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The Murmur of Bees

By: Sofia Segovia, Simon Bruni - translator
Narrated by: Xe Sands, Angelo Di Loreto
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Publisher's Summary

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.

Sovas Award - Audiobook Narration - Fiction, Best Voiceover - 2019

©2015 by Sofía Segovia. (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. English translation © 2019 by Simon Bruni.

Critic Reviews

An Audible Best of 2019 | Top 10 and Best Fiction

"And Sofía Segovia is proof that magical realism is still evolving and breaking barriers." --Tricia, Audible editor

"Acclaimed Mexican author Segovia’s first work translated into English is a gorgeous novel of family, friendship, land, and murderous envy, a tale reminiscent of Isabel Allende’s early tales…With the help of a gifted translator, Segovia skillfully envelops readers, fully engaging their senses and imagination in this wonderful novel." --Booklist

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Completely different

Sofia Segovia has a unique style of writing.
The story is told with sensitivity, empathy and gentleness.
Situations are dealt with explicit detail but no cruelty even when it is the intent.
The narration was excellent. It is not hard to listen to a good baritone voice..
Simonopio is a worthy hero, living with physical imperfection and followed by bees.

This book was worthy of translation.

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1 person found this helpful

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Beautiful book...

Beautiful book, I loved it, and the characters in it who are hard to forget. But it is also quite a disturbing tale... don't be fooled by the title!

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I didn't want it to end

This story is beautiful. Translation, narration were excellent and I adored the experience of listening every day...but I'm sad it's now over. Definitely a favourite which I'll listen to again and again.

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Beautiful

Having just lost my own husband and my great niece two years ago I have found this story and writing profound beautiful and captivating, have found myself savouring the sentence whilst eagerly anticipating the next I am about to start another Thankyou Sofia Segovia I wish I was literate in Spanish

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Haunting and Beautiful

Incredibly beautiful writing telling a story with deep emotion and insightful philosophy. I loved it.

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  • LK
  • 17-04-2022

Stunning, passionate, expansive

A beautifully compassionate telling of a life rich in complexity, mystery, love and all the seasons of our emotional life set against a rich historical background.

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so beautiful

such a beautiful story of the love shared in brotherhood, motherhood, fatherhood and grand motherhood

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Wonderful

Loved this story so much. The narrators are also wonderful. Totally recommend this entertaining and original story!

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The Murmur of Bees

how wonderful is this book! the narrators were magnificent, I was totally captivated and immersed in the story, very emotional at the ending... loved loved loved it... this is my favourite book of all time.. will remember it til my dying day.. THANK YOU to the authors...

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