BOOKS FROM TUNISIAThe Ardent Swarm
by Yamen Manai
Tags:
Male author
Description:
From an award-winning Tunisian author comes a stirring allegory about a country in the aftermath of revolution and the power of a single quest. Sidi lives a hermetic life as a bee whisperer, tending to his beloved "girls" on the outskirts of the desolate North African village of Nawa. He wakes one morning to find that something has attacked one of his beehives, brutally killing every inhabitant. Heartbroken, he soon learns that a mysterious swarm of vicious hornets committed the mass murder--but where did they come from, and how can he stop them? If he is going to unravel this mystery and save his bees from annihilation, Sidi must venture out into the village and then brave the big city and beyond in search of answers. Along the way, he discovers a country and a people turned upside down by their new post-Arab Spring reality as Islamic fundamentalists seek to influence votes any way they can on the eve of the country's first democratic elections. To succeed in his quest, and find a glimmer of hope to protect all that he holds dear, Sidi will have to look further than he ever imagined. In this brilliantly accessible modern-day parable, Yamen Manai uses a masterful blend of humor and drama to reveal what happens in a country shaken by revolutionary change after the world stops watching.
Reviews:
(2 weeks ago) |
06 Jan, 2025
It’s fair to say I’m a bit afraid of bees; so I was reluctant to read about killer hornets but I’m glad I did! The story is about a beekeeper who lives for “his girls.” The backdrop of the story is in a traditional village which is undergoing a change of political leadership in the name of religion. The quick read gave me a new respect for bees & reminded me how vital they are to our survival. It could be even better if the book dove deeper into more of the characters. (I wish there was more to Jannat & Tahar’s story).
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