Richard Gere was an unlikely choice as a Jewish academic in the film adaptation of Bee Season
November saw the Tyneside Book Group delve into the very American phenomenon of spelling contests via Myla Goldberg's novel Bee Season.
Overall members found much to like and admire in this story of a family falling apart. There was though a feeling that parts of the book worked better than others, and it was perhaps trying to do too much.
Some members found the insight into the world of spelling bees, and the narrative around the contests more compelling than perhaps the insights into the family. For others though it was the characters that hooked them in.
There was some discussion about whether this was a couple that should ever have had children, and some members found the tension that generated effective if stressful to read.
For some though characters felt underdeveloped and came closer to tropes than three-dimensional, believable people. That made them struggle to care enough about their fates. Some found the revelations about mother Miriam stretched credulity. There was enjoyment though of the insight Bee Season gave into a Jewish family and religious mysticism. There was clearly a desire to explore faith and belief.
Members largely thought the ending of the novel worked well, and hinted that there was hope that daughter Eliza was taking control of her life.
Some members had watched the film adaptation and felt though largely faithful to the book, it added little, and suffered from some odd casting.
Overall members found much to like and admire in this story of a family falling apart. There was though a feeling that parts of the book worked better than others, and it was perhaps trying to do too much.
Some members found the insight into the world of spelling bees, and the narrative around the contests more compelling than perhaps the insights into the family. For others though it was the characters that hooked them in.
There was some discussion about whether this was a couple that should ever have had children, and some members found the tension that generated effective if stressful to read.
For some though characters felt underdeveloped and came closer to tropes than three-dimensional, believable people. That made them struggle to care enough about their fates. Some found the revelations about mother Miriam stretched credulity. There was enjoyment though of the insight Bee Season gave into a Jewish family and religious mysticism. There was clearly a desire to explore faith and belief.
Members largely thought the ending of the novel worked well, and hinted that there was hope that daughter Eliza was taking control of her life.
Some members had watched the film adaptation and felt though largely faithful to the book, it added little, and suffered from some odd casting.
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