The Bee Sting
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The Bee Sting
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By:
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Paul Murray
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
WINNER OF THE NERO BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION 2023
WINNER OF AN POST IRISH BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WRITERS’ PRIZE FOR FICTION 2024
The Barnes family are in trouble. Until recently they ran the biggest business in town, now they’re teetering on the brink of bankruptcy – and that’s just the start of their problems. Dickie and Imelda’s marriage is hanging by a thread; straight-A student Cass is careening off the rails; PJ is hopelessly in debt to the school bully. Meanwhile the ghosts of old mistakes are rising out of the past to meet them, but everyone’s too wrapped up in the present to see the danger looming . . .
'A tragicomic triumph. You won't read a sadder, truer, funnier novel this year' Guardian
'Generous, immersive, sharp-witted and devastating; the sort of novel that becomes a friend for life' Financial Times
‘Paul Murray [is] the undisputed reigning champion of epic Irish tragicomedy’ Spectator
‘An instant classic’ Washington Post
‘[An] astute, remorselessly funny novel’ Daily Mirror
‘A wagyu steak of a novel . . . A classic in the mode of The Corrections’ The Times
What listeners say about The Bee Sting
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jessica
- 03-01-2024
Absolutely Phenomenal
I read approximately two books per week and generally only give star reviews, but this one deserved some actual comments. I can count on one hand the times I have gone out of my way to provide written comments.
At times excruciating (in a good way) in its pathos. This novel had me on edge (again in a good way) all the way through. Despite being able to guess major plot points, it did not stop the reveal from building in adrenaline. The writing and language was superb. I imagine the themes will stick with me for quite sometime. It is definitely one of those novels that you ruminate over long after you have finished it.
The voice acting was brilliant and only added to the story. An all round quality production.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 23-09-2023
Fantastic!
A wonderful, thought-provoking story and excellent performances; so very engaging! Gripping until the very end!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 23-03-2024
Frustrating ending
I just finished this very long story and the ending is not what I expected. I probably need to sit with it a bit, but not sure if I would have started it if I’d known how it ends.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- W. Stokeley
- 13-11-2023
An intricately spun tale that is a masterwork in plotting.
It’s hard to understand how Paul Murray pulled a tale this intricate off. Each party is narrated by a different character that sheds new light on the events in the book. As you go your sympathies change. Hateful characters generate new affection when you see things through their eyes. Plot points are not what you thought.
‘Intersectionality’ is really the word here, and my god, I just don’t know how he managed to write something like this. It’s genius.
That said the ending is the bee sting in the tail. Not quite what I was hoping for; but perhaps that’s just me. Certainly worthy of your time though, it was very difficult to put down.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 12-12-2023
Cracking read
What a writer! Left a bit speechless by the end. Loved the characters, and even if I didn’t know where he was taking me as a reader, I went willingly with him. Loved it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 01-05-2024
Ending felt like a betrayal
Enormously suspenseful, absorbing and insightful-and then we are left hanging at the end. It felt like a betrayal of the trust between writer and reader. Or was it to make us ponder?
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ann Hutchinson
- 24-04-2024
Amazing story
This completely sucked me in. A surprising, gripping story. Family tension and love.
Ending felt a bit abrupt though
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 26-01-2024
Wow! What an epic story.
Such fabulous depictions of what it must feel like to go through each crisis from the perspectives of each family member.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Catherine Wallace
- 06-02-2024
Depressing
I didn’t enjoy this very depressing book. There was no joy in it at all. Disappointing.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 06-02-2024
Poetic and compelling
Excellent narrators, delivering a wonderful performance of this powerful and surprising story. I loved it! Interesting and well-rounded characters, in a tale that twists and turns all the way through.
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