The Murmur of Bees [B0101]

2019 PB. From a beguiling voice in Mexican fiction comes an astonishing novel--her first to be translated into English--about a mysterious child with the power to change a family's history in a country on the verge of revolution. From the day that old Nana Reja found a baby abandoned under a bridge, the life of a small Mexican town forever changed. Disfigured and covered in a blanket of bees, little Simonopio is for some locals the stuff of superstition, a child kissed by the devil. But he is welcomed by landowners Francisco and Beatriz Morales, who adopt him and care for him as if he were their own. As he grows up, Simonopio becomes a cause for wonder to the Morales family, because when the uncannily gifted child closes his eyes, he can see what no one else can--visions of all that's yet to come, both beautiful and dangerous. Followed by his protective swarm of bees and living to deliver his adoptive family from threats--both human and those of nature--Simonopio's purpose in Linares will, in time, be divined. Set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution and the devastating influenza of 1918, The Murmur of Bees captures both the fate of a country in flux and the destiny of one family that has put their love, faith, and future in the unbelievable.

From Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Breathtaking, transported into the world of Simonopio, his bees, the little boy whose story I'm so glad I read. Saying I loved this book is an understatement. If only I had the words.."; "A slow beautifully written story. If you aren't in the mood for slow, you might not want to start it. But if you do, it will stay with you."; "One of the best books I have ever read. This book stole my heart and I know it will stay with me for years to come. The characters were exquisitely drawn and came alive inside its pages. I highlighted so many meaningful parts that I will reread and think about. I am so glad to have stumbled upon The Murmur of Bees."