I really liked your review - no gushing, just clear and concise facts about a book you really enjoyed. This book was just recommended to me this morning by a friend which is why I came across your review in the first place, and you have made me determined now to give it a try. Thank you.
Ahhh I love The Beekeeper's Apprentice! I started the series with the third book, A Letter of Mary, when I was in a Women in Detective Fiction course in college. After that, I went back and read books 1-4 (even re-read the third one!). I enjoyed them a lot, and just never took the time to continue. I think I will definitely pick the series up again now that you've reminded me. Without spoiling you, I have to say that I think you'll be disappointed with the series pretty quickly... the dynamic doesn't change much, but their relationship does. I felt the same way you do, but I still enjoyed the next few books. I hope that whatever happens (as it's possible things change in further books) you still enjoy the series! Awesome review! I envy your ability to summarize a book so well. I feel like I always stumble when it comes to that part!!
+Effusions of Wit Aww, well, I hope that if Mary and Sherlock's relationship changes, it's done... tactfully? or subtly? And not just clobbering the reader over the head with it. As long as there aren't any major personality shifts and Mary's still got a backbone, I will probably be OK with it. It's good to hear that you enjoyed the first 4! I have book 2 on hand and can't wait :-)
I can't remember super well but I don't think it bothered me too much how things worked out, so hopefully it is subtle/well done!! Mary is always very much herself, which is definitely something I loved about the series. Hooray! Hope you like book 2!
I haven't read or heard much about this book but I'm intrigued! I've been in the mood for a good mystery and really like the idea of Mary as you described her. Thank you for a thoughtful review! I've just requested this from my library.
+mynameismarines Awesome - I hope you like it! I'm really looking forward to how Mary's character is explored in future books. Hopefully my expectations aren't too far away from reality, and the first book is indicative of the rest of the series.
So glad you enjoyed this one!! :D I hope you enjoy the rest of the series! Haha I'm afraid to spoil you with anything, so I'll just say that all the changes their relationship goes through throughout the series were really satisfying to me and done in a way that really fits the characters' personalities, I think. I didn't end up enjoying the second book as much as I did the first, but there were still some parts I really enjoyed. The 5th book is my favorite, though. :D
+Winx & Ink That's good to know that you think their relationship changes were done well :-) I can be a real stickler about romantic relationships, but if it's done believably, I'll be fine.
For a decade or so, Bujold and King were my two go-to series writers. The Mary Russell series becomes more uneven as it progresses, but it includes some outstanding novels that pick up on themes introduced in the Beekeeper's Apprentice, such as WWI and religious studies. One item you didn't touch on but which I really enjoyed about The Beekeeper's Apprentice was its portrayal of Watson: not as a buffoon but as a good person with a deep faith in humanity. I'd be curious to know if this series worked for you or if the later relationship developments were a total turn-off. Do you have a link to a later video where you discuss the series as a whole?
I'm not the reviewer, and I know you left this comment here a year ago, but I wanted to pipe up and say that I agree with you on the unevenness of the series. I hate to admit it, but almost everything after the third book is a blur and I am fairly certain I have read them all. I think the Beekeepers Apprentice is a hard book for me to dissect- on one hand it was a very strong influence on me in my formative years. As a young girl who didn't feel like I had much control over my life, I adored Mary. I could empathize with her in her struggles, and even if she felt more hard and brittle than I sometimes understood, I still cheered for her. Her marriage to Holmes was something I was happy about as a kid. Now, nearing thirty, I find the relationship a little distasteful. I think when you are young you like to imagine that someone intelligent and older will find you interesting and care about you. As an adult, I see the situation differently. The reviewer says that Holmes is ''middle aged''. To put a number on it, he's fifty-four. And when they do marry it is seven years after they meet, when she is twenty-two and he is sixty-one. I think it is somewhat irresponsible to portray that kind of age difference as healthy or normal or to imply that it is acceptable that a man or woman who acts as a guardian/parent can transition into that person's lover. If someone were to describe Mary's situation to me- young, no parents, very smart, a tendency to think of herself older than she is- well, it would sound like Holmes was in a remarkable situation to groom her. I know that was not Laurie R. King's intentions (and it certainly never feels this way in her writing), but having been in a similar situation it's difficult now to look at it knowing marriage is the eventual outcome. Beekeeper's Apprentice is a story I like very much on it's own and I still love many aspects of it. It's a beautifully written story and Laurie R. King has a way with words that I admire, and that still strike me as fresh and interesting when I go back to them.
+FrumiousReads If you enjoy Sherlock Holmes type mysteries, I bet Beekeeper's Apprentice is a good one to get back into detective fiction with. If you like female detectives, the Amelia Peabody series is one of my absolute favorites too!
Thank you for this wonderful book review. I just checked The Beekeeper's Apprentice out from the library, but it sounds like I might just need to buy a copy for my own book collection. ~ Vicki
+FinalBlowJoe Isn't it kind of funny that you never have to read actual Sherlock Holmes to know what he's like? I haven't read the original stories in 10+ years....
Kalanadi The closest to Sherlock Holmes I've been is playing the part of a Baker Street Irregular in school. I think I was 10 so no horrible memories of having to sing on stage :)
+Crispers BookNook Oh, I didn't know you were reading this right now! Hope you're enjoying it :-) It really picked up at the end for me with all the loose threads being brought together.
I really liked your review - no gushing, just clear and concise facts about a book you really enjoyed. This book was just recommended to me this morning by a friend which is why I came across your review in the first place, and you have made me determined now to give it a try. Thank you.
Ahhh I love The Beekeeper's Apprentice! I started the series with the third book, A Letter of Mary, when I was in a Women in Detective Fiction course in college. After that, I went back and read books 1-4 (even re-read the third one!). I enjoyed them a lot, and just never took the time to continue. I think I will definitely pick the series up again now that you've reminded me.
Without spoiling you, I have to say that I think you'll be disappointed with the series pretty quickly... the dynamic doesn't change much, but their relationship does. I felt the same way you do, but I still enjoyed the next few books. I hope that whatever happens (as it's possible things change in further books) you still enjoy the series!
Awesome review! I envy your ability to summarize a book so well. I feel like I always stumble when it comes to that part!!
+Effusions of Wit Aww, well, I hope that if Mary and Sherlock's relationship changes, it's done... tactfully? or subtly? And not just clobbering the reader over the head with it. As long as there aren't any major personality shifts and Mary's still got a backbone, I will probably be OK with it. It's good to hear that you enjoyed the first 4! I have book 2 on hand and can't wait :-)
I can't remember super well but I don't think it bothered me too much how things worked out, so hopefully it is subtle/well done!! Mary is always very much herself, which is definitely something I loved about the series. Hooray! Hope you like book 2!
I haven't read or heard much about this book but I'm intrigued! I've been in the mood for a good mystery and really like the idea of Mary as you described her. Thank you for a thoughtful review! I've just requested this from my library.
+mynameismarines Awesome - I hope you like it! I'm really looking forward to how Mary's character is explored in future books. Hopefully my expectations aren't too far away from reality, and the first book is indicative of the rest of the series.
So glad you enjoyed this one!! :D I hope you enjoy the rest of the series! Haha I'm afraid to spoil you with anything, so I'll just say that all the changes their relationship goes through throughout the series were really satisfying to me and done in a way that really fits the characters' personalities, I think. I didn't end up enjoying the second book as much as I did the first, but there were still some parts I really enjoyed. The 5th book is my favorite, though. :D
+Winx & Ink That's good to know that you think their relationship changes were done well :-) I can be a real stickler about romantic relationships, but if it's done believably, I'll be fine.
For a decade or so, Bujold and King were my two go-to series writers. The Mary Russell series becomes more uneven as it progresses, but it includes some outstanding novels that pick up on themes introduced in the Beekeeper's Apprentice, such as WWI and religious studies. One item you didn't touch on but which I really enjoyed about The Beekeeper's Apprentice was its portrayal of Watson: not as a buffoon but as a good person with a deep faith in humanity. I'd be curious to know if this series worked for you or if the later relationship developments were a total turn-off. Do you have a link to a later video where you discuss the series as a whole?
I'm not the reviewer, and I know you left this comment here a year ago, but I wanted to pipe up and say that I agree with you on the unevenness of the series. I hate to admit it, but almost everything after the third book is a blur and I am fairly certain I have read them all.
I think the Beekeepers Apprentice is a hard book for me to dissect- on one hand it was a very strong influence on me in my formative years. As a young girl who didn't feel like I had much control over my life, I adored Mary. I could empathize with her in her struggles, and even if she felt more hard and brittle than I sometimes understood, I still cheered for her.
Her marriage to Holmes was something I was happy about as a kid. Now, nearing thirty, I find the relationship a little distasteful. I think when you are young you like to imagine that someone intelligent and older will find you interesting and care about you. As an adult, I see the situation differently. The reviewer says that Holmes is ''middle aged''. To put a number on it, he's fifty-four. And when they do marry it is seven years after they meet, when she is twenty-two and he is sixty-one. I think it is somewhat irresponsible to portray that kind of age difference as healthy or normal or to imply that it is acceptable that a man or woman who acts as a guardian/parent can transition into that person's lover. If someone were to describe Mary's situation to me- young, no parents, very smart, a tendency to think of herself older than she is- well, it would sound like Holmes was in a remarkable situation to groom her. I know that was not Laurie R. King's intentions (and it certainly never feels this way in her writing), but having been in a similar situation it's difficult now to look at it knowing marriage is the eventual outcome. Beekeeper's Apprentice is a story I like very much on it's own and I still love many aspects of it. It's a beautifully written story and Laurie R. King has a way with words that I admire, and that still strike me as fresh and interesting when I go back to them.
The Beekeepers Apprentice sounds so good!! I've been getting back in to detective fiction and this sounds like one I would want to pick up.
+FrumiousReads If you enjoy Sherlock Holmes type mysteries, I bet Beekeeper's Apprentice is a good one to get back into detective fiction with. If you like female detectives, the Amelia Peabody series is one of my absolute favorites too!
Great review. I hated this book, though.
Thank you for this wonderful book review. I just checked The Beekeeper's Apprentice out from the library, but it sounds like I might just need to buy a copy for my own book collection. ~ Vicki
I hope you enjoy it! I've picked up the series again with the third book recently and am still enjoying it a ton.
I've never heard of this series before, but it's going on my to read list, sounds like my kind of thing.
+Katie Loves to Read It was completely new to me too! I was so happy to discover it - hope it suits you too :-)
This is one of my favorite books ever :-)
+Paws Awhile That's good to hear!
Thanks!
This sounds really interesting. I've never read Sherlock Holmes but do want to try some of them as well as this, quite possibly anyway.
+FinalBlowJoe Isn't it kind of funny that you never have to read actual Sherlock Holmes to know what he's like? I haven't read the original stories in 10+ years....
Kalanadi The closest to Sherlock Holmes I've been is playing the part of a Baker Street Irregular in school. I think I was 10 so no horrible memories of having to sing on stage :)
Oh, I must finish this book off very soon. I think I'm on the last stretch of it too? :) Great review!
+Crispers BookNook Oh, I didn't know you were reading this right now! Hope you're enjoying it :-) It really picked up at the end for me with all the loose threads being brought together.
Kalanadi I started it a few months ago, maybe November? I just wasn't feeling mystery at the time. I should finish it soon. :)