I finished the book and it wasn't my favorite but it wasn't the worst that I've read for a challenge. I had to take some breaks from it and read it in between some other books. I will admit at time..."

I agree, I struggled with the lack of punctuation myself! Were there any parts of the book that you did enjoy? Or do you feel it was just rough all the way around?

[bamaace83]

I think the section that was a little better than the rest was PJ's. I felt he was pretty relatable to what I would expect a middle school boy to be like. I did think he had a lot of family issues that made him the way he was. Overall, though, I just struggled through a lot of it.

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

I've made it to Imelda's POV. This is definitely an... interesting book.

I was originally reading the Kindle version, and I've switched to both the audio and the Kindle copy. Part was due to a migraine, but only a small amount because this is... a bit hard to read. I agree the lack of punctuation is odd. I don't think I hate it though.

I'm really interested to see if this book actually goes somewhere or not....

[Bernadette]

I had a hard time reading Imelda's section on Kindle but my library loan for the eBook expired and I switched to the paper copy. I read somewhere that Imelda's section is "stream of consciousness" and that is why there is no punctuation. Not writing style I like at all.

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Bernadette wrote: "I had a hard time reading Imelda's section on Kindle but my library loan for the eBook expired and I switched to the paper copy. I read somewhere that Imelda's section is "stream of consciousness" ..."

Stream of consciousness makes sense!

I will admit ... I WAS NERVOUS during the kitchen table scene....

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Um, I'm sorry, I just finished and WHAT THE ACTUAL... I am flabbergasted.

(view spoiler)[
What kind of ENDING / Non-Ending was that!!? How do you do SUCH a long, gradual lead up to something you just know is going to be horrible and then ... NOT... END.... IT!
(hide spoiler)]

It's either 5 stars or ZERO... I just ... can't.

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Bernadette wrote: "Finished The Clearing, told from Dickie's POV. This section was better than the other's.

Dickie had the brains for college and recollects the time when he was a student, and attended, for a few y..."

Dickie has probably the most interesting backstory. I was honestly upset for him (at first) - although I feel like he just made one bad decision after another.

[Angie ☯]

Totally agree, Ashley!!

[Lulu]

I just finished Cass's section and it went from zero to sixty QUICK! My head is still spinning! lol.

I feel sorry for Cass because she let Elaine play her that entire time! Elaine was clearly jealous and I wish she would have become friends with Sarah Jane.

[Lulu]

oh...I've started Wolf's Lair and I'm loving PJ's "Top 10 Reasons Cass is a Bitch" list. lol

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Lulu wrote: "oh...I've started Wolf's Lair and I'm loving PJ's "Top 10 Reasons Cass is a Bitch" list. lol"

This did crack me up... Very little brother energy!

[Lulu]

I feel like Nev's parents need to get him some help....IMMEDIATELY. lol

[bamaace83]

I could totally see my little brother making that same kind of list. He used to gripe at me so much when we were younger especially when I was driving to school because he was in a different building and I would park in the lot for high schoolers and make him walk to the elementary school. It used to make him pretty angry. Gotta love a 6 year age gap.

[Lulu]

Just finished....wow..it's gonna take me a minute to unpack it all, but I enjoyed it. I love the way it was written and the how other character revelations came out in the background of other's stories.

[Lulu]

So the ending left things open, but one quote really has me thinking….was it really left open.

“As the poet says, We must love one another, or die. And from bitter experience I know that you can’t love when you’re wearing a mask.”

[Lulu]

I think of all of the characters and their stories, Dickies was the most heartbreaking.