Šepot včel

by Sofía Segovia

Příběh tajemného dítěte nadaného mocí změnit osud rodiny, která žije v zemi zmítané revolucí

Od chvíle, kdy stará chůva Reja našla pod mostem opuštěné děťátko, se život v mexickém městečku nadobro proměnil. Malý Simonopio, kterého objevili znetvořeného pod přikrývkou včel, je pro některé z místních předmětem pověr — dítě políbené ďáblem. Velkostatkáři Francisco a Beatriz Moralesovi ho však přijmou do rodiny a starají se o něj, jako by to byl jejich vlastní syn.

Čím je Simonopio starší, tím větší záhadou se pro své okolí stává. Když totiž zavře oči, spatří, co ostatní nevidí — to, co se má teprve stát, dobré i zlé. Simonopio, na každém kroku doprovázený ochranným rojem včel, chrání svou rodinu před hrozbami lidí i přírody a změní nejen osud rodiny Moralesových, ale i celého regionu. Zároveň však musí čelit svému strachu, tajemnému nepříteli a hrozbám války — španělské chřipce a sporům mezi těmi, kdo chtějí půdu, a těmi, kteří pro záchranu svého majetku udělají cokoli.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Magical Realism, Book Club, Fantasy, Audiobook, Historical

527 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2015

About the author

Sofía Segovia nació y vive en Monterrey. Es una de las autoras mexicanas más influyentes del siglo XXI, autora de tres novelas aclamadas por la crítica internacional: El murmullo de las abejas (2015), nominada al National Book Award 2019, nombrada por Audible una de las 20 mejores novelas históricas de ficción del mundo, traducida a 21 idiomas; Huracán (2016), reseñada por la Latin American Literature Today; y Peregrinos (2018), cuya edición al inglés, Tears of Amber, se convirtió en un bestseller instantáneo de Amazon, y la cual también ha sido traducida a 6 idiomas. Ha colaborado en compilaciones de no ficción y libros históricos. Además de su labor literaria, dedica su tiempo a la enseñanza de la escritura y la promoción de la lectura. De lector a escritor (2024), su libro más reciente, es un manual para escribir historias efectivas e inolvidables.

Sofía Segovia was born and lives in Monterrey, Mexico. She is one of the most influential Mexican authors of the 21st century, author of three critically acclaimed novels: El murmullo de las abejas (2015), nominated for the 2019 National Book Award, named by Audible as one of the 20 best historical fiction novels in the world, translated into 21 languages; Huracán (2016), reviewed by Latin American Literature Today; and Peregrinos (2018), whose English edition, Tears of Amber, became an instant Amazon bestseller, and which has also been translated into 6 languages. Her non-fiction work includes El pasado como memoria del futuro, a historical analysis of the Mexican-Northeastern identity, and De lector a escritor, a manual for writers. She has collaborated on nonfiction compilations and historical books. In addition to her literary work, she dedicates her time to teaching writing and promoting reading. From Reader to Writer (2024), her most recent book in Spanish, is a guide to writing effective and unforgettable stories.


Sofía Segovia wurde in Monterrey, Mexiko geboren und lebt dort. Sie ist eine der einflussreichsten mexikanischen Autorinnen des 21. Jahrhunderts und Autorin von drei von der Kritik gefeierten Romanen: El murmullo de las abejas (2015), nominiert für den National Book Award 2019, von Audible als einer der 20 besten historischen Romane der Welt bezeichnet, übersetzt in 21 Sprachen; Huracán (2016), rezensiert von Latin American Literature Today; und Peregrinos (2018), dessen englische Ausgabe Tears of Amber sofort zum Amazon-Bestseller wurde und auch in 6 Sprachen übersetzt wurde. Zu ihren Sachbüchern gehören The Past as Memory of the Future, eine historische Analyse der mexikanisch-nordöstlichen Identität, und From Reader to Writer, ein Handbuch für Schriftsteller. Sie hat an Sachbuchsammlungen und historischen Büchern mitgearbeitet. Neben ihrer literarischen Arbeit widmet sie ihre Zeit dem Unterrichten von Schreiben und der Leseförderung. De lector a escritor (2024), ihr jüngstes Buch, ist ein Leitfaden zum Schreiben wirkungsvoller und unvergesslicher Geschichten. (übersetzt mit Google Übersetzer)

Reviews

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We would go to remember just the good things. And in our ignorance, we would heal."

Original:
A heartfelt historical fiction with a touch of magic.
This author blew me away! The writing is beyond amazing!!!
I found myself setting it aside to try and make it last longer; while at the same time itching to read more.
I can't imagine it being more beautiful than it already was, but I do wish I were capable of reading it in Spanish since this was a translated version.
I hope more of her work gets translated into English...or I wake up tomorrow with a perfect understanding of the Spanish written word.
Thank you NetGalley and AmazonCrossing for my copy.

Update:
After chatting with Sofía Segovia at our book club, I am even more obsessed with her work and cannot wait for her next book to be translated!!!
P.S. She said Peregrinos will be next.
The English title is Tears of Amber and it's out in May 2021!

[Tahera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not even sure I can write anything coherent to describe the beauty and magic of this book.

Originally written in Spanish, the version I was reading is an English translation by Simon Bruni and if the translation was this beautiful, emotionally satisfying and evocative, I can only imagine the magic of the original.

Beautiful, mesmerising, magical. Simonopio and his bees are just the kind of guardian angels, protectors and friends people would love to have in their lives.

Thank you NetGalley, the author Sofia Segovia and Amazon Crossing for giving me an e-ARC of this book to read and review and I will definitely buy a physical copy for myself if I ever get my hands on one.

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not typically a fan of magic realism, but this book stole my heart! Taking place in Mexico during the early 1900's, this story is about a special boy, named Simonopio, who possesses extraordinary sensory gifts. As a baby, he was found abandoned and disfigured, covered in a swarm of bees. It tells of his relationships with various people, especially with one particular family, and more specifically, their young son, Francisco. The author uses powerful figures of speech - I loved the metaphor comparing all the Mexican armies to a matryoshka nesting doll! The emotional descriptions, such as Beatriz's anguish and Anselmo's anger, are so vivid and intense! Strong characters and a fervent plot made this book hard to put down, but whenever I had to, I kept thinking about the next time I could pick it back up again. At times horrific and heart-wrenching, this story was endearing throughout; the ending especially so. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[El Librero de Valentina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 en realidad.
Ubicada en el norte del país, en un momento complicado para la vida política y social de México.
El marco en el que se desarrolla es maravilloso, los personajes, lo mejor del libro. Simonopio, los Franciscos, Beatriz y las nanas, sin duda nos roban el corazón.

Reseña pronto en el canal

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

**** This review contains many spoilers****

WOW.... fuck... this... book. I gave it a chance, which I shouldn't have -- read about half of it, then you can bet your butt I skimmed the rest (and "skimmed" is putting it generously).

I literally only read this because it was the September pick for my Spanish book club -- which I would have skipped, but I've missed the last two, so I basically *have* to go to this one (it's a long story). After this fucking disaster, I don't think I will be going back unless the October pick really grabs my attention!

I could tell that I was going to hate this book just by reading the description on Amazon... it sounded so unbearably twee (plus, that Isabel Allende comparison, never a good sign). And yet. I decided to give it a shot, as I am the generous queen.

Well, joke's on me, because this was so LAUGHABLY bad I couldn't believe what I was reading. How does it suck? Let me count the ways:

1- This book reads like it was written for someone who has never read a book in their lives. Which I guess makes sense, if the audience is rich Mexican housewives? This book over-explains everything. It is fucking maddening. This book is the equivalent of someone tugging at your sleeve and saying, "Did you get that? That was foreshadowing. That was foreshadowing that something REAL bad is going to happen real soon. Did you get it? Did you get the foreshadowing? Did you get that something real bad is going to happen to this character later on? Let me circle back and make it even clearer..." asdogkajsd0iequr09dfjkasdfj0283r

2- This book is too long. Partly because it spends way too much time over-explaining everything instead of trusting the reader to not be a total idiot.

There are also some WEIRD tangents in this book that I guess are supposed to add "local color," but they go nowhere and add nothing, except more pages that you have to force yourself to skim.

3- This book makes strange and bad choices when it comes to narrative structure. Even amidst my skimming, I was able to pick up on a pattern: 1.) Spend hundreds of pages building up to a climatic scene. 2.) End the chapter at the beginning of the climatic scene. 3.) Skip ahead in time at the beginning of the next chapter. What happened during the climatic scene?!?? Ha ha, it's a mystery, you'll just have to wait!! 4.) Go on a weird tangent, that eventually turns into yet another internal monologue of an incredibly boring character. 5.) Circle back and finally explain in A SENTENCE what exactly happened during the climatic scene.

This.... is bullshit. Get in the fucking sea.

4- This book is boring. The author REALLY thinks her Mexican housewife character, struggling to deal with the upheaval of the Revolution, the Spanish flu epidemic, and agrarian reform, is a very interesting character. She's not. Ditto her husband. Spoiler alert! During the book's climax, the husband dies. I don't care, and nor should you.

5- This book is maybe racist. I say "maybe" because I didn't read it very carefully, as I found it so unbearably bad. Maybe there were some sentences/paragraphs hidden in there, in which the book took a more nuanced approach to things.

SO ----- the main antagonist in the book is this peasant guy who's basically a lazy, bitter bum who doesn't use his land productively, and who kills the dad after the dad threatens to kick him off his land. This book spends what feels like HUNDREDS of pages talking about the dad's heroic efforts, trying to protect his land from those corrupt Revolutionaries (and yes, I agree, the Revolution was definitely corrupt and imperfect). But.... how come we don't get sufficient perspective of the peasants who were abused and fucked over by their patrones? The ONLY patron we get to see in the book (aka, the dad), is treated very heroically. Look how generous and fair he is with the peasants squatting on his land! Man, the Revolutionary government sure is evil, trying to take away everything he'd spent his whole life working for, and forcing the kiddos to attend Catholic school in secret! I don't have a problem with having a "patron" character who's also a decent guy, but COME ON.... this is so one-sided. If you didn't know anything about the Mexican Revolution, you would read this book and come away thinking, "ahh, the good ole days in which the landowners ran the country and always knew best!!"

Fuck this book and its stupid, elite racism. Get in the fucking sea.

6- This book is too twee. The other main protagonist in the book is this abandoned child who can't speak due to his cleft palate. Also, he has a mysterious kinship with bees (they follow him around everywhere, Idk why, it's never explained, or maybe it is and I missed it. Spoiler alert! Remember the antagonist? The bees sting him to death after he kills the dad. The end). God, fuck this character and his fuckass bees, and his "magical realism" ability to see the future or whatever it was. SO stupid, I'm cringing from secondhand embarrassment just trying to describe it.

7- This book is maybe DEFINITELY racist. One of the first characters you meet is this old indigenous lady who basically was the nursemaid for God knows how many generations of El Patron's family. She's also treated in this magical-realist-twee way (she was SOOO fertile and full of maternal-indigenous-feminine-superpower that her breasts were literally leaking milk everywhere she went, etc). She sets the plot into motion by rescuing the Bee Kid. And then.... nothing. I guess she just spends the next 20 years in her rocking chair. What a racist, dick thing to do with one of the most prominent non-elite characters in the book -- it's basically the Mexican equivalent of the "magical negro" treatment. No joke.

ANYWAY, DAMN SON......... what a bad fucking book! And it could have been really interesting! I mean, **I** would normally have been interested in historical fiction about an elite Mexican family struggling to deal with the upheaval of the Revolution, the Spanish flu epidemic, etc. BUT..... it seriously felt like this book was written and edited by an alien; it just made so many weird, BAD choices. Or maybe "Sofia Segovia" is actually a bot that read "One Hundred Years of Solitude," "House of Spirits" and "The Death of Artemio Cruz" and then regurgitated it.... kind of like those bots programmed to write recipes.

WELL, I need to only read really good books for the rest of the year, because life is too short and I really do not have time or patience for this shit anymore. BOO YAH!

[Canadian Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories lately have been buzzing with 🐝 bees. A child is found in Mexico cocooned in them, Protecting him from the elements and predators. This child, Simonopio, is adopted by the family who found him. Although he has facial disfigurement which prevents him from speaking, he is a lucky charm to the family protecting them with visions he has.
The story is set during the raging influenza and the Mexican revolution in 1918. Then the Agrarian reform.
There is devastation, grief and love of family and land.
My heart is scattered. This was an epic read; beautifully translated.
5⭐️ For a character you will adore and a story that will be murmured to your heart and soul.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

One morning an elderly, mute woman named Nana Reja hears cries that no one else can hear and discovers a baby with a cleft palate abandoned under a bridge protectively covered from head to toe in bees. Having lost her own baby boy long ago, she takes this unusual child to the home of wealthy Mexican landowner Francisco Morales, whose father Guillermo she was a nursemaid for. Francisco and his wife Beatriz adopt this boy, Simonopio, as their godchild, and over time discover that, though he can’t speak intelligibly, he has visions, can understand messages from the bees, and has an intuitive knowledge of the future. Set primarily in Linares, Mexico, this is part historical fiction, dealing with the Mexican Revolution and the impact of questionable agrarian law reform on landowners like Francisco. This sets the stage for a major conflict with one of Francisco’s increasingly bitter and ambitious sharecroppers, Espiricueta, who feels he deserves more and despises Simonopio as cursed by the devil. It’s also part magical realism, as Simonopio’s gifts come into play throughout the events of the story to protect not only Francisco and Beatriz, but their two older daughters and a charming young son, Francisco, Jr. - whose complicated journey to adulthood develops over the second half of the story, and to whom Simonopio is particularly close.

I loved this book. It’s one of my all-time favorites. It was touching, unexpectedly insightful, and thought-provoking. It started off a little slow, but by the second half I was unable to put it down. Segovia created an emotionally rich, compelling story that I felt so invested in. There were heartwarming moments and heartbreaking ones, but they were well balanced. The magical realism wasn’t hokey or distracting, but kept a nice air of mystery around Simonopio and his role in the lives of those around him. Also, despite taking place in the time of the Mexican Revolution and touching on the Spanish Influenza pandemic, the story felt timeless and relevant, with some things feeling like they could have been written for today. For those unable to stomach anything pandemic-related right now, just know that it isn’t an ongoing or central focus of the book, though it plays a role in the first half.

The characters in the story are all deeply interesting and written beautifully, and she does a fantastic job of letting you into the inner workings of their minds and motivations, so that you almost feel like you're living the story through them. I love the two narrator form, one an omniscient third-person narrator who lets you into the deepest thoughts of Francisco, Beatriz, Simonopio and Epiricueta, and the other, Francisco Jr., who seamlessly takes over the narrative when he enters the story. At its heart, it’s the story of the power of love … for family, country, and heritage. So much to say, but really the best thing I could leave you with is: read it. Oh ... and find someone in your life who is as dedicated to you as Simonopio is to those in his life. What a wonderful character to introduce the world to.

★★★★★ ❤️

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Murmur of Bees is a historical fiction novel by Mexican author Sofia Segovia, her first to be translated into English. The novel is set in Northern Mexico in the early 20th century amidst the Mexican Revolution and the deadly Spanish flu pandemic. The story follows the lifetime of the Morales family of landowners. When an abandoned baby with a hive of bees next to him is found on the Morales land, Francisco and Beatriz Morales adopt the baby and treat him as their own, despite his facial deformity. Named Simonopio, the adopted child might not be able to speak, but it is clear that he is gifted. Surrounded by his bees day and night, Simonopio understands and knows things beyond human capabilities. However, despite Simonopio's protective hand over the Morales family, not all evil can be stopped.

The story and the writing take on a new dimension when Simonopio's worst nightmare becomes a reality - when 'the coyote' catches 'the lion' and a tragedy strikes. Segovia's writing skills come to shine in these chapters, when portraying the hatred and cruelty of the evil character, mingled with the chilling desperation of the trapped lion and his curb.

The Murmur of Bees is a magical realism book and it reminded me of the style of Gabriel García Márquez and Isabel Allende, but perhaps with a smaller portion of 'magic'. At almost 500 pages, it is a lengthy novel and while I found the story mostly captivating, there were some parts that seemed unnecessary or repetitive. Nonetheless, this is a fascinating piece of historical fiction that I would recommend.


Many thanks to AmazonCrossing and NetGalley for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This extraordinary tale of a boy found under a bridge covered by a blanket of bees begins in October 1910. Nana Reja who always sits in her rocking chair every day, immobile but for the rocking, eyes closed, more wooden than human in her old age, hears the baby crying. But how could she hear over that great of a distance? Just one of the many questions that would follow Simonopio, the ‘bee charmer’ all of his life. When Franciso Morales, owner of the hacienda, pulls back the blanket in Nana Reja’s arms, his farm workers recoil in horror; the baby has a facial deformity, which makes apparent the reason for his abandonment.

Francisco Morales and his wife, Beatriz become godparents to Simonopio. Simonopio is a child of nature, hearing things others cannot and able to see into the future. He may not know exactly how the future will unfold, but he knows much about it. He knows changes in the weather before they occur and can read the moods and concerns of his godparents and understands how events are going to affect them. There is an element of magical realism in Simonopio’s gift, but it never overpowers the story; Simonopio’s gift also has its limits.

Set in Linares, Mexico, author Sofia Segovia covers the Morales family’s intersection with the Mexican Revolution and the influenza epidemic in 1918. Segovia has the author’s talent of being able to hold an entire community in her writerly hands and deliver them in such a way that I felt that I knew them, the town of Linares and the workings of Hacienda La Amistad where the Morales live with their two daughters, Carmen and Consuelo, their servants and farm workers with their own holdings. Not every character is known equally, but none of them feel as though they’re just placeholders in a story, nondescript and functionary. That is because Segovia with her gift of storytelling imbues them with color and vivacity.

For me, the magic of the story is as much the relationship between Simonopio and his godparents, and later, their son, as it is Simonopio’s gifts. Because of his facial deformity, people don’t understand Simonopio when he talks, so he becomes mute. Therefore, he becomes an excellent listener. He listens beyond what is said, to the body language, to the rhythms of his loved one’s hearts.

Land reform or Agrarian Reform is part of this story as well; it’s part of Mexico’s history. During the years under the liberal general and President of Mexico, Porfirio Diaz, the state expanded its role in land policy, putting much land into private hands and putting an end to lands that were used for the commons. The Mexican Revolution reversed many of the trends of the Porfirio years. Some lands were seized and divided. In this story, the government is going to take control of land that is not agriculturally productive, so Francisco Morales worries about how to get more of his land under cultivation, so he can hold onto it. One of Francisco’s employees, Anselmo Espiritcueta wants his own land but he is not a good farmer; his crops are not doing well and he has many other misfortunes. He’s a bitter person and the land that he tries to farm is as bitter as he is. Is there a political statement here? Wealthy but kind landowner versus poor but bitter and unkind peasant. Regardless, Espiritcueta will provide the tension that pushes the story forward. I loved Simonopio and his bee affiliation and the world of the Morales, whom he loved. Kudos to the translator, Simon Bruni, for a job well done.

[Em Lost In Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really need to read more translated books! As long as they're available in audio English format, I'd love to discover new cultures. and this book was really magical. The story was captivating and just so nice! I enjoyed listening to the audio and the characters were interesting and well developed. It's my first time listening to a translated audiobook and I can say, I was worried over nothing. The quality is good and we had multiple narrators. This is the kind of book I definitely would've enjoyed less if I read it instead (since I'm not into reading fiction anymore) but the audio was worth it.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Murmur of Bees” is the second audio novel I’ve listened to while working ardently to move my household. I was attracted to the novel because it’s the first novel by Mexican author Sofia Segovia that has been translated into English. Plus, it involves the Mexican mysticism that the country favors.

The story begins when a baby is found under a bridge covered in bees. To compound his oddness, he has a cleft palate that was thought to be the mark of the devil at that time. A loving family takes him in as a godson. The boy never speaks, due to his cleft palate and continues his special bond with bees. He also possesses clairvoyant abilities.

The story covers the family while they evade the Spanish Flu; endure the Mexican Revelation and agrarian reform. The story is long and descriptive. It’s a meander of a tale, narrated by Xe Sands and Angelo Di Loreto. I enjoyed Angelo’s pieces. I wasn’t always a fan of Xe’s interpretations.

That said, it’s an interesting story. Perhaps I needed a more action-packed story to help motivate me in my move. It’s a highly rated novel and I am in the minority in not loving it.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, sad story of two unrelated boys who are brothers in spirit

This is a tender and loving description of the warmth that a family extends to an orphan and how he repays their unconditional love with loyalty and courage.Tears are coming to my eyes now as I write this. It is seldom that the love of a family towards each other and others is written about in fiction. Sofia Segovia does a masterful job of this in her lovely novel. The character of the orphan, Simonopio, is beyond compare. I fell in love with Simomopio, with his poor, damaged face and his marvelous bee companions. What is written here is also a tale of hatred of people who are different. The monster of the story, the "coyote" is just a sick and depraved man, but that makes his horrific deeds even worse.

[Feliciana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: rape, murder, colorism, ableism, classism

Things I appreciated/liked:
The relationship between Simonopio and the bees

My reasons for the 2 star rating:
This book tells the story of the Morales family living through the influenza, Mexican Revolution, and the Great Depression. On the surface, the Morales family is portrayed as kind, benevolent, hardworking, deeply devout Catholics who are trying to survive many hardships and hold onto their land. In reality, The Morales were a wealthy, light-skinned privileged family with many means and resources to avoid the tragedies that were striking many poor and indigenous communities. I will give specifics from the book to demonstrate this, but I think it’s important to understand a little bit about the history of Mexico first.

The reality of Mexico is, and was, much more complicated than the book portrays. The Morales represent the wealthy landowners of the Haciendas during the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz. Under his leadership, many indigenous communities lost the land that their families and peoples had shared communally for generations, and those same lands were given over to wealthy landowners and Jesuit priests. The stealing of public land and privatizing it was not something new under Diaz, this had been happening since Spanish colonization, but it was accelerated under Diaz. One of the ways that this happened was to force the indigenous communities to show written titles to the land, which obviously they did not have since they shared the land communally. This forced many indigenous, as well as poor non-indegenous, and mestizos to leave their villages, or become campesinos to the wealthy landowners of the same land that they had lived on for generations. Some indigenous groups continuously resisted and fought back such as the Yaqui, who lived in lands that are now present day Arizona. Under Diaz, he forcibly removed and transported many to Chiapas, a state bordering Guatemala, in the south.

The treatment of campesinos, peones, servants, etc. varied from each Hacienda, but the reality is that many were forced into servitude, given very low wages, and exploited. Many became sharecroppers in the hopes of eventually buying off the land they worked (on top of their daily duties), with few becoming successful.

This history is important, because it played a huge role in contributing to the Mexican Revolution. In Segovia’s depiction of the Morales, she portrays them as the victims of the Revolution and its aftermath, neglecting that it was ignited by inequality, social class divisions, racism, and oppression.

Colorism/Anti-indigenous:
Colorism continues to plague Mexico. Look at billboards, actors, musicians, etc..and you will be lucky to find indigenous or dark-skinned people highlighted. Segovia does not disappoint in this. Her portrayal of the antagonist, Anselmo Espiricueta, and his family were described as “So bedraggled were they-covered in dry and desiccating dirt, their cheekbones protruding, their dark skin turned a deathly pale…” pg. 124

The author portrays Anselmo (one of the few indgenous people in the book) as ignorant, machisto, violent, ungrateful, selfish, abusive to his children and a murderer, whereas the light-skinned, wealthy Morales family as the fair and rightous.

“Spanish was not Anselmo’s mother tongue, and his previous experience did not include speaking to the landowner,....The fast, relentless words of this northern landowner entered one ear, reached his mind like a whirlwind inside his head, and then escaped out of the other ear as quickly as they arrived.” pg. 125

Segovia continues to build up the Morales family who are the “saviors” of those down on their luck, and some of those unfortunates, such as Anselmo are ungrateful for their help.
“They were also sent soap and lotion for lice, fleas, and ticks, which they had been forced to accept.” pg. 127

“Then came the worst insult: the offer to pay for the Espiricueta children’s schooling. To send his daughters to the charity schools for girls, his sons to the ones for boys….Then she spoke to them about the opportunity to better themselves by learning their letters and numbers…” pg. 127

The other implied indigenous person in this book is Nana Reja. The book begins with her and as well as describes her as dark skinned. Her infant child dies at the beginning, and so the solution is for her to be brought to the Morales family, (3 generations back) to nurse the white baby whose mother was dying. Thus Nana Reja became the nurse maid for the next 3-4 generations, nursing around 22 children. Nana Reja is at the service of the light-skinned landowners. The book does not touch upon where she came from, her grief and loss. It’s pretty much implied that the Morales family saved her from darkness by giving her another baby to nurse in place of her dead one.

Privilege and Classism:
The Morales were clearly a wealthy and privileged family. When the influenza hit their town, they were able to pack up all their workers and moved to lands farther out in the country to quarantine. This was such an unrealistic option for the majority of Mexican families. The workers should feel grateful that their employer took them with him, despite that it was so they could continue to work on the land. At this point, we start to see more of “evil” Anselmo, who sends his wife to go get him cigarettes in town, despite Sr. Morales warning him to not send any of his family in town, or they would not be able to travel to the country with the rest of the workers. His wife and many of the children get the flu and die.

During the Mexican Revolution, the Morales were fearful that “revolutionaries” would kidnap their daughters who were coming of age, so they sent them to Monterrey to a school ran by nuns. When the girls started being courted in Monterrey, Sr. Morales decides to buy a house their so Sra. Morales can visit the girls and chaperone their time with the boys.
Segovia used the word “revolutionaries” as “bad”.

At one point, there was an incident when young Francisco Junior came home after playing in the mud. “ My mama had been right: my shoes were beyond repair and no good, even as a gift for the workers’ children.” pg. 265

These are just a few examples, but more are sprinkled through the book.

Ableism:
Simonopio was born with a cleft palette. Due to this, everyone had a difficult time understanding him, in turn causing him not to talk. Although he is “adopted” by the Morales, and is described as their godson, he is never given the same opportunities as the Morales children. Everyone thinks he is mute, and also portray him as simple. The only character in the book who is written as treating him as a brother with real affection for him is Francisco Junior. At one point in the book, Francisco Jr. is 4 years old and speaking gibberish, which turns out not to be gibberish at all, but the language of Simonopio, who can talk. Instead of the family attempting to learn to understand Simonopio’s language, they tell him to stay away from Francisco Junior until he can talk “properly”
This family had the means to seek out ways to support Simonopio and his speech, but I guess Simonopio’s purpose was to find the orange trees and encourage Sr. Morales to go to California the next day and bought more for his land, to keep from the land being lost by the agrarian reforms after the revolution.

I struggled with how Simonopio is supposed to be so grateful that this wealthy family took him in. He shouldn’t complain or want for something better. In the end, Simonopio asks his bees to sacrifice their lives trying to save Sr. Morales and Francisco Junior.
When Sra. Morales moves the family to Monterrey, Nana Reja and Simonopio decide to stay in Linares. Simonopio is supposed to be her godson, who she raised since infancy, but, out of sight, out of mind.

In the end, I found The Murmur of Bees a white-washed historical fiction telling from the perspective of the oppressors portrayed as those being oppressed.

[Tara Rock · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEES - that is what attracted me to this "novel" novel. A entrancing story involving a small Mexican village and the aristocratic Morales family circa 1918. Land translated to wealth, yet the government often confiscated the land; soldiers of the ongoing Revolution took what they needed; the Spanish Flu took lives, and their religion was in danger as their Priests were in hiding. Yet, the loyalty, empathy and love among these people flourished. Excellent. I won't go into the bees or the "coyote" as you probably wouldn't believe me.

[Jonas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible. What a wonderful listening experience! The dual narration took the experience to another level, both narrators doing an amazing job, but the man's voice was so memorable (as is James Earl Jones's voice). It is a powerful tale set in Mexico. It is a story of family, of adaptability, and the quest to acquire or save your land. The farming aspect of the story made me feel very connected to my grandfather.

There are so many aspects of the stories within the main story arc I loved-the nonas, everything involving Simono Pio, and Francisco Jr. The Spanish Flu Pandemic impacts the narrative and has a great/entertaining side story. I'm not sure if it is accurate to say there are supernatural aspects to the story as in the traditional sense of the word. There are SUPER NATURAL aspects, as in a super awareness or sensitivity to NATURE.

There were moments I laughed out loud and others I cried. It is a well crafted and beautifully written family epic. This is my second book set in Mexico this year. I loved them both and will search for others set there.

[Ana Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5.
Es una novela entrañable, con personajes con los que no puedes evitar encariñarse.
Es un homenaje de amor a la familia y a la relación entre hermanos.
Inolvidable y hermoso.
De esas novelas escritas desde el corazón para el corazón.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A baby boy is found under a bridge in Linares, Mexico. He is blanked with a swarm of bees. He has a disfigurement, but Nana Rena takes him home.
He is adopted by the Morales family. Who love him with all their heart. They call him Simonopio.

This is the family saga of the Morales family through turbulent times in Mexico, from the Mexican Revolution, agrarian reform and the Spanish flu.
There are many similarities to the current COVID 19 pandemic. A touching scene in the book is when dying people are brought to the cemetery to wait for their death to be buried. Some don’t die.

It is very obvious that Simonopio has magical powers. He never speaks, but hears things that no one else does. He knows what is going to happen before it occurs. He has special bond with his brother Francisco.

This book is beautifully written, and will just draw you in to this magical story.

[Sophia Villanueva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lo que me gustó:
Una narrativa que atrapa y una historia muy interesante. Me gustó mucho leer una historia que se ubica en la región norte de México porque al vivir aquí la sentí muy cercana, a pesar de que se desarrolla durante la época de la Revolución Mexicana.
Los personajes son entrañables. No pude evitar pensar en la pareja de Levin y Katy de Anna Karenina al conocer a la pareja de Francisco y Beatriz de esta historia, porque ambas parejas me hicieron reflexionar mucho sobre el matrimonio, el propósito de sus vidas, los problemas propios a su clase social, la agricultura de sus regiones, el trabajo en el campo, la administración de grandes extensiones de tierra y la responsabilidad que sienten por los campesinos que trabajan sus tierras.
El tono humorístico de muchas situaciones de esta historia lo disfruté mucho, reía al terminar la mayoría de los capítulos.
Esos cambios entre narrador omnisciente y narrador en segunda persona me parecieron muy idóneos, sobre todo porque esa narrativa en segunda persona correspondía a la perspectiva de un adulto que recordaba su niñez y por momentos la perspectiva era precisamente la de su niñez lo cual resultaba muy ingenioso y divertido para tratar temas importantes.
Esa ficción aplicada a los atributos mágicos del personaje principal me encantó y creo que fue de las cuestiones que más destacan de esta novela y que, personalmente, más disfruté.

Lo que no me gustó:
La forma en la que describe a las personas del sur a través del personaje antagónico de la historia y a su vez cómo aparecen representadas las personas del norte considero que perpetúa y reproduce estereotipos basados en la discriminación y el clasismo.
La familia principal de la historia pertenece a una clase social privilegiada y pareciera que en ninguna situación lo reconocen como tal para entender el porqué ellos sí pueden hacer o tomar ciertas decisiones en situaciones como la pandemia que viven y la facilidad con la cual pueden aislarse en su casa de campo. En esta situación de la pandemia, por ejemplo, es debido a su clase privilegiada que pueden huir de esa pandemia y lejos de considerarlo como un privilegio se relata como una proeza comparado con las personas del pueblo que no lo hicieron, como si estas últimas hubieran tenido las posibilidades de hacerlo. En esa misma situación resalta el hecho por ejemplo de haberse llevado a los empleados del hacendado al aislamiento a la casa de verano y lo plantea como una gran obra de bondad cuando se puede leer claramente que se los llevo a seguir trabajando y además estos trabajadores vivieron hacinados con sus familias en una casa medio en ruinas; con esto nuevamente se evidencian las desigualdades y lo peor es que pareciera que se intenta justificarlas y hasta endulzarla o presentarlas como grandes actos caritativos de los privilegiados.

Por otra parte, si bien el personaje principal es entrañable también es cierto que tiene características que, sin considerar su magia, terminan siendo un conjunto de servilismo, mudez, sometimiento, discapacidad, espera, etc., su fuerza radica solamente en la parte mágica por lo que considero que, nuevamente es un elemento en el que se sigue estereotipando a través de la romantización de estas características los roles de las personas que forman parte de una familia sin realmente serlo ya que aunque en el libro se usa la palabra adopción para aludir a cómo pasa a formar parte de la familia del hacendado Francisco y Beatriz, pero lo que realmente pareciera es más que lo acogen, pues no goza de los mismos privilegios de la familia y pasa a ser una especie de empleado más al que se le estima mucho pero que pareciera que en respuesta tiene que sentir agradecimiento y adoptar un comportamiento y características como las que ya he mencionado para retribuir lo que la familia le ha dado. Sin olvidar que además no se intentó explicar ni si quiera desde la magia o la fantasía algo relacionado a su origen más allá de su aparición (pareciera que espontánea) en el monte, así como tampoco de su final (o más bien su abandono) y cómo terminaron su vida y la de la nana Reja. En esto último considero que al ser el personaje principal se merecía un desarrollo más en esos aspectos.

Por último y lo más importante, el hecho de que la reforma agraria y el movimiento de la Revolución Mexicana parecen las antagonistas de la historia me decepciona mucho, sobre todo después de escuchar a la autora y corroborar que efectivamente esa fue su intención: contar la historia de los hacendados que perdieron sus tierras y que evidentemente lo hace desde una perspectiva en la que piensa que fue algo injusto.

Me parece muy peligroso que las personas (sobretodo en el extranjero) que no tengan un conocimiento más amplio o al menos un contexto básico de la Revolución Mexicana, sus causas y justificaciones, puedan creer que realmente que la Revolución y la reforma agraria fueron un mal para México, así como llevarse una pésima impresión de loa mexicanos que viven en los estados del sur. Espero que no se olvide que es una novela de ficción y que se logre identificar la perspectiva, intensión y los estereotipos de la autora reflejados en su narrativa.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sofia Segovia pens a story with much artistic license inspired from events that occurred in northern Mexico starting in 1910. An abandoned baby is discovered disfigured and covered with bees. Simonopio is welcomed and adopted by the local landowners, Francisco and Beatriz Morales. The bees warmed, warned, fed, comforted, protected, and communicated with Simonopio showing him the paths and the world surrounding him. He listens to the oral tales and comes to know the chapters or entire stories of his and other people by searching his mind. Some are unclear while others become fully materialized with no warning. He loved that unlike books, the oral storyteller had the freedom to alter the characters, plots, and endings. "Being in possession of that story meant Simonopio could make endless changes, could add or remove characters as he saw fit and give them traits of the people around him." He learned he had the power and felt it was his duty, whether a minor adjustment, to change the real lives and events of those surrounding him starting with the 1918 Spanish flu. "If, by filling a hole, he could erase an unhappy ending for a horse, then he did it." "He could not stop those future stories; he could not choose which ones to tell or know them all in full and in time to make plans and changes..." From the beginning, Espiricueta, a newcomer who works on the Morales' land, is hostile and hates Simonopio as he sees him as the devil. The bees forbid Simonopio from entering the land of Espiricueta and the boy knows to stay away. This is a story of a lion and a coyote, a boy and his brother, a man and his land, and the destiny of a family and a mute but gifted child.

[Alena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the last 159 pages but it’s a long way to get there. More thoughts soon.

[Rodrigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pues que decir!! que me ha encantado y llevaré en el recuerdo a SIMONOPIO.
Me gusto ya de inicio como escribía esta autora y sabia que no me decepcionaría pero ha satisfecho y con margen mis expectativas, la verdad es que la sinopsis lo describe muy bien y no voy a añadir nada mas, pero todo me ha gustado muchísimo, la ambientación del Mexico de esa época, sus tierras, granjas, paisajes, etc, todo muy logrado, los olores, sabores, texturas; es muy enriquecedora su lectura.
Y que decir de nuestro protagonista con mayúsculas SIMONOPIO.
Trata de la vida en un pueblo rural de principios del s XX de la familia Morales y todos sus avatares y vivencias que se verán alteradas por la llegada milagrosa de nuestro pequeño protagonista.
Es narrativa histórica con toques de realismo mágico, aportado por nuestro prota.

Valoración: 10/10
A mis favoritos que va!!

Sinopsis: El murmullo de las abejas tiene todos los ingredientes esenciales para convertirse en un clásico de la literatura mexicana contemporánea.

El murmullo de las abejas, nombrada "La mejor novela del 2015" por iTunes.

La autora que despierta la historia de México y recupera su lugar en nuestros corazones.

En Linares, al norte del país, con la Revolución mexicana como telón de fondo, un buen día, la vieja nana de la familia abandona sorpresivamente un reposo que parecía eterno para perderse en el monte. Cuando la encuentran, sostiene dos pequeños bultos, uno en cada de un lado un bebé misterioso y del otro un panal de abejas. Ante la insistencia de la nana por conversar y cuidar al pequeño, la familia Morales decide adoptarlo.

Cubierto por el manto vivo de abejas que lo acompañarán y guiarán para siempre, Simonopio llega a cambiar la historia de la familia que lo acoge y la de toda una región. Para lograrlo, deberá enfrentar sus miedos, el enemigo que los acecha y las grandes amenazas de la la influenza española y los enfrentamientos entre los que desean la tierra ajena y los que protegerán su propiedad a toda costa.

El murmullo de las abejas huele a lavanda, a ropa hervida con jabón blanco, a naranjas y una historia impredecible de amor y de entrega por una familia, por la vida, por la tierra y por un hermano al que se ha esperado siempre, pero también, la de una traición que puede acabarlo todo.

# 35. Un libro de realismo mágico. Reto Popsugar 2024

[ZumoDeLibros (Mafalda) · Rating 3 out of 5]

¿Qué puedo decir? Sí que me ha gustado, pero no tanto como esperaba. Y es que, aunque la historia me pareció preciosa, los personajes interesantes e incluso disfruté mucho de la prosa de la autora, hubo algo que no me permitió conectar del todo con la novela, y por eso tardé bastante en terminarla. Es una lectura bonita y entiendo perfectamente por qué gusta a tantos lectores, pero para mí le faltó ese “algo” que me hiciera no poder soltarla.
Mi opinión en YouTube sin spoilers:
https://youtu.be/b6hm9QKm7ho

[Kiran Dellimore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Murmur of Bees was a thoroughly enjoyable read from cover to cover. The beautiful, emotionally charged, lyrical prose of Sofía Segovia had me hooked from the start. This is a heart-warming tale about the vicissitudes of a landed Mexican family, which is set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution, the Spanish Flu epidemic and Land Reform movement in Mexico in the period extending roughly from 1910 to the early 1930s. Narrated by an elderly storyteller, Francisco Junior, who looks back nostalgically on his whole life. In particular, he recounts his family history and his childhood born into the well-to-do Morales family in Linares, a small agrarian Mexican town. As he weaves the tale we are introduced to a colorful cast of characters, including family members, servants and farmhands. However, the focal point of the story, Simonopio, is a boy who was abandoned at birth due to a birth defect, and adopted into the Morales family. A peculiar feature of Simonopio is his unusually close relationship from birth with a swarm of bees, which brings him in close communion with nature. As Simonopio grows up, his unique gifts are revealed, and later become integral to the gripping denouement of the story. My only extremely minor critique of The Murmur of Bees relates to the portrayal of the antagonist, Anselmo Espiricueta, as purely evil and the at times disorienting shift of the narrator's perspective from the third to first person. I personally felt that the evilness of Anselmo Espiricueta, and the absence of his redeeming traits, was exaggerated beyond credibility, which made it too easy to despise him. In regards the narrator's perspective, I found the switching between third and first person at times inconsistent. Yet overall, I would unequivocally recommend The Murmur of Bees to anyone looking for an entertaining read.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A creative and beautifully written story of a disfigured boy with a language all his own.

SUMMARY
The ancient Nana Reja finds a newborn baby boy abandoned under a bridge, and the lives of a family ina small village are changed forever. The baby was disfigured and covered in a living blanket of bees. Little Simonopio was thought by some to be kissed by the devil. But as he grows the Morales family who raises him, finds him to be incredible gifted. When he closes his eyes Simonopio can see visions of the future, both the beautiful and the dangerous. He is followed everywhere by his protective swarm of bees and together they help protect his adoptive family from evil and danger. The novel is set in Linares, Mexico against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution and the Spanish Flu of 1918.

“He would have liked to discuss his bees and ask everyone why they didn’t hear them, given that they spoke to the others, too, as they did to him. Had he been able, he would have talked about the song the bees sang into his willing ear about flowers on the mountain, far away encounters, and friends that had not made it on the long journey home; about the sun that would beat down hard one day but be covered in storm clouds the next.”


REVIEW
She had me when Simonopio was found under the bridge covered in bees. His story and that of his younger brother, Francisco Junior is poignant, thoughtful and moving. MURMUR OF BEES is a first rate journey back in time where we encounter the Mexican politics, the culture and a deadly fast-spreading epidemic. But the novel is much more personal than that. It’s about Simonopio, his brother and the adopted family he protects. Simonopio never speaks because of a cleft palate, but he has a language all his own.

It’s creative and beautifully written, with the charm of magically realism. And you won’t be forgetting Simonopio’s unique and sensitive character anytime soon. He can sense danger and evil, but has a deep heart-filled appreciation for the bounty of nature that surrounds him in the hills of the hacienda. My favorite part is that Simonopio is never without the company of at least one or two of his bees, appearing almost as moles on his face. While the story with multiple narrators meanders back and forth like a long and slow winding river, it is well worth the read. It’s a lovely book that ends way to soon, I just wanted more.

SOFÍA SEGOVIA is a best selling author who lives in Monterrey, Mexico. She has written three novels but this is her first to be translated to English. Murmur of the Bees was nominated for the 2019 National Book Awards.

“But let me tell you what I know, what I’ve concluded: it doesn’t matter whether time passes slowly or quickly. What you can be sure of is that, in the end, all you want is to have more.

Publisher AmazonCrossing/Brilliance Audio
Published April 16, 2019
Narrated Xe Sands and Angelo Di Lorerto
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

[Fede · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entrañable! En un principio es inevitable comparar a la autora con Gabriel Garcia Marquez e Isabel Allente pero a medida que avanzas en las páginas, la historia gana al género literario y va mucho más allá.

Me gustó muchisimo, Simonopio se transformó en uno de esos personajes que así pasen 40 años no lo olvidaré jamás.

[Patricija || book.duo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

Tai knyga apie matymą užsimerkus. Užuodimą to, kas už keliolikos ar net kelių šimtų kilometrų. Apie kojomis neįveikiamas keliones, kurias įveiki ant bičių sparnų. Apie prisiminimą to, kas nutiks rytoj. Apie kojotus žmonėse ir žmones kojotuose. Apie apgamus ant veido – kodėl jie keičia formą ir vietą kas kartą sumirksėjus? Apie istorijas, kurias gali išgirsti akimis ir papasakoti oda. Apie visus, kuriems galbūt nebuvo lemta išgyventi, bet lemta gyventi – oi, dar ir kaip gyventi. Kaip moka gal nebent Meksikoje. Prisikeliant iš numirusiųjų. Mirtį nukeliant ar ją numatant. Nuspėjant ar nujaučiant. Karstą paruošiant dvidešimt metų iki mirties.

Užknisau pirmąja pastraipa? Knyga ne tau. Norisi dialogų? Daug, ar apskritai, šiek tiek daugiau, nei tie keli? Knyga ne tau. Girdėdamas siuvimo mašinos tratata, tratata, tratata, gali suprasti, kodėl suerzintų, jei ji imtų ir praleistų taktą, arba tratata virstų trakata? O gal į siuvimo mašiną neatkreiptum dėmesio visai? Valgydamas apelsiną bijotum, kad jo sultys, lipnios ir gaivios, tekės skruostais ir smakru, pirštais ir tarpupirščiais, sulipindamos viską saldumu? Knyga ne tau. Bet turint kantrybės, godžiai, kaip tą apelsiną, ragaujant Petrausko tobulai nuaustus žodžius, leidžiant jiems slysti iki pat liežuvio galo, knyga tikrai įgyja kažkokių magiškų galių. Nepasiduoti joms – velniškai sunku. Toks tobulas Allendės atmosferiškumo, sušvelninto ir lengvesnio Marquezo šeimos ryšių ir istorijų tamprumo, Grames žaismo su mirtimi derinys.

Knygos maginis realizmas toks žavingas, toks užliūliuojantis, kad lengva pražiūrėti mažus, o kartais ir ne visai smulkius niuansus, kurie šiaip, įprastomis aplinkybėmis, nebandant visur aplink surasti ir į save sugerti šilumos, gėrio ir grožio, tikrai suerzintų tokią seną kietaširdę cinikę, kaip aš. Viskas čia truputį per daug juoda arba balta, o ir nubraukus visas tas akyse raibuliuojančias magijos dulkes, visa tą hipnotizuojantį lipnumą, visgi atsiskleidžia truputėlį, vos vos Coelhiška, truputį Mažaprinciška natūra: geris prieš blogį, gyvenimo ratas, paleisk ir jei tavo, tai sugrįš… Nu, suprantat. Bet man buvo labai gražu, labai šilta. Toks mamos glėbys, kuriame leidiesi užčiūčiuojamas – ar tau penkeri, ar penkiasdešimt. Kad tik būtų, kam čiūčiuoti.

[Maria Yankulova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Преди повече от година разбрах, че издателство Лемур са взели правата за книга от мексикански автор и в мен се запали искрата на очакването. Обожавам да чета автори от различни държави и Мексико не прави изключение. По-късно разбрах, че преводач е Рада Ганкова, която много харесвам и нетърпението ми се засили. След като видях и корицата, броях дните до излизането на романа. Както с всички хубави неща той се забави, но чакането определено си заслужаваше.

Най-трудно се пише за книги, които са влезли в сърцето ти и си заобичал. “Шепотът на пчелите” е точно такъв роман - вълнуващ, емоционален, топъл, уютен и безкрайно вълшебен. София Сеговия е съчетала изключително умело реални исторически събития с фикция, магически реализъм (в умерени дози) и запомнящи се главни герои. Сюжета ни отвежда в малкото село Линарес (намиращо се в цитрусовия регион на Мексико - ако прочетете романа ще разберете повече) в началото на 20 век. На фона на бурни почитически събития (аграрната реформа, Мексиканската революция, испанския грип), авторката ни потапя в живота на семейство Моралес, което се препитава с обработката на земя. Членовете на семейството са много и колоритни. Дъщери и синове, майки и бащи, баби и дядовци, чичовци и лели, братовчеди, кърмачки, гледачки - един букет от образи, които ми напълниха душата. Историята започва в деня в който старата семейна бавачка Нана Реха се ��згубва из хълмовете на Линарес и когато я намират тя носи в ръцете си новородено и пита с пчели, които обгръщат бебето. Семейство Моралес решава да го задържи и в хода на годините Симонопио променя и преобръща както техния живот, така и историята на цялата местност.

Изключително интерено ми беше да чета за отношенията между членовете на семейство Моралес, връзките, които ги държат здраво и да ги опознавам поколения назад. Едновременно с това научих и много интересни неща от мексиканската история, с която не бях запозната.

Магично начало, което ме обгърна като топло одеяло в дъждовните дни, през които романа ми правеше компания. История за семейните връзки, за любовта и дълга, за чест и предателство. Без да правя преки и директни сравнения, но София Сеговия ме развълнува така, както само Алиенде и Маркес са успявали.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Murmur of Bees is a beautifully written heart-warming yet heartbreaking story set in Mexico around 1918, when the Spanish flu hit with a devastating impact and the Mexican Revolution also took many of the country's men.

Old Nana Reja spent all day on her verandah, in her rocking chair - some thought she was always there, never moving. But the day she walked through the village, drawn to where she was headed, was the day the Morales family's lives changed. It was the day Nana Reja found a baby boy child, naked in a drain but for a blanket of bees, with disfigurement - which was surely the reason for his abandonment - which discomfited most who saw him. Francisco and Beatriz Morales adopted the child and named him Simonopio, and from that day forward, things were markedly different.

I loved the writing in The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia and translated by Simon Bruni, but found it drawn out and overly effusive. The story of Simonopio and his visions, his purpose in life as he grew older, is intriguing, uncanny and poignant - the cover is exquisite as well. I think time is needed for this novel - it's not one we can rush. Recommended.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hay muchas cosas de este libro que me hacen muy feliz.
Es una historia que sucede en mi estado, quizá no en mi cuidad, pero he estado ahí.
Es una autora regia y ver su obra como todo un éxito es increíble.
El aroma a naranjas, se puede percibir tanto que cada vez que pienso en Simonopio es inevitable recordar ese aroma tan dulce.
Una historia muy linda en la que el amor es la fuerza que une todo.
Una familia que le da la bienvenida a alguien muy especial que les tocará el corazón.
Un alma hermosa, un relato precioso y personajes entrañables.
Sofía logra una conjunción maravillosa en una historia que se siente muy nuestra.